Strengthening self-leadership for lasting high performance and a calmer life balance | Personal & professional growth | Great leadership begin from within | 25 years in Comms & Leadership

The women I work with are already successful.

Like yourself: competent, respected and trusted. You lead, deliver and are deeply committed to doing a good job - often without anyone needing to ask. 

But inside you often feel self-doubt and a sense of being out of sync with yourself.  

And, a growing sense that the way you’ve learned to succeed has come with a cost no one warned you about: 

More or less constant self-pressure, blurred boundaries and the feeling of always being “on.” 

So you keep going. 
Not because it works, but because it’s what you know.

Now imagine another way of leading yourself - one that’s grounded, sustainable and supports the life you want alongside your career.

That’s the work I do.

I help high-performing women strengthen self-leadership from the inside out — with boundaries, courage and practical tools — so you can lead yourself and your team without self-compromising. A way of working and living that both you and your well-being can stand behind.

Are you tired of feeling that you're giving everything, but has nothing left for yourself?

Are you ready to find another way to lead, work and live?

Then let's talk. 
DM me or send an email to annika.mohlin@growu.se

Or be the first to know about this:
https://annika-mohlin.systeme.io/programwaitlist


Based in Sweden. 
Working globally.
Languages: Swedish & English 🇸🇪 🇬🇧 

Annika Mohlin 🌱

This week 3 years ago I went back to work after my sick leave for exhaustion syndrome. 

Coming to terms with that word – and even worse: burnout – has been a journey for a high performer like me, with big ambitions in all areas of life. For a long time, I felt ashamed about it. 

Many of you know me as a happy, energetic and positive person. And I am.

But like everyone else, I have my dips. 
The autumn of 2022 was a deep one.

> I had worked far too much for too long.
> I was handling new demands and responsibilities without getting more resources for the team – sometimes not even a thank you.
> Life at home was intense: three active children, one was struggling a lot in high school and needed a lot of support.
> In the middle of all of this I lost my Dad.
 
What kept me going for as long as I did was that I prioritised the basics: sleep, food, exercise. And fantastic support from my husband. It was actually he who finally said: “Either you call your manager, or I will.”

The three months I spent at home made me rethink a lot of things. I reflected a lot, listened more carefully inwards and started making other choices. 

This is what helped me:
✅ Starting each day with breathing and practising taking control of my thoughts
✅ Reflecting and journaling about everyday happy moments
✅ Spending a lot of time outdoors, long walks by the sea
✅ Practicing setting boundaries with myself and others
✅ Being coached
✅ Exercising
And getting lots of love from family and friends ❤️ 
 
It can be hard to see the signs when things are becoming too much. I certainly didn’t.

So if you’re feeling low, easily irritated, unfocused or constantly on the run... please: slow down, check in with yourself and start putting yourself first a bit more. 

I was the last one to realise I had burned out.
Don’t be like me.

 📸 My ever loving support and I, on a shopping tour (can you see where?) with unconsciously colour coded outfits 😂

📧 If you like this kind of content, I have a newsletter too. Link to sign up in my profile.

Leadership that doesn’t cost you yourself | For women leaders done being the good girl | Authority without self-compromise | Popcorn Lover🍿| Waitlist is now OPEN👇🏼

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What a fr***in mess. I felt sooo stupid. 

Yesterday I ran my online workshop. Halfway through my screen froze and I got kicked out from my own meeting.

– Wow, you all look very focused, I said to the participants as they came back from setting their goals, and I felt so happy about the dedication I saw. 

Then I noticed: my screen had frozen completely. 
They couldn't hear me. 
I couldn't hear them. 

$hit. 

Luckily the meeting chat worked fine, so long story short I let everyone know I'd leave and rejoin the meeting, but it wouldn't let me leave so I tried leaving again but it wouldn't let me since it was just stuck, so I joined from my phone instead trying to keep up with what I was teaching while at the same time restarting my computer hoping it would let me back in. Which it did 🙏🏼

Phew. 
(if that felt chaotic to read, you've got a little hint of what I felt)

Participants were still around 💛
We went on from there. 
Everyone got their roadmaps for 2026✌🏼

I can't help but laugh at this. This is exactly the kind of mess you DON'T want “on stage” (or backstage, for that matter).

