Dipl.-Ing. Lars Behrendt

Granny&Smith

We're not just participating in the innovation landscape—we're reshaping it. When market leaders need to ensure their next breakthrough succeeds, they know where to turn.

Our INNOWEEK® methodology has become the benchmark that global industry leaders trust when failure isn't an option.

Where traditional innovation remains unpredictable, we've engineered certainty. Our integrated teams of strategists, designers, and technologists consistently deliver what others consider impossible: guaranteed innovation outcomes in weeks. This is why DAX and Fortune 500 companies choose us as their innovation partner.

Mission Innovation: Inspiring people to be innovative in order to shape the world of tomorrow – that’s my mission.

Keynote Speaker

"Get Real Innovation" is about how to build a truly innovative company and why it's so incredibly hard.

Innovation is the main driver of business success today. What do the most innovative companies like Google, Amazon, Tesla and many startups have in common? What methods do they use? How can you be successful, too? And what, in practice, has proven to be a mistake?

Using real, short, concise & practical examples based on more than 15 years of practical experience in innovation development, Lars helps his readers discuss these questions and find answers.

Bestselling Author

Greenrock

Venture Partner

Family Office

OAB AG

Member of The Supervisory Board

INSTARIDE

INSTARIDE - Synchronizing mobility demands with the help of AI.
The revolutionary social driving startup - still in stealth mode.

Investor

HOW IT STARTED

https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3eHbXPN8A8t8Ga9dK3pE?si=kMT5StTGTrqAQOUO3qQH6g

Podcaster

Stiftungshaus Oldenburg

Board Member

Innovation Authority

Advisory Board Member

//CEO@GRANNY&SMITH, DE-RISKING INNOLAB FOR THE MOST INNOVATIVE COMPANIES

//THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED

It happened during a corporate innovation workshop years ago. As I watched yet another brilliant idea suffocate under the weight of process, I saw the spark fade from the team's eyes. In that moment, I made a promise to myself that would reshape my entire career.

THE PATTERN I COULDN'T UNSEE

Across boardrooms and brainstorming sessions, I witnessed the same story unfold. Brilliant minds with transformative visions hitting the same invisible wall. Their ideas deserved better.

THE UNEXPECTED DISCOVERY

What began as frustration evolved into curiosity. Could innovation success actually be engineered rather than hoped for? I devoted myself to finding out.

Years of experimentation led to an approach so counterintuitive yet effective that it changed everything. By building innovations like a portfolio of startups, we turned the notorious 90% failure rate completely upside down.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

A prominent German corporation took a chance on this method when traditional approaches had failed them repeatedly. Within weeks, we accomplished what they hadn't achieved in years. Word spread quickly.

Today, seven of Germany's nine most innovative companies have become our partners. From global enterprises to nimble startups, leaders come when they need certainty, not just possibility.

BEYOND THE METHOD

After over 15 years and countless successful market launches, I still feel that same rush when I see an innovation finally connect with its audience. There's simply nothing like watching something powerful emerge from what was once just an idea on a whiteboard.

My engineering background gave me the tools, but it was immersing myself in the human elements of innovation that revealed the true path forward. When leaders invite me to guide their most important initiatives, they're not just getting a process – they're gaining a partner who's navigated this terrain countless times before.

I only commit to journeys I truly believe in, because I've learned that extraordinary innovation requires both methodology and genuine connection to purpose.

MORE INFORMATION:
◾ For enterprises, entrepreneurs and investors -> https://www.grannyandsmith.com/ 
◾ For event organizers & bookings -> https://www.grannyandsmith.com/larsbehrendt

We are here to help you develop, test, and grow new business ideas in a few weeks instead of months. We specialize in innovation development, constantly keeping up with the latest trends, methods, and ways of working.

We have been developing innovation for our customers for more than 15 years now. Our teams, consisting of designers, engineers, software developers, and business model experts, have tried a lot and gained much experience. Today we know what works and what does not - so you don't have to make all those experiences again.

