Summary
Let’s get this straight—I didn’t build it with a team or a six-figure budget. I built it with a system, AI tools, and three days of ruthless clarity.
If you’ve been putting off building your funnel because it feels like too much, too soon, or too complicated—this post is your permission slip. Because yes, you can absolutely build a high-trust, high-conversion thought leadership ecosystem fast. But only if you do it differently than everyone else.
What I Didn’t Do
Hire a designer
Use 17 platforms
Write 10 lead magnets
Follow someone else’s template blindly
I built for clarity and traction, not for scale.
What I Did Do
Here’s the exact breakdown of how I built the funnel in one weekend:
Step 1: Defined One Bold Position (2 hours)
Clarity before copy.
Before writing a word, I locked in:
- My core belief about the problem I solve
- The wrong beliefs my audience is holding
- The invitation I’m making through every touchpoint
I used my Positioning Stack Worksheet and a 30-minute AI clarity prompt to get this sharp.
Step 2: Wrote the Thought Leader Hub Page (3 hours)
Think of it as “Start Here meets Point of View.” This wasn’t about selling—yet. It was about filtering in the right people and building trust instantly.
→ I used ChatGPT to rough the page, then rewrote every paragraph in my own voice.
→ I plugged it into Notion + my website in one sitting.
Step 3: Created the Magnet (2 hours)
Not a generic PDF. A clarity catalyst. My lead magnet wasn’t a checklist—it was a mini system. A diagnostic tool that solved a tiny-but-critical problem.
→ Drafted the outline with AI
→ Wrote it in my own voice with a strategic CTA built in
→ Exported as both a Notion template + PDF for frictionless access
Step 4: Built the Welcome Sequence (3 hours)
The trust-builder. I didn’t just automate. I narrated the journey.
Every email was designed to:
- Build intimacy
- Deliver clarity
- Offer something concrete
- Invite a single next step
I used an AI framework to scaffold the sequence, but every word still came through me.
Step 5: Connected the Dots (1 hour)
Funnel = decisions + connections.
In the final sprint, I:
- Connected opt-ins to my email system
- Built a landing page with ConvertKit
- Embedded the hub page into my website
- Set up UTM tracking and automations
And I was done. One ecosystem. Live. Built in one weekend.
Tools I Used (and What I Ditched)
Used:
- Notion (for build + asset delivery)
- ConvertKit (emails + automations)
- Canva (covers + one landing visual)
- ChatGPT (prompt-based ideation + outline assist)
- Loom (welcome video)
Did NOT use:
- Figma, Webflow, ClickFunnels, AI voice tools, Zapier, design teams, tech rabbit holes
This wasn’t about being fancy. It was about getting it live.
The Strategy That Made It Work
The funnel worked because it wasn’t just a funnel, it was a belief shift machine.
Every part was designed to:
- Name the real problem
- Reposition the old mindset
- Deliver something helpful fast
- Invite people into the next layer of clarity
I built a trust engine not a lead machine.
Final Word
If you’re still waiting to feel “ready,” or trying to perfect a funnel that matches someone else’s playbook—stop. You don’t need more time. You just need a system and a reason.
When you build from clarity, the funnel isn’t the hard part. The hard part is deciding to start.
This is your sign: Build what’s real and build it fast. And let it work while you do other things that matter.