But this is leadership too. This is facilitation too – dancing in the moment, staying present when things wobble, bringing the process forward and trusting that “good enough” is enough. And if nothing else, it's a proof of being human.

Good thing tech support isn't part of my services 😬

Here's a question for you: 
What do you do when things don't go as planned?

3 years ago I sat in my car outside my office building, just as my doctor recommended.

“Just go there once before you start.
Don’t go in. Just look.”

So that’s what I did.
I sat there watching as a way of mentally preparing myself to go back to work after my burnout.

I remember it felt like returning with a version of myself I no longer fully trusted. Rough feeling to be with for sure. 

They say some things never quite go back to how they were after a burnout... I think they’re right (my husband agrees. He says there’s a 'before' and an 'after').

And yes, I sure miss some qualities I used to have.
At the same time, I’ve gained others.

I am grateful for the learnings, but hitting the wall like I did is nothing I recommend.

One of my biggest learnings is about setting – and keeping – clear boundaries. 

Not only with others.
But with yourself.

Knowing when to pause, rest and take care of yourself is a boundary in itself. 

Especially when the inner drive to push through and "just finish this little thing too" is hard to resist.

If this struck a chord, you might want to know that I’m running a small Boundary Bootcamp.

A 2-week challenge focused on building practical, sustainable boundary skills – for those who tend to give a little too much.

Read more on the link in my profile, or send me a DM.

I'm such a hypocrate.

Teaching balance and boundaries and last night I caught myself

> Watching Sweden shred Croatia in handball Euros
> Texting with my Mom
> Catching up on news reading Mark Carney’s speech

...all at the same time. Triple-tasking. Double-screening. 

And you know what else?

Some days I forget to pause. I lose track of time and just... keep going.

Which only makes me edgy and irritated. Far from my best self.

So how dare I talk about sustainable self-leadership, if I don’t even get my own basics right...?

Because I’m human.

Which means I don’t always get it right (who does?).

Here’s the difference from when my bad good girl ruled the show:

I don’t beat myself up about it.
I catch it, stop and return to what I know works.

Who said the coach can't make mistakes?

Slipping is normal.
Finding your way back is something you practice in small ways, every day.

Grateful for the reminder last night.
And for Sweden’s win!!

PS. Tournament is held in Malmö where I live. Anyone on site last night?

I've coached Comms Managers, CFO:s, Project Leaders, Marketing Managers. Over the years, one pattern keeps repeating:

They're exceptional at meeting everyone’s needs. 
Their own come last.

The reasons are familiar:

> There’s never enough time. 
> Doing things yourself seems faster (and better)
> They're afraid they'll be disliked if they say no

Still though: this logic doesn't hold up. 

When you don’t protect your boundaries and your energy, something will slowly fade away. Your sincere smile likely goes first. Then your presence and focus. Your temper. Worst case → you'll burn out (like I did). 

Leadership isn’t only what you give to others. 
It’s also about what you give to yourself, over time.

You can't be sharp, steady and effective if you permanently exclude yourself from your own priorities. 

Meaning: making space for YOU in your calendar.

And (sorry to say), this won’t happen on its own.

The tempo will not just "slow down". No one's coming to hand you more time.

You need to plan for it. With the same seriousness as the meetings you never cancel 😉

Something new is coming for women leaders who are tired of coming second in their own lives:

The first-to-know list is open >> https://lnkd.in/dNGbMbjR

I was the teachers' favourite in school. 

I'm sure you know the type: 

> Good grades
> Didn't cause any trouble
> Raised my hand before speaking and got seated to the rowdier ones to help keep them calm (how crazy is that?)

Oh, teachers loved me.
Later, managers did too.

I can see why – us good girls are easy to work with. 
We are very good at delivering without asking for too much in return.

I can also see this: 
Being “easy” earns you safety, praise and belonging.

Keeps you safe when you're young.
But in leadership?

Success built on fear – of disappointing, disrupting or being too much – demands constant proof.

It's tiring to be a good girl. 

