Aug. 17, 2025

🌴230. Dangerously Distinctive: How to Amplify Authority with Jason Knight (Friend of Leanne)

Show Notes

Today I’m handing the mic to my friend (and brand wizard) Jason Knight. If you’ve ever looked at my site and thought, “Whoa—this is… different,” you’ll love this one. Jason and I share a long backstory—from L&D days to Red Carpet Campout—and in this episode he unpacks a super simple, ridiculously useful framework for becoming dangerously distinctive in how you show up.

What this episode is about

Jason shares a three-step “newspaper” playbook you can steal for LinkedIn posts, Substack intros, your homepage, and your keynote slides:

Headline – say what you do in clear, vivid, 7-year-old language (bonus: aim for three punchy words)
Killer visual – an image that embodies your promise (not you smiling at a laptop)
Compelling story – the lead that invites people to keep reading/listening

“People don’t get to your story without first going through your headline and your killer visual.”

My takeaways

Ditch the job title. Go beyond “I’m a keynote speaker/brand strategist/accountant” → say the result. (“I amplify authority.” “I help teams communicate ideas people act on.”)
Use the 7-year-old test. If a kid wouldn’t get it, your audience won’t care.
Design your vibe on purpose. Decide where your brand sits on sliders like classic–modern, economical–luxurious, approachable–authoritative. Then pick visuals that prove it.
Order matters. Hook me with the headline, stop-the-scroll with the visual, then earn the right to tell the story.

Try this (5-minute mini-exercise)

List three outcomes you create (time, money, transformation).
Distil each into a 3-word headline (verb + object works great).
Choose one visual metaphor that literalises your promise (what’s your “chainsaw”?).
Write a three-sentence lead that tees up your story.

Links & mentions

Jason Knight — results + to book a call: askjasonknight.com
My site (the “tropical courage / business without boundaries” vibe Jason references): leannehughes.com

*New* You're invited to join Leanne's free community, Work Fame.

Show notes for every episode at https://podcast.leannehughes.com

P.S. Ready to take things up a level? Here are some ways I can help: