Dan Go

Body transformation coach to entrepreneurs. On a mission to help 1 million people transform their bodies by 2027. Follow me for posts on high performance & health optimization.

Over the past 18 years, at High Performance Founder we have been helping some of the sharpest Entrepreneurs on the Planet lose weight, build muscle & increase energy.

Just imagine yourself with more confidence, energy & focus watching your revenue skyrocket as a result of feeling like yourself again.

That’s what most DREAM about, but cease to ever accomplish...

After servicing over 10,000+ Clients,

I've noticed a pattern of why most Entrepreneurs can't lose weight in a sustainable way and I've distilled it down to 3 forces:

Force #1. Cookie cutter plans - You follow someone else's plan or diet and hope to expect the same result.

What you actually need is a plan customized to your body and personal lifestyle.

Force #2. Systems — No systems in place to make getting in shape easier.

A good business runs on systems. The same goes for your body.

Without systems you're gambling on success worse than a drunken bet at a Vegas craps table. 

The process of getting your body back into shape is very much about automating the habits needed to get your body lean & energetic.

No systems = having to think about your diet and workouts all the time.

This results in your spinning your wheels getting frustrated with the process and eventually giving up.

Force #3. Too much focus on losing weight. Not enough on sustainability

What's the point of losing 20 lbs in 6 weeks if you just put it back on?

The goal is to never worry or think about having an unhealthy body for the rest of your life.

But you can't be doing that if you're just thinking about doing things only to lose weight and not enough on your lifestyle.

Most entrepreneurs do unsustainable things to lose a couple pounds on the scale only to be disappointed when they're back where they started.

This results in a yo yo cycle of weight loss and weight gain until they give up.

Now, if you're facing any of these forces, I have a good news! These are completely avoidable and reversible if you just follow the right process.

At High Performance Founder, we are client-obsessed helping entrepreneurs succeed by filling in these gaps. 

Our "North Star" is our clients, focused on this axis; Fastest, most predictable and cost-efficient way possible to help you grow. Our hygiene standard is to help our client getting in shape without stressing out.

We've spent the last 18+ years dialling in a process that just works!

Don't take my word for it — check out our Case Studies below from our successful Clients.

Want to learn more?
→ https://highperformancefounder.com/testimonials/

Chief Executive Officer

We specialize in helping entrepreneurs lose the excess weight, build muscle & increase energy with ease and minimal stress.

At High Performance Founder, we are client-obsessed helping entrepreneurs become the healthiest versions of themselves.

Our "North Star" is our clients results with a big focus on sustainability. Our standard is helping clients reach their fitness goals within 12 weeks.

We've spent the last 18 years dialling in a process that just works!

Don't take my word for it — check out our Case Studies below from our successful Clients.

Want to learn more? Watch free training:
→ https://highperformancefounder.com/testimonials/

It's my birthday today, and let me share with you something that has taken me a decade to learn:

Body:
Hit the gym 3x/week. That's it.

Relationships:
Find someone whom you wouldn't mind doing absolutely nothing with. Lock that person down.

Work:
Pick something you'd do for free. Then charge for it.

Daily execution:
Show up. Do the work. Ignore everyone else's scoreboard.

The happiest people I know are not the ones with the most money. They're the ones who figured this out.

We overcomplicate success:
- 47-step morning routines
- Optimization frameworks
- Life hacks and shortcuts
- Comparison games

The truth is boring:

Lift heavy things. Love good people. Build something meaningful. Have more fun than everyone else.

That's the whole playbook.

The person having the most fun always wins. Because they're the only one who knows what game they're actually playing.

Stop collecting tactics. Start living.

Period.

♻️ Share with someone making life harder than it needs to be.

- Dan

Ps. Want the simple system to keep your body in shape? Join 460,000+ upgrading their lives and bodies👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

I Asked 100 Entrepreneurs: 'What Would You Trade For 10 More Healthy Years?'

Every Answer Was The Same.

"Everything."

Their cars. Stock portfolios. Beach houses. Business empires.

All of it.

One founder showed me his dad's death certificate. Died at 58. Heart attack. Built a $50M company but never saw his grandkids.

Another pulled up photos. Him at 35: Running 5ks. Him at 45: Can't climb stairs without stopping.

Here's what hit me hardest:

These aren't lazy people. They work 80-hour weeks. Close million-dollar deals. Build empires.

But they treat their bodies like rental cars.

Skip workouts for meetings.
Replace meals with protein bars.
Sleep 4 hours because "hustle."
Pop pills instead of fixing problems.

Then, at 50, they'd trade their entire net worth for what they destroyed.

The math doesn't work.

You're grinding for a future you won't live to see. Building wealth while bankrupting your health.

I tell my clients: Your body is your only non-negotiable asset.

Money? You can make more.
Business? You can start another.
Health? Once it's gone, it's gone.

The entrepreneurs who get this? They schedule workouts like board meetings. Track sleep like KPIs. Treat nutrition like an investment strategy.