And this is what I mean when I talk about being a bad good girl. 

How much of a bad good girl are you?
The Bad Good Girl Audit™ reveals 29 habits that women leaders use to stay safe, liked and in control – at the cost of their power and authority.

Comment AUDIT if you want to take the audit and get your Bad Good Girl profile pattern.

How much of a bad good girl have you become 

Here’s how to get really good at expressing clear boundaries. For free.

Step 1: Pick 3–4 real (or very likely) situations where you’ll need to set a boundary.

Step 2: Open your camera or voice notes.

Step 3: Record yourself saying it as if you were talking to the other person.
Do this for all scenarios.

Step 4: Watch or listen. What do you notice?

Step 5: Choose one thing to improve – then repeat from step 2.

You’ll likely spot things like:

> Rambling or over-explaining
> Saying ummmm.... 
> Sounding unsure or submissive
> Excusing yourself too much

Remember to breeeeeathe.
Keep it short. Keep it fun! You're playing. 

Do this 5 times, then review your first recording.
I’m pretty sure the progress will surprise you 🤓

Training boundary setting is like training any muscle.
This will build strength. And as a bonus, also your confidence.

Will you try this?

💛 This is one of the challenges I give the women in my 2-week Boundary Bootcamp. We just kicked off week two, and the wins the participants are sharing already make me so proud about their progress!

In October a woman joined Boundary Bootcamp after being close to burnout for a long time.

She was doing her job really well, being relied on, stepping in where things needed to be handled. 

From the outside, it looked like competence. 
From the inside, it was draining her.

In her check-in to the bootcamp she described full days, a constantly busy mind and very little space left for herself. 

Responsibility had its sneaky way of expanding, and she had bit by bit started to carry more than her own load.

A month or so after the Bootcamp she wrote me this:

“I’ve had great help from your sessions after being very close to burnout for a year. I felt a lot better after going through your 2-week program where I learnt to say no, delegate and not throw myself at every single task just to be good.”

Nothing about her drive or ambition disappeared. 
What shifted was how she related to it.

This is often how boundary work shows up.
As a series of small, conscious choices that create more room to breathe.

That’s the kind of change I care about.

graphical user interface, text, application

Hennes team hade fullt förtroende för henne.
Men uppifrån organisationen fick hon andra signaler.

När Anna kom till första träffen i Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv var hon osäker på om hennes sätt att leda verkligen var ett bra sätt att leda. 

Hon kände sig ifrågasatt och mikrostyrd. 
Inte riktigt uppskattad för det hon bidrog med, trots fina resultat och ett team som fungerade väldigt bra. 

Hon hade börjat tvivla på sig själv. 

Under programmets gång blev det allt tydligare att Anna har en mycket emotionellt intelligent ledarstil, och en inre kompass som leder henne tydligt och klart. 

Dilemmat var snarare om den här arbetsplatsen var rätt för henne. Och i att stärka hennes trygghet i hur hon leder, och hennes eget förhållningssätt till det. 

"Jag fick större tillit till mitt nuvarande ledarskap genom att bli speglad, utmanad och hjälpt av andra kvinnliga ledare i ett 100% tryggt rum." 

Hon började lita mer på sitt eget omdöme igen. Hon slutade tolka andras kontroll som en signal på att hon gjorde fel. Hon fick ord för allt det hon redan gjorde rätt.

Kort därefter tog hon nästa steg – till en arbetsgivare där hennes styrkor och ledarskap kommer till sin fulla rätt.

"Jag upptäckte att färdigheter som jag tycker är lätta och självklara, och därmed inte sett som speciella eller värdefulla, tvärtom är mycket värdefulla. Och att det inte alls är något alla gör, utan är en styrka i just mitt ledarskap."

Landa i sitt eget ledarskap, och sen landa på rätt plats. Den förflyttningen, på 10 månader – inte illa! 

Tusen tack Anna för att du valde att gå Perspeqtiv och stort varmt lycka till på nya stället! ✨

🔭 Nästa grupp i Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv startar i april. 
📧 Nyfiken? Hör av dig!

Who never blamed a Monday? Or January?
Easy explanations are tempting.
It takes more courage to ask why the same pattern keeps coming back.