Our INNOWEEK® method is the result of more than 15 years of continuous development and project experience with well-known DAX groups and Fortune 500 companies and helps you to develop, test, and grow new business ideas in a few weeks instead of months.

Luke Tobin

Entrepreneur, Advisor & Investor. Follow for daily posts on business & personal growth.

Commercial and speaking: sponsorship@luketobin.com

3 exits. 7 businesses. £100 to an eight-figure agency exit in 5 years.I help founders turn self-doubt into leverage, and leverage into exits.

My last business started with £100 and a lot of imposter syndrome. No funding. No safety net. Just a laptop, a tiny runway and lots of grit. Five years later, we sold for eight figures. It was one of the fastest growth-to-exit stories in the UK at that level.

That was exit number three. Before that, I built and sold a hospitality business and an e-commerce brand. Different industries, same scale-to-exit playbook. Build lean. Price for profit. Systemise delivery. Think like a buyer long before you ever meet one.

Now I back other founders and work on fixing what is broken in the agency world.Current work

Unusual Group (Founder)We take minority stakes in agencies and plug them into the capital, infrastructure and operator support they need to grow margins and become exit-ready.

Tobin Capital (Owner)I invest in more than 25 brands, including SpaceX, Atom Bank, and Honest Mobile. When I invest, you do not just get capital. You get an operator in your corner on pricing, operations, hiring and exits.

A-Frame Venture Studio (Partner)We build consumer brands from scratch. Our first brand, Mirth Water, is now live in the United States at drinkmirth.com.

The Success Method NewsletterEvery week, more than 100,000 founders get my breakdown of how to turn self-doubt into an advantage in their business. I share how I structure deals and exits, the pricing moves and margin levers that work in practice.

Book (Q2 2026)My first book, on how founders can turn doubt into an asset rather than a drag on growth, is coming in Q2 2026 from a major publisher.

In total, I have started seven businesses. Two failed. Three exited. Two, I am still building. The failures taught me more than the exits. Self-doubt never went away. I learned how to use it as a filter to make better decisions in hiring, pricing, partners, and exits. That is what I teach and invest around now.

Today, I share what actually works with more than 800,000 founders across my channels. The playbooks, the red flags, the live deals and the parts of the mental game most people never talk about.

If you are an agency owner or founder who wants to raise, exit or fix your margins in the next 12 to 24 months, send me a DM.

Newsletter (100K plus subscribers): www.luketobin.com/newsletter

DM me about: investments, agency exits, speaking

The next‑generation personalization AI for e‑commerce.

Success that burns through your mental bandwidth isn’t success.

It’s mismanagement disguised as commitment.

Early in my career, I thought being available meant being valuable.
Every ping got a reply.
Every meeting got a “yes.”
Every spare minute became a catch-up slot.

On paper, it looked like momentum.
In reality, it was erosion.

High performance isn’t about being always on.
It’s about knowing when to switch off so your decisions stay sharp.

These are the boundaries that keep my focus intact:

1. Control inputs.
No phone before strategy, no Slack before thinking.

2. Batch reactions.
Email and messages twice a day, everything else waits.

3. Protect transitions.
Five minutes between calls to reset the brain.

4. Create unreachable hours.
Evenings or weekends when nobody gets access.

5. Guard energy like capital.
Spend it where it compounds, not where it’s wasted.

This isn’t self-care.
It’s self-leadership.

Because success that costs your sanity will eventually cost your results.

Which boundary protects your focus the most?

♻️ Repost to help more leaders build sustainable success.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth insights.

Building, buying & backing businesses | 3 exits | Investor in 40+ companies | 800K+ social audience, sharing daily content to help others succeed

If a paycheck costs you your peace,

it is too expensive.

You deserve a workplace that doesn’t just pay the bills,

Instead:
- Gives you space to grow
- Thrive
- Feel valued and safe

Here’s what to look for when seeking a workplace that nurtures your peace of mind:

1. Prioritise your mental peace
→ Look for a culture that supports your personal and professional growth.

2. Seek alignment with your values
→ Find a company that shares your principles and respects your work-life balance.

3. Ask the right questions during interviews
→ Don’t just ask about the role, ask about the culture, the leadership, and the values.

