Anthony Leung: Defining Success as A Business Leader

Anthony Leung is the founder of Mean Write Hook. In this feature interview, Anthony shares the secrets behind his success to date and tells The Industry Leaders how he's continuing to grow and improve as a business leader.

For those who don't know about you and your work, can you tell us who you are, and where your business is based?

I’m Anthony, a 13-year social media vet turned personal LinkedIn coach for business leaders. Based in London, UK, I give business leaders the support and guidance they need to discover their unique voice, tell their stories well, and make LinkedIn finally work for them.

What was the main inspiration behind starting your business?

I didn’t want anything to do with LinkedIn at first, thinking I had to present myself in this stuffy persona to fit in. But getting to work with brands like Pret A Manger and JUST EAT has taught me that staying true to your brand wins every time. So, as I gathered more confidence to present myself authentically, the more success I found. This is the same approach I bring to my coaching, helping others find their own voice and confidence on LinkedIn.

Who does your business help?

My business is about helping business leaders who feel a bit lost or overwhelmed by LinkedIn. I’m here for those who know they have a valuable voice but just aren’t sure how to amplify it on the platform. It’s for the thought leaders, the innovators, and the passionate professionals who have so much to share but need a guiding hand to make LinkedIn work for them.

I work with individuals from various sectors, but they all share a common goal: to elevate their personal and business brands by forging authentic connections and sharing their unique stories. Whether they’re looking to engage more deeply with their existing network, expand their reach, or just start meaningful conversations, I help them navigate LinkedIn’s nuances to achieve these objectives. It’s about turning LinkedIn from a daunting task into a powerful tool for personal and professional growth.

Can you share with us a time when you failed, and what you learned from that experience to make yourself a better entrepreneur?

Fear can make you do funny things. The fear of missing out on business made me try to be everything to everyone, offering every digital marketing service imaginable. This ironically made it hard to develop new business, as people found it hard to grasp what I offered.

Authenticity is your unique signature; it’s about being true to yourself and your values

Things turned around when I got over my fears and focused those various disciplines into helping business leaders develop their LinkedIn. This focus allowed me to craft a clear, compelling narrative that not only showcased my strengths but also resonated with my audience’s needs. It was this clarity and alignment of purpose that has created genuine connections based on shared values.

How do you define success, and how do you measure it in your business?

For me, success is more than just hitting numbers; it’s about creating meaningful impact. It’s when a business leader I’ve worked with feels confident enough to share their authentic voice on LinkedIn, and in doing so, they start building real connections. That’s the magic moment; I measure success by the stories of transformation. When a client tells me they’ve not only reached but engaged their ideal audience, leading to meaningful conversations and opportunities, that’s when I know we’ve hit the mark. It’s about the value added to their journey, not just the analytics, though they matter too. Seeing the community they build and the value they share come full circle—that’s the true measure of success in my book.

How do you stay motivated and focused on your goals, especially during the tough times?

Staying true to my core values and learning from like-minds always keeps me motivated. This past year was tough for so many of us small business owners, but I focused on listening more and understanding the challenges faced by others. This not only helped me stay aligned with my goals but also uncovered ways to genuinely support and uplift the community. It was a reminder that in adversity, the value we bring to each other is what truly matters.

What do you think are the key qualities that every successful entrepreneur should possess?

Every successful entrepreneur needs three things: resilience, authenticity, and a keen sense of empathy. Resilience keeps you going through the highs and lows, ensuring you don’t lose sight of your vision even when the going gets tough.

Authenticity is your unique signature; it’s about being true to yourself and your values, which resonates deeply with clients and peers alike. Empathy allows you to genuinely connect with others, understand their needs, and offer solutions that truly make a difference. These qualities not only define your journey as an entrepreneur but also shape the impact you have on the community you serve.

What role do you think technology and digital innovation play in the success of businesses in your industry, and how do you stay up-to-date with the latest trends?

There are so many technological innovations these days. So we need to remember that It’s not about chasing every new trend but about understanding how each innovation can help you build trust and relationships more effectively. When it comes to your personal brand, we need to remember that it’s about creating trust and relationships with our community.

Technology will help us to share our stories, connect with our audience, and make those essential impacts more efficiently. But these tools are here to support us, not to take over our role in crafting authentic connections. So the best way to keep up with trends and changes with personal branding on LinkedIn is simply to be actively engaged on the platform. LinkedIn is saturated with tips and advice, but you’ll only really learn by sharing your story, and interacting with your community.

This hands-on experience allows you to feel the pulse of what resonates, giving you real-time feedback to refine your approach. It’s not about chasing every new trend but about understanding how each innovation can help express your unique narrative more effectively. This approach ensures that your personal brand remains both authentic and dynamic, rooted in your story but flexible in its expression. Technology and innovation are important, but they’re not the main event. You are.

Do you use any particular software or tech tools to make your life easier at work?

There are three types of tools everyone should have for their social content: 1. Scheduling: While there are third-party tools like Buffer, I actually prefer using LinkedIn's native scheduling feature. You can’t tag other accounts on scheduled posts with third-party tools, which is essential for storytelling and can enhance engagement and reach. 2. Still Images: Photoshop is undeniably powerful, but for quick, impactful visuals, Canva is my choice. It’s intuitive, allowing me to translate my ideas into designs effortlessly, keeping pace with my thoughts. 3. Video: Descript has been a game-changer for video editing, especially for pieces where I'm speaking directly to the camera. It allows me to edit videos as if I’m working with a text document, which aligns perfectly with my creative workflow.

What do you think sets your company apart from others in your industry, and how do you plan to continue to differentiate yourself in the future?

While others preach a system or ways to “beat the algorithm”, my work with my clients is firmly rooted in the ideas that the important thing on LinkedIn is to be building trust and relationships, and that the only one way to “beat the algorithm” is to know your story well and tell it even better.

My clients and I have a very collaborative relationship – I respect the wealth of experience and knowledge they bring, and they respect my ability to bring the best out of them on LinkedIn. Staying rooted in authenticity while adapting to how people enjoy content is how I plan to continue making a difference in personal branding on LinkedIn.

Are you working on any specific products, deals or promotions that people should know about?

It’s been really exciting helping business leaders elevate their presence on LinkedIn. When they win, I win – and we get to celebrate that win together. I partner with my clients through three distinct pathways: ● Coaching Only: 1-2-1 guidance to navigate LinkedIn’s landscape, empowering you to craft and share your story. ● Coaching + Editing: Personalised coaching coupled with hands-on editing support to fine-tune your LinkedIn content. ● Coaching + Content Creation: Comprehensive support that includes coaching, content strategy development, and creating impactful ready-to-go LinkedIn posts.

What does the next 12 months have in store for you and your business?

I’m looking forward to a few exciting speaking engagements, including the International Social Summit in Barcelona in May. It’s been really fun being invited to podcasts, too. It’s very gratifying when your message resonates with others.

How should people connect with you to find out more?

Shockingly, you can find me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meanwritehook/