“Oh, you know… it’s just one of those days.”

How many of "those days" are there? 

I surely had a few of them 😬
So I know they can be plenty. 

But who are we fooling? At some point, I had to ask myself a more honest question:

What if it’s not about timing at all?

What if the low energy, the resistance, the irritation keeps returning not because of the day, the hour or the colour of the sky... but because of something else?

You bet it was uncomfortable to realise that many of the habits and qualities that had taken me far in life were the same ones slowly wearing me down.

That insight came too late to me. I burnt out. 
But it can still change something for the better for you. 

I write about this in today’s newsletter.

We’ve made it past Blue Monday, the third Monday in January – supposedly the most depressing day of the year. The day when all kinds of shitty stars a

Open article: The convenience of blaming the calendar by Annika Mohlin 🌱 • 3 min read

There’s nothing wrong with New Year’s resolutions. But they won’t change a thing.

Action will.

Without a plan – and action of course! – resolutions stay what they are: thoughts, wishes, good intentions.

And you end up in the same place.

The gap between intention and action is where most resolutions fall apart.

And it’s also where clarity makes all the difference.

That’s what we’ll work on in my (free) New Year’s workshop on January 6. 

I’ll take you through a step-by-step process to help you:

>> Clarify where you want to be by the end of 2026 
>> Identify the steps and actions that will take you there
>> Anticipate challenges and how to handle them 
>> Make sure you stay on track and move forward 

You'll leave with a personal roadmap that's concrete, actionable and right for your life, your needs and your well-being. 

A roadmap for inspired, intentional action, that support your resolutions. 

If this sounds like a good way to start the year, I'd love for you to join! 

🗓️ Tuesday, January 6 (tomorrow!)
⏰ 13.00-14.30 CET 
💻 Online on Teams 
🌟 Free to join 

Sign up on the link on my profile, or here: 
https://lnkd.in/dwaT_m3n 

If you can't join live, I'll send out a replay to all who signed up. 

Looking forward to see you! 💛 

📸 Sweet words from previous participants... who also come back to update their roadmaps – because what we do works!

For female leaders done being the good girl | Lead yourself and others with clarity, boundaries and sustainable habits | Practice clear and kind boundary-setting in my 2-week challenge 👇🏼

Are you joining my New Years-workshop today?
Last chance to sign up... because we start at 13.00! 

This is a 90-minute workshop for ambitious women who want to keep performing at a high level + also have a life outside of work feeling happy and energized.

...which sometimes can be tricky, especially if you're stuck in good-girl-patterns that keep stealing your energy.

👉🏼 Taking time to yourself to listen inwards and get clear on what YOU want, and from there add concrete actions is a good way to start.

This workshop gives you time and structure for doing that.

So if you’re always there for others, but not-so-often for yourself: 

Here's a chance to really put yourself in the driver's seat, and create a roadmap for a year with YOU in focus. 

You'll also get some tools for energy and balance you can apply right away + a chance to join my 2-week boundary setting challenge with a little bonus 🎁

📅 January 6th = TODAY!
⏰ 13.00 - 14.30 CET
💻 Free to join, on Teams
✍🏻 Sign up here:

https://lnkd.in/dwaT_m3n

See you soon! 👋🏼

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Associate Certified Coach (ACC)

Certified GDQ consultant

The Daring Way - 

Co-Active Coach

ICF Member Badge

Företagsekonomi

Marketing the IKEA Way

Läst en termin i Madrid på Universidad Antonio de Nebrija

En termins studier i Madrid kombinerat med extrajobb som servitris på TGI Friday’s

Friskis & Svettis

Friskis & Svettis Malmö

Coaching female leaders to feel well, perform well and still have energy at the end of the day | Sustainable self-leadership | Personal & professional development | 25 years in Comms & Leadership | Ex-IKEA

🌱 I believe that people who feel well, perform well.
🌱 I believe that people who are self-aware, perform better and collaborate better. 
🌱 And I believe that in order to lead others, you need to lead yourself first. 

These beliefs are the foundation of what I do. My passion comes from my ability to help people grow and expand themselves beyond what they thought possible - and succeed. That's what I do best. 

🔸For you as a driven, high-performing professional or founder leading yourself.
🔸For you as a leader noticing that books, classroom trainings and TED talks don’t turn you into the leader you aspire to be.

I can help you start leading yourself in a more conscious way, 
get clear on who you are, 
where you're going and 
confident about the choices you make for yourself. 

So you can
🌱Perform and deliver — with a calmer mind and energy left at the end of the day. 
🌱Find a sustainable way of living and working — with ripple effects on both your leadership and your relationships.
🌱 Enjoy life on your terms and last in the long run. 

Why go with me? 
🔸With me you get a down-to-earth, warm and engaged partner who has been through the highs and lows of juggling a global manager role, a crowded diary and 3 kids. 
🔸You get a curious, open-minded ICF-coach who coaches by the high standards set by International Coaching Federation.  
🔸I bring energy, clarity and a holistic perspective (and a bit of playfulness). 

I am a great listener, but not afraid to challenge you. 
I have a creative mind, but can also be with serious emotions. 
I will hold a safe space, so you dare to look within for the answers I know you have. 

I can help you get to the front seat of your life and to design your unique roadmap, so that you can truly own your journey and fill it with what gives you energy and fulfilment.  

My approach mixes coaching with evidence based tools for self-leadership, stress management and well-being. The beauty is in the blend. 

All in a simple and action-oriented way - 20 minutes a day goes a long way. 
But those you need to commit to: I will give you the keys, but you have to turn them around yourself.  

📬I'm just a DM away. Let's talk! 

👋🏻
Here as HR or Manager? 
Happy to support your company and co-workers with developing (self-)leadership skills or communication skills. 

I am an appreciated facilitator thanks to my ability to create a safe, relaxed and inclusive space for participants. Talk to me about leadership development, creating effective teams or preparing your spokespersons for media engagements.

🌱Let's grow together!

An 8-week online program, available individually or in groups, in English or Swedish: 
for those of you who are longing to live life on your terms and are ready to take the driver's seat of your life. 

The program combines coaching with well-established self-leadership tools and techniques. You work at your own pace with a coach by your side to support you every step of the way.

Coaching Program: Own your Journey | English or Swedish | Next start January 2025

8 veckors online-program, enskilt eller i grupp, för dig som längtar efter att leva ditt liv mer så som du vill ha det och känner dig redo att sätta dig själv i förarsätet. 

Programmet är en blandning av coachning och väl beprövade metoder för självledarskap. Du arbetar på egen hand och tillsammans med en coach som finns med och stöttar dig hela vägen.

Coachprogram:  Äg din resa | Svenska eller engelska | Nästa start januari 2025

If you... 
Feel stuck. 
Want a change.
Search for the big meaning. 
Don’t know where to go next. 
Need action towards your goals. 
Want to grow your self-awareness.

Individual coaching online or IRL | Life | Career | Leadership | English or Swedish

För dig som vill växa i din chefsroll genom att jobba med verkliga utmaningar från din verksamhet och vara del av ett lärande nätverk med andra kvinnliga ledare: 
 
Vill växa och utvecklas tillsammans med andra kvinnliga chefer.
Är nyfiken på andras erfarenheter och perspektiv på dina utmaningar och ditt ledarskap. 
Vill fördjupa din självkännedom och hitta ditt trygga sätt att leda.
Tror på kraften i ett lärande nätverk där deltagarna stöttar och inspirerar varandra.
Har varit chef i några år.

Ledarprogrammet Perspeqtiv för kvinnliga chefer i Öresundsregionen | Start Februari 2025

I talk about the keys to sustainable self-leadership and how to last the long run.

Kick-off? Inspirational speaker? Action-oriented workshop? I can help.

Lectures | Workshops | Facilitation | Inspiration | Kick-offs

Welcome to browse around my website to learn more about me and GrowU. So far it's only available in Swedish. English yet to come!

