Ed Latimore is a writer with over 10 years of experience in creating engaging and insightful content for various platforms and audiences. He has a B.A. in Physics from Duquesne University, a MOS certification as a Land Combat Electrical Missile Systems Repairer, and a Secret Clearance issued by the US Army.

As a self-employed writer, Ed shares his unique perspective and wisdom from his diverse background as a former heavyweight professional boxer, a veteran of the United States Army National Guard, and a physics graduate. He teaches the lessons he has learned through his blog, his newsletter, and his Twitter account, reaching millions of people who benefit from his advice and stories. Ed's mission is to help others overcome their challenges, improve their lives, and achieve their goals.

Ed Latimore

Social media has people convinced that engagement and an audience means they're correct.

And that the more followers they have, the more infallible they are.

One way I hope to influence people with my platform is to show people that it is ok to:

-Change your mind when introduced to new information
-Change your perspective with age and experience
-Admit that you were wrong
-Disagree and critique without vitriol and criticism

And not be afraid to do so "in public."

But mostly, it's for my sanity and soul. My peace of mind.

I believe a platform is a responsibility. 

You may not agree with how I use it, but you will never be able to say that I make my content solely to "engagement farm" or "rage bait."

Professional boxer (14-1-1) | Stuck at 1800-ish chess rating | Keynote Speaker | Author of “Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life

Don't let stupid people gaslight you into thinking you're the dumb one.

"Saying 'my bad' went a long way in keeping an accidental brush on a crowded bus from turning into an all-out brawl.

Even if the other person was wrong, swallowing my pride prevented countless unnecessary fights that could have ended badly.

People respond better to humility and respect, even amid chaos. Good manners and emotional control never make a situation worse.

Staying disciplined with my emotions granted me inner resilience and social capital that have paid dividends throughout my life."

From my book Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life—>https://amzn.to/45Prvnx

Sometimes the best way to help someone is not only let them fail but also to offer no assistance in their recovery.

Compassion has robbed many people of valuable lessons that can only be learned the hard way.

And when that happens, it's not a matter of if, but when they will make the same mistake. And you may not be able to help them, but now they're in a genuinely bad spot.

Much worse than if they hadn't been robbed of the opportunity to learn the first time.

"You can waste a lot of time and energy trying to change things that aren’t yours to change, no matter how much you work at it. 

While you’re engaged in those pointless battles, you’re depleting resources that could impact those aspects of your life that would yield to your efforts if you could only see them."

From my book "Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life"–>https://amzn.to/3LVfkyV

In 2011, I had a fight that changed my life and saved me from being homeless in 2 weeks.

It was an amateur fight, so I didn't get paid for it either. But I was hurting for cash and 2 weeks away from my apartment lease being up.

The fight was against Dominic Breazeale in the 2011 National Golden Glove tournament. I won a decision and impressed his sponsors so much that they recruited me.

I couldn't control who I drew in the pairings. I could only control how I trained and how I fought, despite the distraction.

Learn more about the fight and what came of it in Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life–>amzn.to/4pRCBQi

I took all the SEO skills I've gained over the past 13 years and started working in a retainer/freelancer role at a startup.

Here is the week-to-week progress of the organic traffic from their analytics.

I'm happy, and this week is already on pace to be a bit higher than last week.

Teaching my son how to read has taught me an important distinction between the childish and mature mind.

When he isn't in the mood, no bribe works. He just won't focus.

But when he wants to, I can't get him to stop.

Kids rely on motivation.
Adults thrive on discipline.

The opposite of love is not hate.

It's indifference.

And it's only in rhat indifference that freedom to choose exist.

"And of course you can't become
If you only say
What you woulda done"

The best way to keep from falling off the edge is to stay as far away from it as possible.

Unfortunately, this is also the best way to lose it.

Crackheads are a relatively peaceful bunch, unless there's a full moon and they haven't fed in 72+ hours.

Learn more about crackheads and my experiences with them in Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life–>amzn.to/45LXiWy

The biggest lesson from 2025 that is already paying dividends in 2026:

You win creative work when you figure out your *own* personal, repeatable, profitable process.

You can't buy someone else's tactics, and you can't copy their strategy.

By all means, learn from it, take what works, and discard the rest...

But your biggest wins will come when you build what works for *you* and ONLY you.

Because in creative work, the process is simultaneously separate AND indistinguishable from the outcome.

Looking at what AI has become—along with the rest of the internet, in general—I have a serious question.

Well, two, actually:

1) How long before colleges actually collapse? I have said several times that I can't see the university system failing, but something will have to give for 95% of majors.

The cost to reward ratio is already lop-sided, and it's only going to get worse.

2) How long before compulsory schooling is just not a thing? This one might take a little longer, since school functions as de facto, state-funded childcare.

But, at the very least, the old models of teaching and assessing skills are dead men walking.

Which also means that in about 20 years, people are almost certainly going to be living in an Idiocracy.

If you think critical thinking is bad now, wait until the first group of job seekers who were raised on AI "graduate."

AI writing is how I really learned what "voice" is.

Because AI all sounds the same.

