The Icon Insider
Unlock the strategies, insights, and secrets that top leaders use to grow influence, make money, and master communication.
You Can Lead for "Me" or For "Us"
Both get results. Only one lasts.
Most people believe strong leaders lead with pressure. When results slow down or standards slip, the instinct is to tighten control. Raise expectations. Make it clear who is in charge.
And in the short term, that might work.
People respond. They adjust. They b...
by Dave Crane —
Feb 23, 2026
decision-room
hnwi
icon insider
leadership
light-triad
The Dangerous Shift Nobody Warns Leaders About
It begins when nobody challenges you anymore.
Most leaders think character is tested in failure.
It isn't.
It's tested when you're succeeding.When people stop correcting you.When the room goes quiet after you speak.When your decisions carry weight beyond the room.
That's when the real test begi...
Feb 16, 2026
authority
dark triad
decision making
executive leadership
leadership calibration
power
Noticing You Is Easy. Choosing You Is Not.
Visibility doesn't create confidence. Authority does.
Most people assume that if they're being noticed, something good will follow.
A reply. An invite.A conversation that goes somewhere.
When you're building a profile, attention can create openings.When you're seen as a thought leader, it does...
Feb 09, 2026
authority
credibility
decision making
icon insider
thought leadership
Being Seen Isn't The Same As Being Considered
This decision is made long before anyone says it out loud.
Most experienced speakers stay visible because it feels like momentum.
More stages.More panels.More posts.
Activity creates familiarity.Selection requires reassurance.
Confusing the two is why many capable people stay busy, well-regar...
Feb 02, 2026
authority
decision room
icon insider
industry icon
speakers
thought leadership
Your Product is Unicorn-Ready. You're What's Holding It Back.
The business is scaling. The signal isn't.
📌 In This Issue:
The real reason great products don't get chosen
How founders lose momentum without realising it
The leadership signal the market responds to first
The False Assumption
Most founders believe that if the product wins, their authorit...
Jan 26, 2026
authority
dave crane
founders
icon insider
industry icon
leadership
Why Your Degree Won't Open Doors Anymore
Something else is now driving choice.
📌 In This Issue:
Why qualifications no longer decide who gets chosen
How credibility is now assessed before conversations happen
What decision makers actually look for instead
What Most People Still Believe
Most professionals still believe qualifications...
Jan 19, 2026
authority
credibility
icon insider
industry icon
personal branding
thought leadership
Why Complacency is a Dangerous Place to Be
If trust is eroding online, this is where credibility is now decided.
📌 In This Issue:
Why comfort is now the biggest risk for experienced professionals
What actually makes you credible in an AI-driven world
How to turn years of experience into authority and leverage
The Danger of Being Co...
by Dave Crane —
Jan 12, 2026
authority
career longevity
credibility
leadership
personal brand
professional relevance
thought leadership
How to Navigate the 2026 Shift Without Losing Your Edge
The rules didn't collapse. They rearranged.Here's how to stay ahead in 2026.
📌 In This Issue:
Why the ground under work, authority and opportunity has shifted
What staying relevant actually looks like in 2026
How visibility, proof and clarity now determine who gets chosen
This Isn't a Tsun...
Dec 22, 2025
2026 shift
authority
icon insider
personal brand
thought leadership
visibility
How to Build Real Security When Stability Stops Protecting You
Have you noticed how stability doesn't protect youthe way it used to?
📌 In This Issue:
Why stability no longer protects smart, capable people
What "real security" actually looks like when industries shift
How to start building leverage before pressure forces you to
Choose Carefully: 3 hou...
Dec 15, 2025
career security
dave crane
icon insider
industry icon
personal branding
thought leadership
What World-Class Mentors Give You in 12 Months
Here's how the right mentors can collapse your timeline, sharpen your thinking, and change your next 12 months.
📌 In This Issue:
The insight that shows why mentors change your direction faster
Why every leader needs someone who can see what they can't
How world class thinkers make growth feel ...
by Dave Crane —
Dec 08, 2025
dave crane
icon insider
leadership
personal branding
thought leaders network
tln faculty
How to Be the Most Powerful Person in Any Room
Power comes from flexibility, connection and presence. Not ego.
📌 In This Issue:
The real source of power in any high level room
Why flexible leaders rise faster than loud ones
A billion dollar leadership lesson you can use this week
The Hidden Power of Flexibility
There is a quote I ...
Dec 01, 2025
personal branding
speaker coaching
thought leadership
How Influence Really Works: 12 Biases That Decide Your Success
These hidden biases shape every decision you make. Once you know howthey work, you can influence any room with clarity and confidence.
📌 In this issue:
Why rooms judge you before you speak
The hidden levers of influence revealed in your 12 Biases Guide
3 of the most powerful biases you'll unlo...
Nov 24, 2025
communication
human behaviour
leadership
personal branding
psychology of influence