Why Momentum Beats a Business Plan: Lessons from Strategic Storyteller Adam Belmont

After 15 years at top agencies like Ogilvy, Adam Belmont knew there had to be a better way. That realization sparked A-to-B Strategies, his agile consultancy helping consumer brands craft sharp, culturally relevant communications that drive real business impact. Along the way, he embraced the freedom and clarity of solopreneurship, where trust, adaptability, and senior-level strategy come standard. In this Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, Adam shares how showing up boldly, collaborating intentionally, and betting on himself led to a business model that’s both nimble and deeply human.

Hi, Adam! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

I’m the founder of A-to-B Strategies, a fractional PR and brand communications consultancy that helps consumer brands sharpen their story, build brand visibility, and create cultural relevance that actually drives business impact. I mean, who really has all that time to trek from A-to-Z, when there's a clear path forward from A-to-B (Strategies)?!

After 15+ years all agency-side, I'm appreciative of the flexibility and nimbleness that soloPReneurship offers me. Not to mention how there is major volatility in the PR space as a whole recently and into the near future (to put it politely), so I feel my flexible structure caters to what brands and businesses are seeking right now.

I can serve in multiple ways including a) growth-stage start-ups needing senior-level guidance without the overhead b) PR agencies looking for interim support, whitelabeled client-facing senior strategist or simply self-sufficient hands behind-the-scenes to support teams in-place c) brands seeking fractional and whitelabeled communications expertise in-house (going as far as oversight of an external PR agency).

Having someone who is senior and experienced enough that they don't need to be handheld or micromanaged. They can be led to the opportunity and take it from there, so to speak. Onboarding can be minimal, and they're ready to jump right in. Though, knowing where and how to jump is imperative, and I'll refer you back to someone who is senior and experienced enough to do that.

They can also hope that this individual (or me, in this case) is embedded in the team not just from a work standpoint but from a team culture standpoint. I can fit into any environment and form fast friends and collaborators where I simply become 'part of the gang.' It never should feel like just a transaction, where you clock in and clock out based on the task list. That doesn't benefit the company or individual, whether myself or anyone with whom I'm collaborating.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

This happened in a few ways.

First, it was when I started showing up consistently on LinkedIn—sharing insights, perspective, and purpose—and realizing I could introduce myself to the world the way I wanted to be seen.

Then came the clients who entrusted me to shape and share their stories with the same care and confidence I bring to my own. That trust confirmed something powerful: the belief I had in myself had become belief others had in me.

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

I realized I had both the hard skills and the soft skills to give it a go—and at the very least, to answer that nagging “what if” in the back of my mind. I’ve always been a realist. I can accept rejection, but only if I put myself out there and try. Launching A-to-B Strategies was as much about professional ambition as it was personal exploration: I needed to know if I wanted to be an entrepreneur.

After 15 years at top agencies—including Ogilvy—I saw a pattern. Brands needed more flexibility, not more retainers. Great strategy often got lost in process. I wanted to create something that gave clients direct access to senior counsel and execution without the red tape. That included both major brands and startups who typically can’t absorb big-agency fee structures.

When I realized I could deliver better outcomes with less bureaucracy—and still collaborate seamlessly with internal teams—it became clear: this was the model I’d been looking for all along. That moment of clarity became the foundation for A-to-B Strategies.

Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?

My paid subscription to ChatGPT has been a total game-changer. It helps me be a stronger, faster, better entrepreneur—and a sharper strategic communications professional. I use it to streamline processes, save time, and pressure-test my thinking. Whether it’s poking holes in a strategy, tightening a message, or helping me see a blind spot, it’s become a creative partner in my workflow.

AI will never replace what I bring to the table—judgment, nuance, and experience—but it does challenge me to think differently and work smarter. My goal isn’t to compete with the technology. It’s to make sure no one in my space uses it more strategically than I do. That, I can control.

And then there’s Slack and LinkedIn—a different kind of game-changer. It’s where I connect, collaborate, and strengthen my network across the fractional, communications, and PR worlds. It keeps the work human, the ideas flowing, and the community strong. I'm definitely part of the 'rising tides lifts all boats' mentality, and have found so many professionals who share the same collaborative approach.

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

I don’t always get the “yes” I hope for from a client or project—but that’s part of the game. One of the best skills I carried over from my corporate agency days is the ability to pivot fast. If something doesn’t land, I move on quickly and refocus on what’s next.

I don’t make room for catastrophic thinking; there’s always another opportunity, another brief, another client who’s the right fit. In PR and entrepreneurship alike, resilience is more than a trait - it’s a strategy.

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

One of the most impactful strategies I’ve used is forming intentional collaborations with complementary executives—especially senior B2C marketers and CMOs who serve the same kinds of brands I do. We’re not competing; we’re completing the picture.

By partnering with people who understand the value of fractional and consultant models, I’m able to plug in quickly, add strategic firepower, and deliver results faster for shared clients. The referrals that come from those relationships are gold—they signal that a brand already gets how this model works and is ready to move. It’s a win-win that builds trust, efficiency, and better outcomes for everyone involved.

And, of course, new people to call friends, and not just collaborators. Which gives my journey more meaning.

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

You don’t need to have it all figured out to start—you just need to start with clarity on who you help and why. The rest gets built in motion. I used to think I needed a perfect business plan before launching. In reality, momentum comes from conversations, not spreadsheets.

There’s never a “best time” to start—only the time you decide to. It’s all relative. The right time is when the idea keeps tugging at you enough that not trying feels worse than trying and failing.

Start with what you know, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to evolve. That’s how you move from A to B—it doesn’t have to feel as daunting as going from A to Z.

Want to dive deeper into Adam's work? Check out the links below!

• Visit Get Me On The Pod's website: getmeonthepod.com
• Connect with Adam Belmont on LinkedIn: Adam Belmont