The structure is so predictable and the lack of creativity so obvious that it's painful to read—even if it's free of errors.

You don't make your writing seem human by adding mistakes. That's stupid.

You do it by being unpredictable, asymmetrical, and making references that are personal yet presented universally

You make new connections between ideas that people haven't heard before.

In other words, stop being lazy, learn something, and— just for flavor—maybe stop watching or reading anything created after the year 2010 for a while.

It's easy to have faith in the future when you take responsibility for the present and learn from the past.

Many times, the best way to help someone is to force them to do what they don’t want to do and tell them what they don’t want to hear.

I learn just as much by the end of a debate as I thought I knew at the start of it.

Experiences gives you stories to tell.

Craft gives you the ability to tell them.

"Alonso Quixano’s goal of helping people is a noble one but his method is all too common among people who are trying to be good:

They do easy things that they think should help rather than hard things that actually will help.

What this amounts to is that they want to be good on their own terms. 

But being good is something that we cannot do on our own terms, because being good means conforming ourselves to reality."

https://
https://lnkd.in/eRXayrh2
-quixote-easy-virtue/

I help Agency Owners, Coaches, and Consultants Join the Top 1% on LinkedIn in 90 Days to Earn High-Ticket Clients | Feat. in Forbes | 500+ clients | 2x D1 Basketball Conference Champion

You’ve built something real.

A company. A career. A reputation that took years to earn.

But even the most accomplished leaders face one problem:

Their story isn’t reaching the people it could impact most.

That’s where I come in.

I help C-suite Executives, Founders, Authors, and Speakers turn their ideas, experiences, and wisdom into growth content that builds authority, trust, and opportunity on LinkedIn.

Before ghostwriting for top leaders, I was behind the scenes too, working 60-hour weeks on a $22,500 salary with UConn Men’s Basketball. 

In 2020, I took a risk, bet on myself, and went all-in on a small Instagram page I was building called Unleash The Knowledge.That single step changed everything.

Five years later, that brand has grown to nearly 200,000 followers, and I now run a multi–six-figure business helping professionals communicate their value online.

Since then, I’ve partnered with 500+ clients, including:

• Rick Ross, Grammy-nominated Rapper
• Jim McKelvey, Co-Founder of Square
• Kara Goldin, Founder of HINT Water
• Terry Virts, NASA Astronaut

Each project has one goal: to help leaders like you articulate the wisdom you’ve earned, and amplify it through powerful storytelling.

If you’re ready to turn your experience into influence, here are three ways to start:

1. Follow me for daily insights on storytelling, strategy, and influence.

2. Get my 30 Free Templates to create client-attracting content in under an hour. (DM me "TEMPLATES")

3. Done-For-You LinkedIn Growth: My team and I handle everything, from strategy to content, so you can grow your audience, authority, and deal flow. (Book A Call Through My Featured Section)

Let’s make your ideas impossible to ignore.

— Owen Sammarone

Owen Sammarone 🚀

30 days alcohol-free. ✅

I started on December 28th…

Which means I went into New Year’s Eve sober for the first time in my adult life.

Not because I “had to.”

Because I wanted to prove something to myself:

I’m in control.

Not my habits.
Not my environment.
Not the social pressure.
Not the “I’ll start Monday” voice.

And honestly?

This month reminded me of a simple truth:

Confidence isn’t something you think your way into. It’s something you earn by keeping promises to yourself.

Dry January has been a great experiment.
Not for the badge.

But for the identity shift:

“I do what I say I’m going to do.”

If you did Dry January too…
Are you still sticking with it?

I help founders turn LinkedIn into a deal-flow asset through CEO-level positioning + storytelling

This morning’s meeting was with myself.

No laptop.
No notifications.
No AirPods.

Just a black coffee, two eggs, and an old-school diner.

There’s something powerful about choosing absence in a world addicted to presence.

No inputs.
No scrolling.
No urgency to respond.

Just thinking. Not strategizing. Not optimizing.

Most people say they “don’t have time” to slow down.
The truth is they’re afraid of what shows up when the noise turns off.

Clarity doesn’t come from more information.
It comes from space.

Highly recommend taking yourself on a solo date this week.

Leave the phone in your pocket.
Order something simple.
Sit longer than feels productive.
Nurse some black coffee.

The ROI is always higher than expected.

I'm not a natural early morning person.
Especially not on the weekends.
But, yesterday on this past Sunday, I tried something different.

I went on a sunrise hike with a friend I met here in Nashville.

No rush.
No noise.
No pressure to be anywhere else.

Just stillness.

I sat on this ledge, surrounded by trees and light breaking through from the vast distance.

I was reminded how rarely we slow down enough to see what God has already done.

In our lives...
In our relationships...
In the world around us...

For me, you can feel a deep sense of gratitude when your phone isn't buzzing, and when you are in the wilderness.

My friend captured this unique moment with his drone.

It reflects how the morning felt:

Grounded. Quiet. Expansive. Calming. Joyful.

In a world that constantly pulls us toward the next thing, the best therapy isn't another habit, hustle, or productivity hack.