4. Look for leaders who lead with empathy
→ A good leader will support your well-being as much as they challenge you.

5. Pay attention to team dynamics
→ A healthy team culture will encourage collaboration and support, not competition and stress.

6. Choose companies that offer flexibility
→ Flexibility is key to maintaining a healthy balance between work and life.

7. Assess if work-life balance is respected
→ Make sure the company doesn’t just say they value it, they live it.

8. Pay attention to employee turnover
→ High turnover can signal a toxic culture, while low turnover suggests stability and respect.

9. Trust your gut
→ If something feels off about the culture, it probably is.

10. Observe how they handle conflict
→ A company that values peace will address issues calmly and constructively, without drama or hostility.

Your job is not just a source of income,
it should be a source of growth and peace.

Choose wisely.

♻️Repost to help your network prioritise their well-being.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more career advice.

Founder of Unusualgroup.com | Follow for posts on Business, Marketing, Investing & AI

We’re often told that fearless people are brave.

But the truth?

The bravest people are usually the most afraid.
They just don’t let fear lead the way.

- They speak up. even with a shaking voice.
- They launch the thing, even when imposter syndrome screams.
- They walk into unknown rooms, even when they feel like an outsider.
- They take the risk, even when there’s no guarantee it’ll work.

Here’s what I’ve learnt about fear:

1. Fear is loudest right before growth.
2. Fear convinces you to wait until you’re “ready.”
3. Fear wants comfort, not progress.
4. Fear isn't the enemy, in fact, it often points to the very thing you should be doing.

So when fear shows up, ask yourself:

→ Is this fear protecting me… or keeping me small?
→ What would I do if I trusted myself more than I feared the outcome?

Courage is messy.

It looks like slow steps, shaky hands, and uncertain starts.

But it moves you forward and that’s what matters most.

You don’t need to eliminate fear.
You just need to stop letting it make your decisions.

So whatever it is you’re holding back on…
Do it anyway. 
With fear. 
With doubt. 
With heart.

Because action builds evidence.

And evidence builds belief.

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more success tips and frameworks.

cc Colby Kultgen (shout out for the image and powerful message!)

Your circle is either pushing you forward or anchoring you to your past.

I was reminded of this once when I caught myself slipping back into old patterns, not because I had changed… but because the people around me hadn’t.

It’s wild how easily we underestimate the influence of our environment.

Sometimes you’re not “stuck.”

You’re just surrounded by people who benefit from the version of you that doesn’t grow.

And that’s why this reminder hits so hard:
Surround yourself with people who fit your future, not your history.

Here’s what that actually looks like in real life:

1. Audit your circle.
- Who challenges you? Who drains you? Your energy has data, listen to it.

2. Have the courage to outgrow people.
- Not everyone is meant to come with you. Growth demands exits.

3. Seek rooms where your goals aren’t “too much.”
- If your ambition makes people uncomfortable, you’re in the wrong room.

4. Choose people who talk about possibilities, not limitations.
- The conversations you’re in, shape the decisions you make.

5. Don’t shrink yourself to match someone else’s comfort zone.
- Your future self is watching, don’t disappoint yourself.

The crazy part?
Your life can change dramatically just by upgrading the people you give access to.

Remember:
Environment is stronger than willpower.
Choose wisely.

♻️ If this resonates with you, share with your network.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more tips on mindset and growth.

Here’s the harsh truth:

You can make the “right” choice and still end up somewhere you didn’t expect.

That doesn’t mean you messed up.

It just means the path is doing what it’s supposed to do: Shape you.

Life isn’t linear. 
Some detours are lessons. 
Some delays are protection. 
And sometimes the “wrong train” is exactly what forces you to grow into the person who’s ready for the right destination.

Read that again.

If you’re feeling lost, behind, or off-track, don’t spiral. 
You’re not stuck, you’re being redirected.