Because 10 extra healthy years isn't about living longer.

It's about being there when your daughter gets married. Playing with grandkids. Actually enjoying what you built.

You can't buy that back.

♻️ Share with someone drowning in complexity.

- Dan

PS. I help entrepreneurs get their health back without sacrificing their business.

Every week 460,000+ subscribers get my best tips on getting lean, boosting energy, and living longer.

Join us here 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

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80% of desk workers do these for 60 seconds. The other 20% will live longer.

Watch the video. These two moves will save your spine, keep your shoulders healthy, improve posture, and also help improve your chances at longevity.

The Bar Hang:
• Decompresses your spine after 8 hours of sitting
• Opens up shoulders hunched over keyboards
• Strengthens grip (predicts longevity better than blood pressure)
• Hold for 1-2 minutes

The Asian Squat:
• Reverses hip tightness from chair prison
• Mobilizes ankles destroyed by dress shoes
• Strengthens knees most people can't bend past 90°
• Hold for 1-2 minutes

My CEO clients laughed when I showed them this.

"That's your secret weapon?"

6 weeks later:
• Back pain gone
• Can touch their toes again
• Energy through the roof
• Feel 10 years younger

Your body wasn't designed for 8 hours in a chair.

These 4 minutes undo 8 hours of damage.

One opens what sitting closes. The other strengthens what sitting weakens.

Do them daily. Your spine will thank you at 70.

✍️ How long can you hold each one?

♻️ Share with someone living at their desk.

- Dan

Ps. Join 450,000+ desk workers reclaiming their bodies and operating at their fullest potential:

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

Something I've realized in my 20 years of coaching is that your physical health equals your mental health.

When I was sedentary, eating a horrible diet, not getting enough sleep, and drinking alcohol regularly, it would often come with anxiety, negative thoughts, and ruminations. 

The first thing I did to clean up my act was start an exercise routine.

As I went to the gym, I found that my brain felt lighter, and I was starting to feel motivated. 

One thing led to another, and here I am writing this to you on LinkedIn. 

You can build a better brain by building a better body. 

If you don't believe me, try it out for yourself. You may be surprised at what you find. 

♻️ Share with someone who needs this wake-up call.

- Dan

Ps. Want the exact blueprint Jason used to transform?

Join 450,000+ choosing better every day 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

Everyone wants the shortcut. The pill. The hack. Here's what 20 years of coaching taught me:

The basics work. They've always worked.

But people hate them because they're boring.

You know what's not boring?

• Having energy to play with your kids at 45
• Thinking clearly in every meeting
• Never worrying about your blood work
• Feeling stronger at 50 than you did at 30
• Actually enjoying how you look in photos

I've watched hundreds of entrepreneurs transform their lives with these 5 simple habits.

Not supplements. Not biohacks. 

Just the unsexy stuff that actually moves the needle.

The hard truth: Your problems aren't that complicated.

Your solutions aren't either.

You just don't want to do the work.

Start with one. Then add another. In 6 months, you'll be unrecognizable.

Or keep searching for magic. Your choice.

♻️ Share with someone looking for the secret (it's not a secret).

- Dan

Ps. Getting in shape is simple and fun. Join 460,000+ learning how 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

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A broom handle just fixed my CEO client's 10-year back pain in 47 seconds.

Not kidding.

After spending $10,000 on chiropractors, and massage therapy, a $5 broom handle did what nothing else could.

The move: Kneeling T-Spine Rotation.

Here's why 90% of desk workers have garbage posture:

Your thoracic spine (mid-back) is locked up from 8+ hours of hunching. When it can't rotate, your lower back and neck compensate. Hello, pain.

The 47-second fix:

1. Sit on a bench
2. Place broom handle across your upper back
3. Place a foam roller or pillow between your knees
4. Rotate your body (see video)
5. 10 reps each side

That's it. No gym required.

My client's results:
- Week 1: "Feels weird but good"
- Week 2: "Standing taller without trying"
- Week 3: "Haven't touched ibuprofen"
- Month 2: "Best I've felt in a decade"

The uncomfortable truth:

You're spending thousands on complex solutions when a broom handle and 47 seconds would fix it.

Your spine doesn't need another gadget. It needs to move the way it was designed to move.

Watch the full demo in the video above. Your future self will thank you.

♻️ Share with someone living on painkillers.

- Dan

Ps. Want more 1-minute health fixes that actually work? 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

The Deathbed Calculator: How Many Years Your Current Habits Are Stealing (With Proof)

My 52-year-old client just discovered he'd been trading 14 years of his life for convenience.

The math was brutal:
- Daily alcohol: -4.6 years
- Poor sleep habits: -2.8 years 
- Zero strength training: -3.2 years
- Processed food diet: -2.1 years
- 4000 steps a day: -2.5 years

He thought he was "just living life."

Turns out he was financing his early death on a payment plan.

Here's what most people miss: Your body keeps a running tab. Every skipped workout. Every late-night scroll. Every "just one more drink."

The compound interest on bad habits is death.

But here's the plot twist – the math works both ways:

Start lifting 3x weekly: +2.5 years
Fix your sleep: +2.1 years
Cut the booze: +3.8 years
Walk 8,000 steps: +1.9 years
Eat whole foods: +2.3 years

That's 12.6 years added back. In 90 days.

My client's now deadlifting his body weight and playing with his grandkids. At 55, he's younger than he was at 45.

The calculator doesn't lie. Your habits are either deposits or withdrawals.

Which account are you funding?

♻️ Share with someone who needs to see their numbers.

- Dan

PS. Ready to flip your health metrics before 2025 ends?

Join 460,000+ entrepreneurs getting my weekly optimization strategies:

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

"I need to lose 20 lbs fast." Every January 2nd email ever.

Here's exactly what I'd do. No BS. No magic pills.

• Zero alcohol for 90 days
• 10,000 steps every single day
• Lift weights 4x/week (3 is maintenance, 5 is overkill)
• Sleep 7-8 hours (non-negotiable)
• Replace snacks with water
• Real food only. If it has a commercial, skip it.

That's it. That's the whole system.

My client Sarah followed this exact blueprint:

Week 1: "This is too simple to work."
Week 4: Down 6 lbs
Week 8: "My jeans are falling off."
Week 12: Down 22 lbs, deadlifting her bodyweight

The uncomfortable truth:

Everyone wants the complicated solution because simple feels too easy.

Keto? Intermittent fasting? Carnivore? 
Cool. But unnecessary.

You know what works. You've always known.

The gap isn't information. Its execution.

90 days. 6 rules. Zero excuses.

Most people will read this and look for something more complex.

The ones who just screenshot it and start tomorrow? They'll be shopping for new clothes by April.

Patience isn't sexy. But neither is yo-yo dieting for the next decade.

Pick simple. Stick to simple. Win with simplicity.

Period.

♻️ Share with someone overcomplicating weight loss.

- Dan

Ps. Want to get in your best shape in 2026? Join 460,000+ doing it right 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

People ask me how I stay lean year-round as a dad while running multiple businesses.

Here's the truth: I don't negotiate with myself.

My daily non-negotiables:

· Exercise
· No meals past 6pm
· Hydrate with water
· Give value to people
· Eat a nutrient dense diet
· Write at least 500 words
· Read at least one chapter
· Sleep at 10. Wake up by 6am.
· Always breathe through my nose

Most people think this list is extreme.

I think waking up tired, sick, and unmotivated is extreme.

The difference between successful people and everyone else isn't talent.

It's having standards you refuse to break.

Every item on this list serves a purpose:
- Exercise = Mental clarity
- 6pm cutoff = Better sleep
- Writing = Clear thinking
- Nose breathing = Calm nervous system

These aren't restrictions. They're my operating system.

When you make health non-negotiable, success becomes inevitable.

Your standards become your life.

What are yours?

♻️ Share with someone who needs higher standards.

- Dan

Ps. Building non-negotiables changed my life at 40. Learn how 460,000+ are doing it 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

My client dropped 18 pounds in 6 weeks drinking water at weird times.

She'd tried everything. Keto. Intermittent fasting. 10,000 steps. Nothing stuck.

Then we tested something stupidly simple: Strategic water timing.

The protocol in the image changed everything.

Here's the science most people miss:

Drinking water during meals forces you to eat faster which interferes with your digestive process.

But water BEFORE meals? Different story. Increases satiety hormones. You eat 22% less without trying.

Water between meals kills fake hunger. Most "hunger" is just dehydration wearing a disguise.

The morning water hydrates you better than coffee.

My client went from constantly snacking to forgetting food exists. Her energy doubled. Bloating vanished.

The Lean Body Water Method isn't sexy. But it works.

Because sometimes the answer isn't another $200 supplement or biohacking gadget.

It's the stuff that's been free all along.

♻️ Share with someone who needs to stop overcomplicating weight loss.

- Dan

PS. Want more simple protocols that actually work?

Join 460,000+ entrepreneurs getting lean without the BS:

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

I just turned 46. Here’s what your 40s are trying to tell you:

Your metabolism didn’t slow down. You did.

Your back doesn’t hurt from age. It hurts from sitting.

You’re not too old to build muscle. You’re too inconsistent.

Your energy isn’t gone. It’s buried under poor sleep and stress.

At 46, I’m stronger than at 26. Better cardio than 36. More muscle, less medication, zero excuses.

The difference? I stopped negotiating with the basics: Lift heavy. Walk daily. Sleep 8 hours. Eat protein. Repeat forever.

Your 40s aren’t your decline. They’re your wake-up call.

Answer it.

If you’re tired of fitness programs that don’t work for busy entrepreneurs...

I've developed a system that fits into your demanding schedule.

Follow me and DM "SYSTEM" to learn more 👊

(For entrepreneurs, founders, and executives only)

JbMzBf1Rg

My client lost 30 lbs and made an extra $1.2M last year. Not a coincidence.

"I can't focus after lunch," he told me 18 months ago. Running a $2 million company while falling asleep in meetings.

His day: 
- Skip breakfast
- 4 coffees by noon
- Crash at 2pm
- Work until midnight (poorly)
- Repeat

We fixed his body first. Business followed.

Started simple:
- Protein breakfast daily
- Gym 3x/week
- 8 hours sleep
- Walk during calls

Month 3: Down 15 lbs. Stopped the 2pm crashes.
Month 6: Down 30 lbs. Working 2 fewer hours, getting 2x more done.
Month 12: Best revenue year ever.

Here's what nobody tells you about fitness and money:

Energy = Better decisions
Confidence = Bigger deals close easier
Discipline = Systems that scale
Health = People trust you with their business

My highest-earning clients aren't the smartest. They're the ones with the most energy.

You can't negotiate million-dollar deals when you're fighting to stay awake.

The math:
Gym membership: $100/month
Healthy food: Extra $300/month
Energy to close one more deal: Priceless

Your body is your #1 business asset. Everything else is secondary.

Period.

♻️ Share with an entrepreneur choosing between gym time and "grinding."

- Dan

Ps. Ready to 10x your energy AND income? Join 460,000+ subscribers who are getting fit and making more money 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

A CEO client just turned 52. His doctor gave him two options:

"Start medication for your heart, or start moving."

He chose both cardio AND weights. Smart move.

Everyone's arguing about cardio vs weights. They're missing the point.

Here's what actually happens:

Cardio only = You'll outlive your friends but need help opening jars
Weights only = You're strong until your heart says "nope" at 65
Both = You're the 90-year-old still crushing life

The math is simple:

3x week cardio = Heart that won't quit
3x week weights = Body that won't break
6 hours total = Decades of independence

My client who started this at 52:

Month 1: Could barely walk up stairs
Month 6: Deadlifting his bodyweight
Month 12: Off heart medication
Today: Planning to hike Machu Picchu at 55

The uncomfortable truth:

Every workout you skip is a vote for a weaker future.
Every workout you complete is compound interest for your body.

Stop picking sides in a war nobody wins.

Your heart needs cardio.
Your muscles need weights.
Your future needs both.

Period.

♻️ Share with someone still choosing teams.

- Dan

Ps. Your body is keeping score. Join 460,000+ subscribers winning the health game 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

Everyone else is coasting into 2025. I'm about to disappear.

Starting today through March 31st, I'm going full monk mode.

Here's my non-negotiable protocol:

• Zero alcohol 
• Social events: 
• No processed sugar
• 1000 words written before 8am daily
• 10 minutes meditation 
• No foods after 6pm
• Business meetings that matter only

My friends think I'm crazy when I tell them this:

"Dan, it's the holidays! Everyone's slowing down!"

Exactly.

While they're nursing hangovers, I'm in the gym at 5am.
While they're scrolling, I'm writing my next book.
While they're "starting fresh in January," I'm already 90 days ahead.

Last year during monk mode:
- Lost 12 pounds of pure fat
- Wrote 45,000 words
- Had record income months
- Actually enjoyed Christmas (present, not buzzed)

The best part? My family gets the real me. Not the stressed, distracted, half-present version.

This isn't about being antisocial. It's about being intentional.

I've done this for 5 years straight. Each time, I emerge sharper, leaner, and light years ahead of where I started.

2026 isn't built in 2026. It's built right now.

The question is: Will you coast or create?

✍️ What's one thing you'll sacrifice for the next 90 days to level up?

- Dan

Ps. Want the exact monk mode protocol I'm following?

Join 470,000+ high performers getting my proven strategies 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

Before finding the gym, I was a massive screw-up. 
 
My life consisted of working a job I hated, playing video games to pass the time, and drinking to the point of getting blackout drunk with my friends every week. 
 
When I found the gym and started to exercise, my world changed. 
 
I started to think more positively. I started to find my self-worth. 
 
Strength training gave me energy and confidence. 
 
Nutrition helped me focus and reduce my anxiety. 
 
The actions that get you in shape are the same ones that change your brain and improve mental health. 
 
If you're stuck in life, try focusing on your health and body. 
 
Good things happen when you get healthy. 
 
✍🏼 Agree or disagree? 
♻️ Reshare if this was helpful. 
 
- Dan 
 
Ps. If you liked this post you'll enjoy my newsletter. 
 
Every week I share tips on how to get lean, boost energy, and live longer. 
 
Join 460,000+ subscribers here 👇🏼

https://lnkd.in/gSFC9CMU

I spent 20 years as a meathead who thought cardio was for quitters.

Could bench 1.5x and deadlift 2.5x my bodyweight. But walking up one flight of stairs? Winded.

That wake-up call hit at 42. I was strong but would struggle running a 5k.

So I swallowed my pride and started walking. Then sprinting. Then Zone 2 cardio.

The changes shocked me:
• Energy through the roof
• Mood more stable than ever
• Can outlast guys half my age
• Feel better at 45 than I did at 25

I still lift heavy 3x a week. But now I do cardio 3x.

Turns out I was only training half my body. The weights gave me better years. But the cardio? That's giving me more years.

Doing both is giving me the best years.

Your muscles might impress at the beach. Your heart determines if you'll make it there.

♻️ Share with anyone who needs to do more cardio

- Dan

Ps. Want to improve your healthspan and lifespan?

Join 450,000+ subscribers who are living longer and improving the quality of their lives.

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

December 5th. While everyone is waiting for January to make changes you could show up 10 pounds lighter and ahead of the pack.

December is "separation season". While everyone is getting lazy and enjoying the holidays, you are creating an unbreakable foundation. 

My client Marcus did this last December. Lost 15 pounds, doubled his energy, and closed his biggest deal of the year on December 28th.

The December Domination Protocol:

Every. Single. Day:

- No alcohol
- Lift 3x a week
- Walk 10k steps
- Limit social media
- Read a chapter a day
- Reach out to 5 people
- Set a goal and do one thing every day to achieve it

Do these non-negotiables until the end of December.

No days off. No excuses. No "I'll start tomorrow."

The math:
31 days × 45 minutes = 23.25 hours total
23.25 hours = Complete physical transformation
January 1st = You're already 27 days ahead

Most people will screenshot this and wait until Monday.

Some will try it for 3 days and quit.

Winners started their plan before finishing this sentence.

By New Year's Eve, you'll either be transformed or full of excuses.

Your competition is planning their resolutions. You'll already be living yours.

💪 Who's in? Comment "DAY 1" and let's dominate December together.

- Dan

PS. Want the advanced version with my exact meal plans?

Join 460,000+ high performers:

https://lnkd.in/gSFC9CMU

My client Marcus lost 30 pounds in 90 days.

But the real transformation? He discovered why he'd been fat for 20 years.

Week 1: "I'm too busy to meal prep."
Reality: He spent 3 hours daily scrolling social media.

Week 3: "I don't have time for the gym."
Reality: He had time for 2 Netflix episodes every night.

Week 5: "My genetics are against me."
Reality: His diet resembled that of. a7 year old adult.

Week 7: "I can't give up beer with the boys."
Reality: He was drinking alone most nights.

Here's what hit him hardest:

Every excuse was a lie he'd been telling himself.

The weight wasn't his enemy. His stories were.

Once he saw the truth, everything changed:

• Social scrolling → Walking
• Netflix binges → Cardio
• Solo beers → Sparkling water

The fat melted off. Not because of some magic diet.

But because he finally stopped lying to himself.

Getting in shape is a psychological process disguised as a physical one.

Your biggest weakness isn't your body.

It's the stories you tell yourself about why you can't change.

Drop the stories. Drop the weight.

♻️ Share with someone who needs to hear the truth.

- Dan

Ps. Join 460k high performers crushing their excuses and fitness goals 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

This one exercise should be mandatory for every desk worker.

I do it every single day. Takes 90 seconds. Fixes 8 hours of damage.

The Cat-Cow stretch.

Here's why it works:

Sitting compresses your spine by 40%. Your discs get squeezed like toothpaste tubes. Blood flow drops. Nerves get pinched.

Cat-Cow reverses all of it:
- Decompresses each vertebra
- Pumps fresh fluid into discs
- Mobilizes your entire spine
- Activates deep core muscles
- Resets your nervous system

The benefits compound:
• Back pain disappears
• Posture improves naturally
• Energy increases (better oxygen flow)
• Focus sharpens (spine-brain connection)
• Stress melts away

How to do it:
1. Get on all fours
2. Arch your back up like a scared cat (exhale)
3. Drop your belly down like a cow (inhale)
4. Flow between them for 10-15 reps

That's it. No equipment. No gym. Just movement.

My 38-year-old client was hobbling around his office due to his bad back. Three weeks of Cat-Cow every morning, and he's feeling pain free.

His chiropractor asked what changed. He laughed and showed him this simple stretch.

The best solutions aren't complicated. Your spine just wants to move how it was designed to move.

Not locked in a chair for a third of your life.

♻️ Share with someone whose back is killing them.

- Dan

PS. Want my complete desk worker recovery protocol?

Join 460,000+ subscribers getting it this week:

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If you sit at a desk for 8+ hours a day, this 60-second stretch will save your posture.

My client Mark, a 42-year-old CEO, couldn't raise his arms above his head without pain.

Years of hunching over his laptop destroyed his posture.

His shoulders rolled forward. His back rounded. He looked 10 years older.

Then I showed him the overhead lat stretch.

Here's how:
- Find a bench, couch, or desk
- Place your elbows on the surface
- Walk your feet back
- Drop your head between your arms
- Push your chest toward the floor

Hold for 60 seconds. That's it.

Mark did this every morning before his first Zoom call.

Week 1: "I feel like I'm standing taller"
Week 2: "I can finally sit up straight"
Week 4: "People keep asking if I got taller"

He didn't get taller. He just stopped carrying his desk on his shoulders.

Most people think bad posture is permanent after 40.

It's not. Your lats are just locked up from years of typing.

This stretch unlocks them in 60 seconds.

Do it now. Your future self will thank you.

♻️ Share with someone whose shoulders live at their ears.

- Dan

Ps. Fixing your posture fixes your energy. Join 460,000+ discovering how 👇

https://lnkd.in/gzyviRFf

Dan Martell

From jail cell to scaling multiple 8-figure businesses - my journey wasn't supposed to work out this way.

At 17, I found myself in adult jail facing serious charges. Most people's stories like mine don't end well. But that rock bottom became my foundation.

I taught myself to code, built and sold 3 tech companies, and invested in over 60 startups including Intercom, Udemy, and Unbounce. Yet my biggest success wasn't financial - it was discovering that the right guidance at the right time changes everything.

That's why I created Martell Media.

I've watched too many brilliant founders struggle with the same challenges:
• Working 80+ hours while growth flatlines
• Building a business that owns them instead of serves them
• Sacrificing health and relationships for a dream that keeps moving further away

Sound familiar?

Since 2016, I've dedicated my life to helping founders scale their companies while buying back their time. My coaching has helped clients grow from 7 to 8 figures, implement systems that let them work 20+ fewer hours weekly, and build businesses that serve their lives - not consume them.

My book "Buy Back Your Time" became a Wall Street Journal bestseller and #1 business book on Amazon because it addresses the fundamental challenge all entrepreneurs face: how to create freedom through your business, not despite it.

If you're ready to scale your company while reclaiming your life, let's connect. The entrepreneurial journey is challenging enough - you don't have to figure it out alone.

🔗 Join 150,000+ entrepreneurs receiving my weekly insights: https://bit.ly/3VMkoGD

Founder & CEO

We Help Ambitious B2B SaaS Founders Achieve their Perfect Exit™

Your team doesn't need a babysitter. They need a leader.

If you don't trust your team to manage their own time, you either hired the wrong people or you're the wrong leader.

Most likely both.

You can't tell if someone is doing good work, so you measure what you can see: butts in seats, hours logged, bathroom breaks.

The result?

Your A-players quit first because they have options and working for you is exhausting.
Your B-players become C-players because you've trained them to wait for instructions.
Your C-players love it because now they can blame you when nothing gets done.

Here's what trust-based leadership looks like:

"I need this project finished by Friday. How you do it is up to you."
"Your quarterly goals are clear. Show me what you accomplished."
"You have a doctor's appointment? Handle your work and go."

Clear expectations. Total autonomy. Real accountability.

No timesheets. No status meetings about status meetings. No asking permission to live your life.

Just adults doing the work they were hired to do.

You hired them for a reason.. so let them reason.

-DM

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📘 Bestselling Author (Buy Back Your Time) 🚀 Building AI startups @Martell Ventures ⚙️ 3x Software Exits • $100M+ HoldCo 💬 DM "COACH" if you're looking to scale

As long as you are alive, it's never too late.

You can always start over.

You can always get better.

You can rise up from anything.

Nothing is permanent. You're not stuck.

All that matters is that you decide today and never look back.

You don't need the perfect setup.
You just need to start.

The rest you'll figure it out along the way.

That's how progress works:
First you move.
Then you improve.

The only mistake is waiting.

-DM

There's a reason your team stops talking when you enter the room.

They watch everything...

How you handle stress. 
How you treat mistakes. 
And whether you practice what you preach.

People don't follow your words. They follow your example.

So if you demand excellence but deliver mediocrity...
If you preach accountability but dodge responsibility...
If you talk "growth mindset" but resist feedback...

Then you're not leading. You're just performing.

Real leaders demonstrate:
• Consistency between words and actions
• Vulnerability when they don't have answers
• Ownership of failures, sharing of victories

Fake leaders demonstrate:
• "Do as I say, not as I do" mentality
• Blame-shifting when things go wrong
• Expecting standards they don't meet

Your team doesn't need you to be perfect.
They need you to be real.

Ask yourself: Would I follow someone who acts the way I act?

If the answer is no, your team probably feels the same way.

Be the leader you wish you had.

-DM

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Smartest advice I've ever got:

/1 Be easy to find, hard to reach.

Be visible enough that opportunities find you. 

Be scarce enough that people value your time. 

Best time management advice I've ever received.


/2 Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly.

Some days, answering one email is a win when your inbox is overflowing. 

The point? Doing it poorly is infinitely better than not doing it at all.

This isn’t about lowering standards, it's about making progress. 


/3 NO is just a YES playing hard to get.

If you ask, they might say YES. 

They might also say NO, but if you don't ask it's always a NO. 

So ask.


/4 Success is rarely a brain game.

People who are further in life aren’t smarter than you. They’re just doing more than you.

There's no such thing as "ready". 

You learn to swim by drowning a little every day. 

Jump in. The water's fine.


/5 Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.

Knowledge without action is like a Ferrari without gas. Looks cool, goes nowhere. 

Learn → Apply → Fail → Learn more → Apply better → Succeed → Repeat.

That’s it.


/6 Stay curious.

There’s always room for a new idea.

Be humble. Be teachable. Ask dumb questions. Challenge assumptions.

Be that annoying kid who keeps asking "why."

The moment you think you know it all is the moment you're done growing.

---

Now tell me, what’s the smartest advice you’ve ever received?

Share it below. Let’s learn from each other.

-DM

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I'm 45 years old and know more ChatGPT prompts than most 20-year-olds.

Not because I'm technical. Because I refuse to waste time on tasks AI can do better.

Here are the 6 prompts that save me 20+ hours every week:


Prompt 1: Mind Mapping Complex Topics

Use this when you're trying to understand something new or break down a complex problem.

I use this for market research, competitive analysis, even understanding new industries before investing.


Prompt 2: Explain Like I'm 10

The best test of understanding is whether you can explain it simply.

Perfect for presentations, teaching your team, or testing if you actually understand what you're talking about.


Prompt 3: Mental Resilience Builder

Every plateau requires a mindset shift to break through.

I use this whenever I'm stuck, avoiding something hard, or feeling resistance.


Prompt 4: Reverse Engineering Concepts

Stop starting from scratch. Work backwards from the result you want.

Game-changer for understanding business models, strategies, or how competitors are winning.


Prompt 5: Learn Anything From An Expert

Compress years of learning into hours.

Perfect for entering new industries or learning concepts fast.


Prompt 6: Memory & Retention Optimizer

Reading something once doesn't mean you've learned it.

This transforms passive consumption into active retention.



Here's the pattern:

Every effective prompt has 4 parts:

1. Context (what you're trying to achieve)
2. Role (who AI should become)
3. Command (what you want them to do)
4. Format (how you want the output)

Most people skip 1, 2, and 4. Then wonder why the output is generic.

AI isn't magic. It's a mirror. If your input is vague, your output will be useless. If your input is specific, your output is transformative.


Why this matters:

I'm competing against people half my age with twice the energy. The only way I win is by having better leverage.

These 6 prompts let me learn faster, think clearer, and execute better than I could on my own. And they can help you do the same. 

-DM

P.S. Want my complete AI implementation system (master prompts, custom instructions, and the 7 system prompts that save me 15+ hours per week)? MESSAGE me "AI" and I'll send you the full guide that shows you how to get AI doing 92% of your work. My gift to you 👊

6 Prompts You Need In Your Life Today

A few weeks ago I told my team that AI needs to do 92% of their work or they'll get left behind.

Here’s how we're doing it (and why):

Step 1: Get ChatGPT Plus/Pro


Step 2: Create your master prompt

• Tell AI: "I'm [your role] at [company type]. Create a master prompt for me. Ask me every question you need to give me the most context possible."
• Spend 30-45 minutes answering everything it asks
• Save the output as a PDF
• Upload this to every new chat so AI knows your full context


Step 3: Build system prompts
Master prompts tell AI who you are. System prompts tell AI HOW to work.

Here's the process:
• Ask AI to create any output (email, ad, report)
• Keep refining until it's perfect (3-6 iterations)
• Then ask: "Write the system prompt that would have generated this output"
• Save that prompt - it's now your intellectual property

Now you have the exact formula to get that quality every time.


Step 4: Use project folders 
Think of these like rooms in your office with all context on the walls.

• Create a project for each major area of your life/business
• Upload your master prompt + all relevant documents
• Every conversation builds on previous context
• Share folders with your team for instant knowledge transfer

I use this for investment decisions, business strategy, even family planning.


Step 5: Set your custom instructions
This makes AI remember how you like outputs formatted.

Go to Settings → Personalization → Custom Instructions:
• Tell it your communication style (short, bullet points, no fluff)
• Remove AI language like "delve" and "moreover" 
• Set your default tone and format preferences

Never repeat formatting requests again.


Step 6: Turn everything into custom GPTs
These are your AI employees that do specific tasks consistently.

• Take your best system prompts
• Create custom GPTs for each repeatable task
• Share them with your team
• Update once, everyone gets the improvement

I have custom GPTs for: emails, content creation, financial analysis, hiring, strategy docs.


Step 7: Refine and improve
Use AI to teach you AI.

