Hi Reader,

A friend of mine recently told me she was trying to "call in" more of the right clients. I loved that phrase. It sounds a little spiritual, a little intentional, a little like something you'd hear at a retreat.

But when I asked her what she meant, it was completely practical: get clear about what you want, then tell everyone you know.

Whether you call it manifesting or marketing, it starts in the same place: clarity.

What I'm Noticing

Many people I talk to, whether they're going independent, building a side project, or trying to grow in their current role, have the same problem. They're doing great work, but nobody knows about it. Not because they're bad at self-promotion. Because they haven't gotten specific enough about what they want people to know.

"I'm open to opportunities" is not a signal. It's noise. And in the age of AI, where everyone can generate content and polish their profile in minutes, the thing that actually cuts through is clarity. Not volume.

The people landing the best work right now aren't posting the most. They're signaling the most clearly. They know what they want, they say it plainly, and they repeat it until the right people hear it. That's how you call it in.

Your Next Move

From "I'm open to opportunities" to "here's exactly what I'm looking for, and here's how you can help."

Try this: Know It, Name It, Signal It (20 minutes)

Step 1: Write the "Want" sentence.

Fill in: "In the next 90 days, I want [specific outcome] with [specific type of person/team] by doing [specific type of work]."

Not a mission statement. Not a bio. Just one honest sentence about what you're actually going after right now.

Step 2: Tighten it with 3 questions.

• What do I truly want people to associate me with right now?
• What's the one problem I solve that I'd bet my next quarter on?
• What proof do I already have that I can solve it? (1-2 bullets is enough.)

Step 3: Make a simple signaling plan.

Choose one place you'll repeat the signal for 4 weeks:

• LinkedIn post (weekly)
• Intro emails (when someone connects you, lead with your signal)
• Networking calls or coffee chats (your verbal 30-second version)

Then write 3 "signal statements" you can reuse. Not new ideas every time. The same idea, three angles:

• "If you're trying to ___, here's what I've learned..."
• "The mistake I see in ___ is..."
• "If you want ___ this quarter, start by..."

Do this next week: Pick one signal channel and post or send one clear statement of what you do and who it's for. Then do it again next week. Consistency beats creativity here.

Going deeper: If you're actively looking for your next career opportunity, check out Phyl Terry's Never Search Alone. The whole framework is built on this: you find your next opportunity by getting clear and then telling your network exactly what you're looking for.

Life Beyond the Screen

Lately I've been thinking about what clarity actually buys you. Not "more output." Not "more growth." Just time. Quiet. A brain that isn't humming all night.

If I got 5 extra hours back this week, I don't think I'd use them to "get ahead" with my workload. I'd use them to be a mom. Be fully present at pickup instead of half-reading Slack on my phone. Sit on the floor and play without one eye on the clock. Read a chapter after the kids are asleep without checking my phone halfway through because some part of me thinks I'm missing an important message.

That's the real promise of automating yourself: not doing more, but reclaiming the hours so you can spend them on what actually matters. Getting clear about what you want and what you're signaling isn't a branding exercise. It's a way to stop leaking your attention into ten directions at once.

If you got 5 hours back this week, what would you do with them that has nothing to do with work?

Find me online: LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Instagram | TikTok​

Listen to the Automate Yourself podcast: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify​

Let's Chillaborate,

Dina

Founder, Chill Labs

PS: Try Know It, Name It, Signal It and reply with your "Want" sentence. I read every one. 💙