Three things to remember when life doesn’t go to plan:

1. Stop assuming a setback means failure.
- Often it’s just feedback, guiding you toward a better route.

2. Zoom out.
What feels wrong today might make perfect sense in three months. Perspective changes everything.

3. Keep moving.
Clarity comes from action. Momentum beats overthinking every single time.

The wrong train can still take you to the right station..
as long as you stay awake, pay attention, and keep walking when the doors open.

You’re not off your path.
You’re being recalibrated.

♻️Repost to help someone in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth insights.

Most people lose because they wait for perfect conditions.

The winners?

They move.
They test.
They try.

While everyone else is still “thinking about it,” they’re already three mistakes deep… and three lessons ahead.

And honestly?

That’s been the story of my entire career.

By the time someone has spent 3 weeks planning a “flawless” strategy, I’ve already:
• launched version 1.0
• broken it
• fixed it
• improved it
• and learnt more than they have on paper

Most people are trapped in analysis mode, waiting for the right time, the perfect plan, or the guarantee that nothing will go wrong.

But the people who actually win?

They don’t wait for perfect conditions.
They create momentum through imperfect action.

They understand that:
• Speed > perfection
• Execution > intention
• Feedback > theory
• Momentum > motivation

Overthinkers keep planning.
High performers keep moving.

By the time you’ve convinced yourself it’s “safe,” someone else has already launched, failed, adjusted, and found a better way.

Here are a few practical ways to build “move-fast” momentum:

1. Set a 48-hour rule:
- If an idea excites you, take one real action within 48 hours. No excuses.

2. Launch version 1.0 early:
- Get it out. Get feedback. Improve.
- Perfection is just procrastination in disguise.

3. Reduce decisions to minutes, not days:
- If it won’t matter in a year, decide in a minute.

4. Embrace micro-failure:
- Each small mistake is data. The faster you collect it, the faster you grow.

Your advantage isn’t in waiting.
It’s in doing.
Start before you’re ready.
Move before you’re comfortable.
Act before you feel “qualified.”

The winners?
They’re already on version 3.0
while most people are still polishing version 0.1.

♻️ Repost to help more leaders in your network.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more mentorship wisdom.

cc Codie A. Sanchez (shout out for the image and reminder!)

Building, buying & backing businesses | 3 exits | Investor in 40+ companies | 800K+ social audience, sharing what actually works

One of the fastest ways to burn out is trying to control what was never yours to manage.

We convince ourselves that control creates stability.
But control is an illusion, and a costly one.

I’ve fallen into that trap too.

Worrying about perceptions, outcomes, or decisions I couldn’t influence.

All it did was drain focus from what I could actually impact.

High performers learn this distinction early.

You can’t control outcomes..
But you can always control inputs, effort, intention, and response.
The moment you shift from control to influence, everything changes.

You can’t control how others perceive you.
But you can control how consistently you show up.

You can’t control every project’s result.
But you can control the standard you bring to it.

You can’t control the pace of the world.
But you can control your reaction within it.

Energy follows focus.
And focus is wasted where control doesn’t exist.

The leaders who thrive aren’t calmer because life is easier.
They’re calmer because they’ve stopped fighting battles that aren’t theirs.

Focus on what’s in your hands.
Let go of what isn’t.

That’s how you build real control, through discipline, not domination.

What’s one thing outside your control that you’re ready to stop carrying?

♻️ Repost to help others refocus their energy where it matters.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more insights on leadership.

cc Josh S. (shout of for the image and essential reminder!)

Co-Founder @ The Creator Accelerator. Head of Content @ Chris Donnelly LTD. I talk about AI, Marketing & The Creator Economy

Weak leaders hoard power. 

Great ones create it in others.

"Someone remembers the day you believed in them"

That one sentence. 
That one nudge. 
It shifted their trajectory.

That’s what real influence looks like. 
Not followers. 
Not applause.
Impact.

Here's how to lead in a way that compounds:

1. Spot asymmetric upside in people
↳ Bet early. Invest in underpriced talent before the market catches on.

2. Give feedback like an owner, not a critic
↳ High standards + high belief = exponential growth.

3. Document belief, not just data
↳ Celebrate progress publicly. People work harder when they feel seen.

4. Teach leverage, not dependence
↳ Don’t build followers. Build founders, thinkers, leaders.

5. Transfer conviction, not control
↳ Don’t micromanage. Teach people to think independently and take ownership.

Quiet power move:
Make people remember how they felt after meeting you.
Forget legacy. 
Build people. 
That’s real scale.

You’ll be remembered more for who you raised than what you built.

Small bets on people become empires.

This is how wealth, culture, and movements are made.

♻️ Repost to inspire other leaders.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership insights.

cc Eric Partaker (shout out for the image and essential reminder)

Building, buying & backing businesses | 3 exits | Investor in 40+ companies | 800K+ social audience, sharing daily content that helps others succeed

It costs $0 to be happy for someone else.

And it pays back tenfold every time.

It took me a while to realise this…
Every time I compared myself to someone ahead of me, I felt smaller.
But every time I clapped for them, I felt closer to my own win.

Too many people waste energy comparing, doubting, or silently competing.
But jealousy drains. 
Celebration multiplies.

When you celebrate others:
1. You build real relationships
- People remember who clapped for them.

2. You stay in abundance 
- Proof it’s possible, not proof you’re behind.

3. You train your brain for growth
- Success feels normal, not threatening.

The truth? Your turn is coming.
And the more you celebrate others, the more prepared you’ll be when the spotlight lands on you.

Here are 5 ways to show up for others that make you feel like a winner:

1. Cheer publicly
- Applaud someone in a meeting, on LinkedIn, or in a group chat. 
- Your energy spreads and so does theirs.

2. Give genuine compliments
- Notice something real about someone’s effort or achievement. 
- Gratitude boosts both your confidence and theirs.

3. Share their story
- Highlight someone else’s success. 
- Helping others shine makes you feel powerful too.

4. Offer help or resources
- Small acts of support such as advice, introductions, tools, create impact and strengthen your network.

5. Celebrate in private
- A thoughtful DM or note can be the most meaningful. 
- Showing you care builds connection and self-worth.

Clapping for others doesn’t delay your success. 
It accelerates it.

Who’s someone you want to celebrate today? Tag them below.

♻️Repost to help motivate others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more success mindset strategies.

cc Justin Wright (shout out for the image and inspirational message!)

Everyone is staying loyal to relationships that no longer serve them.⁣

Not because those relationships still add value.

But because they’re familiar. 
Comfortable. 
Historic.⁣ ⁣ 

But history isn’t a qualification for your future.

And comfort isn’t a strategy for growth.⁣ ⁣ 

If you can look around at the people in your circle and not feel challenged, stretched, encouraged or inspired… 
You don’t have a circle, you have a cage.⁣ ⁣ 

As leaders, founders, professionals, growth isn’t optional. 

So your environment can’t be either.⁣ ⁣ 

Audit your circle for growth, not just history: 
1. Who pushes you to think bigger? 
2. Who calls you out when you're slipping? 
3. Who celebrates your wins without envy? 
4. Who makes you better just by being around them?⁣ ⁣ 

Your circle should expand your vision, not shrink it. 

It should feed your ambition, not drain it. 

It should make you feel possible, not trapped.⁣ ⁣ 

Because the truth is: 
You don’t rise alone. 
You rise with the people you stand next to. 

Choose wisely.

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth content.

cc Scott Caputo (Shout out for the image and original messaging)

Entrepreneur & Investor Exploring everything growth, AI & leadership | Columbia AI, Top Voice, Speaker | 3 Billion+ Impressions, $300M+ generated, 250+ partners

Fear works, for a while.

It gets compliance, not commitment.

I’ve seen leaders rule through pressure and intimidation.

On paper, things looked fine: deadlines met, boxes ticked, metrics up.

But behind the scenes, creativity died.

- People stopped thinking independently.
- Stopped taking ownership.
- Stopped caring beyond the minimum required.

Because fear narrows focus.
It moves teams from innovation to self-preservation.

The best leaders I’ve worked with never raised their voice.