It's stillness.
It's time with God (or the higher power you might believe in)
It's stepping into nature and remembering the beauty, love, and meaning that is already present.

If, and only if, we take the space to notice it.

I will carry this perspective into the week ahead.

I hope you do, too.

My friend at LinkedIn told me something that made the whole platform click.

I was talking to with my fraternity brother, Andrew (who works at LinkedIn) and he shared something most people wouldn't believe:

Even the CEO of LinkedIn barely gets reach + engagement on LinkedIn’s own posts.

Let that sink in.

If the CEO of LinkedIn isn’t “going viral” consistently…

What makes you think your entire strategy should depend on it?

Here’s the truth:

LinkedIn is not a content game.
At least… not solely a content game.

Content is important, but content isn’t the finish line.

It’s the start of the real game.

That’s why I teach this:

- Content is only the spark.
- Conversations are the engine.
- Trust is the currency.

Your post isn’t there to rack up likes.

Your post is there to do one thing:

Start the right conversations with the right people.

Because in B2B… attention is cheap.
But trust is rare.
And trust is what converts.

So if you’re a founder, CEO, or creator using LinkedIn to grow your authority + revenue…

Stop asking:
“Why didn’t my post perform?”

Start asking:
“Who is this post designed to attract… and what conversation should it create next?”

That’s how LinkedIn turns into a pipeline.

Not a vanity metric machine.

If you’ve been playing the algorithm…it might be time to start playing the network.

Curious: are you posting and starting conversations? Or mostly posting and hoping?

If you’re a founder getting LinkedIn engagement but no real conversations, this is for you.

Low engagement isn’t the real problem.
And neither is the algorithm.

The real problem is when your content resonates with the wrong people.

Because then:

– You get likes, but no decision-makers
– DMs feel awkward or forced
– The people who reach out can’t actually buy
– Opportunities feel random instead of predictable

That’s the hidden cost of unclear positioning.

When your content isn’t resonating with the right audience:

• Your authority gets diluted
• Your message gets misunderstood
• Your signal gets lost in noise

Over time, it creates doubt:

“Is LinkedIn even worth it?”
“Am I saying the wrong things?”
“Do people actually understand what I do?”

It’s not a posting problem.
It’s a resonance problem.

Content that works doesn’t try to appeal to everyone.

It repels the wrong audience and attracts the right one.

When the right people resonate:

– Conversations feel natural
– Inbound replaces pitching
– Trust is already built before the call

Visibility without resonance is just noise.

Positioning is what turns attention into opportunity.

Most founders get this wrong on LinkedIn…

They tell.

But they don’t show.

They say they’re strategic.
They say they’re visionary.
They say they build great teams.

But if you have to say it, you haven’t earned it.

Here’s the truth:

Content that converts doesn’t declare value.
It demonstrates it.

Want to show you’re strategic?
Break down how you solved a complex challenge.

Want to show you’re a great leader?
Share how you handled a tough moment with your team.

Want to show you're a category authority?

Teach your audience something they didn’t know before.

In 2026, the founders who win won’t be the loudest.

They’ll be the clearest.

Stop telling. Start showing.

Clients ask me, “how long should my post be?”

Long enough to make the point you want to make.

It’s really that simple.

No need to overcomplicate.

The post can be 7 sentences like this one.

Or 500 words.

Focus on being clear, helpful, and intriguing.

Man... this gets me fired up.

Some people talk.
Some people watch.
Some people do.

I'm a doer.

Which are you?

Credits: The Pivot Podcast

Last March, I got paid $21,400.

Not because I worked harder.
Not because I put in longer hours.

In fact, it hit me because I used to make roughly the same amount in an entire year while working in college basketball.

Back then:

- 6am lifts
- Film sessions
- Practices, travel, games
- Missing birthdays, holidays, family time
- Constant pressure, zero leverage

And don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for that season.

It built discipline. Grit. Standards.

But the difference now isn’t effort.

It’s where my effort lives.

Today, a single month like that comes from:

- Putting my ideas in public
- Creating work that compounds
- Building trust before conversations happen
- Letting my presence do the heavy lifting

LinkedIn changed everything for me.

Not because it’s a “growth hack.”

But because it rewards clarity, consistency, and contribution.

Founders and C-suite leaders already have:

- The experience
- The stories
- The insight people need

What most don’t have is visibility that matches their value.

If you’re still relying on:

- Closed-door conversations
- Word of mouth alone
- Working harder instead of showing up smarter

You’re leaving leverage on the table.

Your presence is either working for you…
Or you’re working without it.

And I’ve lived both sides.

The choice is yours.

This is what we do.

DM me “DUDE” to ask me about how we can position you as a thought leader on LinkedIn and then turn your profile into a dealflow asset.

Or find a time on my calendar through the link in my featured section.

February spots are already almost full.

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The Battle

Ed Latimore

Owen Sammarone 🚀

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Performance ScoreEd Latimore's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Ed Latimore

Owen Sammarone 🚀

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);}Ed Latimore's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreOwen Sammarone 🚀's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreEd Latimore's LinkedIn Performance