Besök min hemsida för mer information |  Arbetar med företag och privatpersoner IRL och online

Jympa, Skivstång och Multifys 
Ledaruppföljare
Tidigare styrelsemedlem 

Leadership that doesn’t cost you yourself | For women leaders done with surface solutions | Authority without self-compromise | Popcorn Lover 🍿 | Get on the First-to-know-list 👇🏼

👋🏼Hello dear network – hej kära nätverk!👋🏼
De flesta som följer mig bor i Sverige. Jag skriver mest på engelska. Jag är nyfiken på vad du som ser mina inlägg tycker. Kan du hjälpa mig?

Most of my posts are in English, at the same time many of you are based in Sweden. 

I'm curious about how you experience it – and I'm asking everyone, not only Swedes.

Feel free to elaborate your answer - in Swedish or English - in the comments. Appreciate your help!
💛

What's it like for you reading my posts in English? 

To share or not to share... 💀

Excited to host this Live with 3 marketers + 3 coaches debating when it gets too much... and who gets to decide what IS too much. 

Log in and join us, bring your questions too!

Build leadership that doesn’t cost you yourself | I help female leaders lead themselves first | Self-leadership, boundaries & sustainable ambition | Get The Bad Good Girl Newsletter 📬👇🏼

For the people who think dangerously well. ​>​>​> Scaling Intellectual Authority / Thought Leadership 🌃 (Storyteller, raised on cyberpunk fiction.)

You’ve all seen it: The trauma-dump with a CTA. And then you wonder: Is this brave… or ...?

This audio Live is a real-time debate between people who build attention and people who protect nervous systems.

We are answering:
- Who decides when sharing becomes “over”sharing?
- When does “vulnerability” become “emotional burden” for the audience?
- Should you post while you’re still bleeding, or after you’ve processed?

We made a panel of 3 marketers vs 3 wellbeing coaches!

Team Wellbeing:
Our host Annika Mohlin 🌱 —  Self-leadership, boundaries, sustainable ambition.
Josh Perry — High Performance Coach (creation vs survival mode)
Emily Heird, LPC/MHSP — Licensed therapist & mental performance coach 

Team Marketing:
Jenni Reher — Marketing strategist, creator of Find Your Weird™ 
Sandra Macele — Identity & positioning strategist (thought-leadership infrastructures)
Robert van Tongeren — Content strategy that makes you look like a genius

Log in tomorrow, and bring your best questions ;) muahahaha ...

Strategic Landing Pages That Make You Look Premium, Sell Better & Stay Top-of-Mind

What if your website's conversion rates doubled?

I've analyzed over 100 websites and discovered a common issue: their conversion rates were alarmingly low.

Why?

Was it due to their poor design? Hell yes!!!

You might wonder about the role of design in conversions, but remember, it's the first impression.

If your website design doesn't hook the visitors, they never scroll. That means no scroll -> no interest in your offer, and that's how your conversion rates drop.

But fear not, I won't let your conversions stay low and make you feel sad.

Here's how I can help you:

If you don't have a website yet, congratulations! You're in the right place. I'll craft a website that looks stunning and boost your personal brand, which means more $$$.

OR

If you have a website but it isn't converting, what's stopping you? I'm here to revamp and optimize it for stellar conversion rates.

And 

If you're in need of a landing page to:

- Showcase your Offer
- Increase Newsletter sign-ups
- Schedule more appointments through sales pages

So why wait? Let's create one for you NOW. 

Each month I work with 5 Creators/Founders. 

Act now before all seats are booked! To do so, simply go to my 'Featured Section' and book a 1:1 discovery call or you can DM me to see if we're good fit.

Muhammad Ibrahim

I’m living some of the wildest days of my life.

Last Wednesday, I booked a flight for one reason only:

To meet some of my best LinkedIn connections in real life.

No agenda.
No “business trip.”

Just people who started as profile pictures…
and somehow became real friends.

The last 5 days felt unreal.

We went shopping just to buy slippers.

Played dodging cars so aggressively that strangers thought we’d lost our minds.

Drove up the hills to see a top view of Islamabad.

Stood inside Faisal Mosque, silent, massive, humbling.

Took a horse ride for the first time and
honestly, I absolutely loved it.

Traveled 23km just to drink our favorite mint margarita because logic was optional that day.