They raised standards.
They made it safe to speak up, safe to fail, and safe to fix things fast.
That’s where performance comes from, not pressure, but trust.

Leadership built on fear burns bright and fast.
Leadership built on belief compounds quietly over time.

You can’t scale fear.
You can only sustain trust.

💭 Which type of culture do you think produces better long-term results, compliance or confidence?

♻️ Repost to help more leaders rethink how they build trust.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more insights on leadership.

cc Justin Wright (shout out for the image and powerful reminder!)

Your success, my mission | CEO @ Polished Carbon | Former CIO $4B company | DEIB ally | Sharing 25 years of hard-won wisdom on people-first leadership + emotional intelligence + self-mastery

Real freedom isn’t found in time off,

it’s found in what you build every day.

True freedom is building a life you don’t need a break from.

Not one you escape on weekends.

Not one that needs constant holidays just to survive.

Here are 10 principles for building a life you don’t need to escape from:

1. Get radically clear on what matters.
- If you don’t know what your ideal life looks like, you’ll build someone else’s by default.

2. Build work around your energy, not just your calendar.
- Design your day for focus and flow, not back-to-back burnout.

3. Say no without guilt.
- Every “yes” to the wrong thing steals energy from what truly matters.

4. Choose clients, projects, and people who energise you.
- Freedom is also about who you don’t work with.

5. Prioritise health like your business depends on it.
- Because it does. Mental, physical, emotional.

6. Earn your time freedom through discipline.
- You can’t automate or outsource what you haven’t mastered yourself.

7. Stop glorifying hustle.
- Sustainable pace > burnout disguised as ambition.

8. Protect your boundaries like they’re business assets.
- Because they are.

9. Design systems that run without you.
- Freedom means not being the bottleneck in everything you’ve built.

10. Define success in your terms and no one else’s.
- The most dangerous trap? Living someone else’s version of freedom.

You don’t need to escape when your life is aligned.

Build that life,
one choice, 
one boundary, 
one bold decision at a time.

Freedom isn’t something you wait for.

It’s something you build.

One aligned decision at a time.

♻️Repost to help inspire everyone in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more success frameworks.

cc Justin Welsh (shout out for the image and powerful reminder)

Careers don’t grow by accident. 

Most people wait… and get left behind. 

Most of us don’t fail in our careers because we’re not talented. 

We fail because we avoid the uncomfortable truths that actually move us forward. 

The further you go in your career, the clearer it becomes: 
No one will manage your growth for you. 

Not your boss. 
Not your company. 
Not the system. 

Over the years, I’ve learnt (sometimes the hard way) that the people who grow fastest aren’t the smartest, they’re the ones who learn these truths early and act on them consistently. 

The truth is: Hard work isn’t enough. 
Being “good” isn’t enough. 
Staying comfortable is definitely not enough. 

The real differentiators? 
Visibility. 
Networks. 
Boundaries. 
Skills. 
And most importantly, ownership. 

That’s why I put together 7 harsh career truths every professional learns sooner or later, along with action steps you can take immediately. 

1. No one cares about your career as much as you do 
→ Set one career goal for the next 90 days and block weekly time to work on it. 

2. Hard work alone won’t get you promoted 
→ Once a week, share a quick update with your manager on achievements and next steps. 

3. Being “good” at your job isn’t enough 
→ Pick one soft skill (communication, influence, leadership) and work on it intentionally for 30 days. 

4. Your replaceability is higher than you think 
→ Build two new skills this year that increase your earning power or mobility.

5. Your network will open more doors than your CV
→ Reach out to one new person every week, no ask, just connection. 

6. If you don’t set boundaries, people will take advantage 
→ Protect one non-negotiable hour per day for deep work or rest. 

7. Comfort is the biggest career killer 
→ Do one thing each month that scares you slightly, present, apply, pitch, or initiate.

Your career won’t transform overnight… 
but it will transform when you start acting with intention. 

Small habits. 
Small risks. 
Small moves forward, compounded over time. 

♻️ Repost to help more leaders build high-performance cultures.
🔔 Follow Luke Tobin for more on performance psychology.