• Ask it to create your master prompt
• Ask it to write your system prompts 
• Ask it to suggest custom instructions
• Ask it to help you build better prompts

Here's what 92% actually looks like:

- Content: AI does research, outlines, first drafts. You edit and add your voice.
- Operations: AI creates SOPs, analyzes processes, suggests improvements. You decide.
- Finance: AI analyzes reports, creates models, finds insights. You make decisions.
- Strategy: AI processes information, suggests options. You choose direction.

The 8% that stays human: Vision, taste, final decisions, and emotional intelligence.

My team went from thinking AI was "kind of helpful" to saying it's their most valuable employee.

It could be yours too.

-DM

P.S. If you want my complete prompting template and the 7 system prompts that save me 15+ hours per week, MESSAGE ME the word "AI" and I'll send it over. My gift to you 👊

58% of employees have left a job because of their boss.

Not the company. Not the pay. Not the work itself.

Their boss.

But here's the part nobody talks about: most of those bosses had good intentions.

They micromanaged because they cared about quality.
They withheld information because they didn't want to overwhelm people.
They made all the decisions because they thought it would be faster.

Good intentions. Terrible outcomes.

They never learned the difference between being a boss and being a leader.

Bosses micromanage because they care about control.
Leaders trust because they care about growth.

Bosses create fear because they think it drives performance.
Leaders inspire confidence because they know it drives excellence.

Bosses hoard information because they want to stay needed.
Leaders share knowledge because they want to build capability.

Your team doesn't need someone to boss them around.

They need someone to lead them forward.

Small difference, massively different outcomes. 

-DM

The Difference Between A Boss And A Leader Explained

Nobody ever quit a job because the snacks weren't good enough.

A recent PayFit survey discovered 46% of employees would turn down a 15% raise to keep their workplace flexibility. 

Read that again.

Nearly half of all professionals would choose freedom over more money.

Yet companies keep spending millions on office perks while ignoring what truly matters:

1. Respect
2. Flexibility
3. Empathetic Leadership
4. Meaning and Purpose
5. Trust and Transparency

The truth is... most "culture building" activities are just expensive distractions from the real issues. 

So next time you approve that office upgrade budget, ask yourself: would your best people trade it all for more agency and less bureaucracy? 

Because your competition is betting they will. And the data says they're right.

-DM

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Some lessons you learn early. Most you learn late.

These are the ones that actually mattered. The ones that changed how I think, build, and move through the world.

You can't skip the process. But you can shorten the learning curve by paying attention to people who've already walked the path.

That's what this is. Lessons I wish I'd known sooner. Maybe they'll save you some time.

What are some of your lessons? 

-DM

Life lessons I wish I knew

I fired myself from my own company six times in two years.

Best decision I ever made.

Here's the exact sequence I followed and why you should too:


Phase 1: Buy Back Your Time

Use the Buyback Loop system:

1/ Audit your calendar for 2 weeks (track every 15 minutes)
2/ Highlight red (draining) and green (energizing) tasks
3/ Calculate your buyback rate: Income ÷ 2000 hours ÷ 4
4/ Only delegate tasks below that rate

Once you have time back you'll be able to focus on the rest of system.

Phase 2: Clarify Your Offer

I always say: "Simple scales. Complex fails."

You need to find the overlap of these three:

• What customers pay top dollar for?
• What your team does best?
• What's most profitable?

That's your offer right there. Cut everything else.


Phase 3: Build the Growth Engine

All you need is three channels in parallel:

• Inbound (content that attracts)
• Outbound (cold outreach)
• Partners (leverage other audiences)

This way when one dips, another compensates. Never be at the mercy of a signle platform.


Phase 4: Systematize Delivery

Lean on the 3 Ps:

• Playbooks (document how to do the work well consistently)
• People (hire them for accountability, they need to own outcomes)
• Platforms (automation that scales without headcount)

Once you have this in place, retention becomes easier and running your  operation a lot more predictable. 


Phase 5: Install Leadership

This is where you fire yourself and stop making every decision. How?

• Use 1-3-1 Rule: Train your people to come to you with one clear problem, three solutions and one recommendation

• Decision Ladder: Give an allowance for your team to fix problems without your input. My rule: $50 (anyone), $500 (managers), $5K (directors)

• Leadership Rhythm: Daily standups, weekly sync, quarterly planning


Phase 6: Scale Culture

Culture is decisions made when you're not there.

• Core Values: Have 3 max. Once set... Hire, inspire, fire against them.
• Vision: Visual 5-year future. Repeat until they mock you.
• People Systems: Hire for soul, train for role.

Why this works:

Most founders focus on scaling revenue first. Wrong. That often creates more chaos.

This system forces you to build the foundation before adding any weight.

Each phase removes you from a role.

By phase six, you're actually the CEO.

This took me 28 years and millions in mistakes to figure out. You can shortcut all of it.

To you success,

-DM

P.S. Want the full 47-page Scale Your Business Playbook with every framework, template, and system from all 6 phases? MESSAGE ME "SCALE"  and I'll send you the complete guide at no cost 👊

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