Snuck into a mall by joining a random family
because it was “family-only day” and rules felt negotiable.

One of us (Awais) took a cold shower in 5°C water like a psychopath.

Spent 45k in a single day and didn’t even remember where it went.

But it wasn’t all perfect.

We got scammed by a taxi driver, lesson learned.

The water was so cold our hands went numb after washing.

Junk food caught up with us. Health took a hit.

And still…

I’d do it all over again.

Because these weren’t just “fun days.”

They were life days.

The kind that remind you:

Connection beats comfort.

Memories beat money.

And some decisions only make sense after you make them.

P.S. Have you ever traveled just for people?
Worth it or not

------

Grateful beyond words.

Thanks Muhammad Awais Amjad, Muhammad Shahmeer, Muhammad Husnain Khalid and Subhan Ahmad Shahid for showing up and making these days unforgettable.

Still in Islamabad with the boys,
and hoping to make many more memories.

I’m writing this while waiting for my first-ever flight.

Solo.

No partner.
No “let me wait for someone.”

And here’s what’s surprising me the most:

I’m calm.
I’m confident.
I feel stupidly grateful.

And yeah, I’m excited in a way that feels unfamiliar.

No fear.
No panic.
Just curiosity.

(Also… I might actually say hi to the pilot. Let’s see 😄)

What’s hitting me right now is this feeling of earned independence.

Like, I chose this.

And that changes everything.

So here’s my message to anyone stuck in hesitation mode:

If you’re delaying travel because
you’re “waiting for the right person”
or scared of doing it alone,
listen carefully.

When things get hard, most people won’t be there anyway.

A few will.

The rest disappear.

So why keep postponing your life?

Yes, solo travel feels scary at first.
That fear is real.

But here’s my challenge to you:
book the flight anyway.

You don’t outgrow fear by waiting.
You outgrow it by moving.

You’ll thank yourself for it.

Not me.

 P.S. What do you remember most from your first flight?

One thing I failed at in 2025 and I’m owning it.

I promised myself I’d create more videos.

I didn’t.

At the start of 2025, I set a non-negotiable rule:

No matter what, I’ll show up on video.

Reality had other plans.

The first two quarters went wild.

Fully booked.
Dream clients.
Some of my favorite landing pages I’ve ever built.

And quietly… my videos disappeared.

Not because I didn’t care.
Not because I wasn’t serious.

Because I made a dangerous mistake:

I relied on motivation instead of a system.

I recorded “when I felt like it.”
And every time I felt like it… I didn’t have time.

That’s on me.

No structure = broken promises to yourself.

But that changes now.

My trip ends on Jan 16.

From the very next day, I’m running this system, no drama, no excuses:

→ Collect viral ideas in batches
→ Write 2–3 scripts every week
→ Record at least 2 videos per week (more if possible)
→ Send everything to Podcutz for editing, no bottlenecks

2025 taught me the lesson.
2026 is where I apply it.

If you dropped the ball last year too, this is your sign:

Fix the system, not your motivation.

Let’s go.

P.S. What’s the biggest mistake you made in 2025?

Some premium landing pages I designed last year 👇

Premium Landing Pages

After building over 28 websites and landing pages last year, this is the most valuable lesson I’ve learned.

You think you’re competing with competitors.

You’re not.

That’s a comforting lie.

You’re competing with something that’s shrinking every single day:

Your audience’s attention span.

Yes, everyone knows this.

Almost no one designs like they believe it.

How do I know?

Because I audit landing pages daily and still see:

→ Long, bloated headlines that say nothing
→ Generic copy that could belong to anyone
→ Stock images pretending to be trust

And then founders say:

“Why aren’t we getting leads?”

Because your page is bleeding attention before it earns trust.

So how do you actually compete for attention?

It’s simpler and harsher than you think.

Imagine someone walks up to you and says:

“Hey, I know you’re stuck with [exact painful problem].

I’ve already solved it.

Here’s how.”

You don’t scroll.
You don’t hesitate.
You listen.

Why?

Because your pain was named.
And a solution was promised, fast.

That’s the rule.

If your landing page doesn’t:

→ Call out the pain instantly
→ Remove confusion immediately
→ Signal relief within seconds

You’ve already lost.