7 Harsh career truths every professional learns

Most people are preparing for 2026 the wrong way.

They’re working harder… at all the wrong things.
﻿
They’re trying to protect their job titles… instead of upgrading the skills that will actually keep them relevant.

The future isn’t rewarding the busiest people.
It’s rewarding the sharpest.

Here are 10 skills that will matter most in 2026,
﻿and the simple truth behind each:

1. Strategic thinking:
- Because knowing what to do matters more than doing everything.

2. Clear communication:
- If you can’t explain it simply, you can’t lead it confidently.

3. Adaptive learning:
- The fastest learners are becoming the fastest earners.

4. AI fluency:
- Not coding but knowing how to use AI to multiply your output.

5. Problem solving:
- People who remove friction rise faster than people who create noise.

6. Emotional intelligence:
- The workplace is changing, empathy is becoming a leadership superpower.

7. Personal branding:
If people don’t know you, they can’t promote you or buy from you.

8. Decision-making under pressure:
- Hesitation costs opportunities. Clarity creates them.

9. Resilience:
- The next decade will test everyone, those who stay steady will stay ahead.

10. Collaboration:
- The future is built by teams who think differently, not the same.

The world is changing too fast to wait for permission.
Start building these now, so you’re not catching up in 2026,
you’re leading it.

The truth is:
Your degree won’t save you.
Your job title won’t protect you.
Your experience won’t guarantee anything.

But your skills will.

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth strategies.

10 Skills That Will Matter in 2026

Not every reaction deserves a response.

In leadership, composure is currency.

The moment you let emotion take control, you spend credibility you can’t easily earn back.

Early in my career, I thought speaking up immediately showed strength.
It didn’t.
It showed reactivity.

The best leaders I’ve met have one habit in common..

They pause.

They don’t meet emotion with emotion.
They meet it with awareness.

Because silence isn’t avoidance.
It’s assessment.

It gives you space to separate signal from noise, truth from impulse.
And that gap, the few seconds between reaction and response,
Is where your influence is built.

Staying silent in a heated moment doesn’t make you passive.
It makes you precise.

You can always add words later.
You can’t take the wrong ones back.

What’s one situation where holding back gave you a better outcome?

♻️Repost to help others lead with composure.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership wisdom.

Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.

And as the year winds down and the festive season kicks in, that matters more than we realise.

Energy is low. 
Pressure is high. 
Not everyone is feeling “festive.”

Kindness doesn’t make you soft.
It makes you self-aware.

It means understanding that success doesn’t make you bulletproof and failure doesn’t make someone worthless.

A few simple end-of-year reminders:

1. Pause before reacting:
• Fatigue shows up as frustration

2. Be clear, not sharp:
• Tone matters more right now

3. Say thank you:
• People need to feel seen

4. Give grace where you can: 
• Everyone is carrying something

You don’t have to lower standards to be human.
You just have to remember there’s a human on the other side too.

Be kind.
Not because it’s festive.
But because you don’t know who’s barely holding it together today.

♻️Repost to help others spread kindness.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more.

Most people say they want success…

But almost nobody is willing to become the person who can actually hold it.

Here are 10 rare traits every high performer has
(and most people never master):

1. Relentless ownership
- If something goes wrong, they look in the mirror first, not out the window.

2. Boredom discipline
- They keep showing up long after motivation leaves.

3. Obsession with improvement
- Every day becomes a 1% upgrade.

4. Emotional neutrality
- They don’t let frustration, ego, or impulse ruin decisions.

5. Long-term thinking
- They make choices their future self will thank them for.

6. Comfortable with discomfort
- They train their mind to lean into friction.

7. Ruthless focus
- They eliminate distractions, drainers, and noise with zero guilt. 

8. Quiet confidence
- They let their results speak for themselves.

9. High standards (non-negotiable)
- They never slip into the “bare minimum lifestyle.” 

10. Adaptability
- When things change, they pivot fast. 

These traits aren’t “natural gifts.”
They’re decisions. Repeated daily.

If you want to stand out in a world where everyone is “busy,” ask yourself:

- Where am I blaming instead of owning?
- What’s one thing I could improve by 1% today?
- What distractions do I need to cut?
- What uncomfortable thing am I avoiding?

High performers aren’t special.
They’re consistent.
Disciplined.
Self-aware.
And willing to do the work when no one is watching.

Master these traits and you stop competing.
You start leading.

♻️Repost to help others in your network.
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10 Rare Traits in Every High Performer by Luke Tobin

The most underrated leadership quality;

Kindness, and here’s why 👇

It’s easy to overlook,
but kindness fuels:
- trust
- connection
- loyalty.

Signs you’re leading with kindness:

1. You listen without interrupting.
2. You empower others to grow.
3. You give constructive feedback with empathy.
4. You lead by example, showing respect for all.
5. You celebrate others’ successes.

Kind leaders don’t just manage,
they inspire.

They create environments where people feel:
- valued
- supported
- motivated.

Tip:
Lead with empathy,
and watch your team’s performance and morale soar.

It’s not just about being nice,
it’s about nurturing a culture of trust and respect.

♻️Repost with your network to inspire other leaders.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more leadership wisdom.

I’ve interviewed hundreds of people for high-level roles. 

The most experienced candidates don’t always get the job.

The most prepared candidates do.

That's where the STAR method comes in. 

It's a proven framework for showcasing your experience and abilities.

Here's how to ace your next interview:

1. Identify key skills for the role
- Review the job description and identify the critical skills required.
- These will be the focus of your STAR stories.

2. Structure stories using STAR
- STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. 
- Craft 10-15 concise stories (2-3 minutes max) that demonstrate those key skills.

3. Practice delivery 
- Run through your stories out loud. 
- Refine your phrasing 
- Work on maintaining confident body language.

4. Recall relevant experiences
- When the interview begins, share your relevant STAR stories according to the questions. 
- Show the impact of your results when possible.

Use this method and you'll be ahead of 95% of other candidates. 

Be confident, be genuine, and go crush that interview!

♻️Found this helpful? Share to help others 
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Growth doesn’t tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, you’re improving!”

Most of the time, it shows up quietly, in small, forgettable moments you only recognise in hindsight.

But if you look closely, the signs are there.

Here are 5 subtle signals you’re growing more than you think:

1. You handle challenges differently:
Think back to the problems that used to derail your entire day.
Now? You breathe, assess, and deal with them.

﻿That shift isn’t accidental, it’s the kind of growth you only notice when you compare versions of yourself.

2. You’re more aware of your habits:
You’ve started catching yourself in real time:
• “Why am I doing this?”
• “Is this helping me?”
• “What pattern is repeating here?”

﻿That level of self-honesty is uncomfortable but it’s the foundation of every meaningful transformation.

3. You choose long-term gain over short-term comfort
There was a time when convenience won.
Now, you’re choosing what strengthens you instead of what soothes you.
Fewer shortcuts. More intention.

This is the slow, unglamorous discipline that builds a future you’ll be grateful for.

4. You recover from setbacks faster
You still fall, everyone does.
But you don’t stay down as long.
You don’t spiral the way you used to.
You get back up with clearer eyes and steadier emotions.

That’s resilience.
And resilience is one of the loudest forms of silent growth.

5. You think before reacting
You’ve learned to pause.
To feel the emotion without becoming it.
To respond instead of explode.

That single pause has changed your relationships, your leadership, and your self-respect more than you realise.

Here’s the part most people miss:
Growth isn’t always a new milestone.
Sometimes it’s simply a new way of showing up to the same life.

If any of these signs feel familiar…
you’re doing better than you give yourself credit for.

♻️Share this to revisit on the days you doubt your progress.
🔔Follow Luke Tobin for more personal growth tips.

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Dipl.-Ing. Lars Behrendt

Luke Tobin

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The Battle

Dipl.-Ing. Lars Behrendt

Luke Tobin

Followers

Posts

Engagements

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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);}Luke Tobin's LinkedIn Performance

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