Not to competitors.

To silence.

And silence never converts.

Secret!!!

Today was the last day with them.

And before life speeds up again… 
I want to lock in what the last 10 days taught me.

First, I’m genuinely grateful I got to start the year like this.

Not with pressure. Not with noise.

But with laughter, movement, and real conversations.

Here’s what stayed with me:

→ Your environment edits your thinking, whether you like it or not.

Being around the right people doesn’t just motivate you.

It silently raises your standards.

You start thinking bigger without forcing it.

→ Travel isn’t a break for founders, it’s a reset.

This was my first real trip, and I already know one thing:

mental clarity doesn’t come from grinding harder.

It comes from stepping away long enough to hear yourself think.

→ Money matters, pretending otherwise is naive.

Yes, money can buy happiness.
Or at least the space to create it.

Experiences, freedom, options, none of that is free.

→ Energy is more valuable than time.

You can have free hours and still feel dead inside.

The right people + new places recharge you faster than any productivity hack.

→ The internet gives you reach. Real life gives you depth.

Online connections are powerful.

But meeting people in real life turns “network” into bond.

→ Comfort kills stories. Discomfort creates them.

Every memorable moment from this trip came from saying yes
when comfort said no.

This trip ends here.

But the version of me it created doesn’t.

Already planning the next one in April or May.

Different places. Same intention.

P.S. When was the last time you stepped out of your routine long enough to reset?

My father started his business at 19.

I started mine at 21.

Just a two-year gap.

Sounds similar, right?

Completely different worlds.

When my father started, there was no backup plan.

That business was survival.

No social media.
No marketing playbooks.
No “content strategy.”

Clients came from one place only:

Word of mouth

So he built everything on two things:

Honesty and quality work.

Slowly, that reputation turned into trust.

Trust turned into big clients.

Big clients turned into millions in sales.

And because of that, he gave us a life most people only aim for.

Now compare that to my start.

When I began my web design business, failure wouldn’t have ended me.

I could’ve joined his business anytime.

But I never let myself think that way.

I treated my business like I had no safety net.

12-hour days.
No weekends.
Missed family gatherings.
Zero shortcuts.

Not because I had to but because I wanted something of my own.

Three years later, I can say this without hesitation:

It was worth it.

But here’s the real reason I’m telling this story.

We all look for role models in podcasts, books, and Twitter threads.

Sometimes, the best one is standing right in front of us.

For me, that’s my father.

Whatever business sense I have, it started with him.

Whatever confidence I’m building, it’s because I watched him build first.

That hunger to do more, to go further, I didn’t invent it.

I inherited it.

Different paths.
Same foundation.

And I’m proud of that.

P.S. Is your father your first business role model too?

Tomorrow, at this exact time, I’ll be in a different city.

Solo (just for a short time though.)

A little nervous.
More excited.

And fully responsible for whatever happens next.

This is my first time traveling alone to another city.

And yeah, that fear is real.

But so is the pull to do things that stretch you.

The crazy part?

When I land, I won’t be alone.

I’ll be meeting some of my best LinkedIn connections I made two years ago when I had almost nothing but consistency and a LinkedIn account.

Different cities.
Different lives.

And now, finally, real life.

On top of that, I made a promise to myself on Jan 1:

30 days of posting. No excuses.

I’m on Day 5.

And I’m continuing this challenge while traveling.

I don’t know how clean the posts will be.
I don’t know where I’ll write them.
I don’t know if I’ll be tired, distracted, or overwhelmed.

But I do know this:

Momentum doesn’t care about comfort.

One thing I’m deeply grateful for,
every expense on this trip is on me.

Flights.
Food.
Shopping.
Everything.

Not because it’s flashy.
But because it’s proof.

I built something that moves with me.

P.S. Have you ever traveled solo?
How was the experience?
Any tips you’d give someone doing it for the first time?

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Annika Mohlin 🌱

Muhammad Ibrahim

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taplio

The Battle

Annika Mohlin 🌱

Muhammad Ibrahim

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Annika Mohlin 🌱's LinkedIn Performance

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