Joe Patchell

Curated Marketer

Founder, Writer

Follow for posts about LinkedIn growth.

Currently building curatedmarketer.com to 10K newsletter subscribers.

Writer

Building my personal brand before I need it.

Smriti Maan

All drugs destroy you. But THIS one saves you.

It improved my broken writing skills in 100 days
People will love you for using it.
It releases real dopamine.

The best part? It’s limitless...

It's not weed.
It’s not heroin.
It's not even cocaine.

It’s what I name it as "PERSONALITY DRUG"

Use it once, and you'll use it daily.

1. Find your HUMAN edge.

- Ex: My edge is wit and sarcasm. 
- I don't try to hack someone else's edge
- I hack myself, my personality, and my thinking
- It is reflected in my comments, writing, and DMs.

2. Find your real mini-stories.

- The ones only you can write
- Ex: In 2024, I didn’t think I could go beyond CVs
- Ex: Out of my 100+ LinkedIn posts, 90% flopped
- Ex: 2 "rare" assets I’m building during my career break

3. Forget being "unique.” 

- You already are. Share how you think
- Ex: “LinkedIn writing isn’t as glamorous as it looks.”
- Ex: You don’t need (fancy) ideas to write on LinkedIn.
- Ex: Happiness doesn’t exist just for BIG breakthroughs.

4. Find words that reflect you and your brand.

- People identify you quickly/remember you too
- Ex: I write on LinkedIn before I need it
- Ex: Mine is "vibe"

5. What do you love? Find it. 

- Is it a bagel, ice cream, or vodka shot?
- That's how you create a unique connection
- Shake it in your writing. Ex: My vodka writing test.

But never forget one thing:

Without using this DRUG...
You can't show your personality
People won't know about you/your thinking

If you wanna DAZZLE on LinkedIn in 2026...
Just use this DRUG.

Show 

P.S. Do you get ideas for posts from comments?

I knew 0 about LinkedIn writing till February 2025

Didn’t know - WHAT. HOW and WHEN to write?

Just had a *wild* goal to write online

Now in 2025 + 2026?

- Written 100+ posts
- Going beyond the CVs
- Fixed my trash writing skills
- I fail a lot, but also improve too
- Getting confident in writing online
- Talking to strangers and making friends
- Best thing is? Doing everything in public 

100+ days ago? This felt next to impossible.

But here’s what I got to know: 2 things:

You don’t need to know everything at first, then execute.
You need to fix your mindset to start.

And one awesome thing?

I got hired by a viral AI guy without a CV
(Yes, I also didn't believe it at first lol)

But one thing that helped me a lot is:

I refused to delay the execution. I just executed it.

And if you can execute it without delaying?
You can do it easily, too

YOU only need to do 5 things to start:

1. Write what you genuinely know 
2. Write what you like to write
3. Find what you enjoy/write
4. Try to enjoy this game 
5. And learn from others

In today’s world, your online presence is everything

(Do it before you need it)

Today, just pause for a minute and rethink...

Are you building your online presence for real?
Or just thinking in the head?

P.S. What’s one career thing you promised yourself you'd achieve in 2026? Me? Growing my LinkedIn, and I’m doing it.

You aren’t ready to write on LinkedIn yet because:

- You’re afraid to post and get 0 traction
- You don't wanna suck up at first

So you convince yourself that everything is:

Boring. Same. Fickle.

You’re always on the hunt for the "elite idea"
(as an excuse)

I know because I did this too. 
I raised the bar at first like I owned LinkedIn.

But later I tried something, and it worked...

(Here's what I did, so you can whack this too.)

1. F*ck endless planning. Write straight on the paper

- Circle down what you know 
- Circle down what you're learning
- Observe it and write about it every day

Ex: I'm learning LinkedIn writing/storytelling

→ Makes execution easy AF

2. Write a bunch of ideas with a timer on

- From your current/past work or job
- Your work wins and losses
- From small life learnings
- Your current learnings

Ex: you're learning a new skill. Tell them what, why, and how 

→ You'll be shocked by your own ideas.

3. Pick one idea 

• Think about it for 13 minutes. 
• Extract every single detail from it
• And write about it. No time wastage.

→ This makes your thinking clear

4. Now, extract what you learnt

• The outline is ready. 
• Extract what your reader will get.
• Your post starts with you and ends with your reader

→ Your reader craves simplicity

5. Then write one post about it.

- Use frameworks.
- Do basic formatting
- Use bullet points, arrows, and hyphens

Ex: you can use the "what, why, and how" framework

→ Your reader will skim it.

6. Write from your lived and current experience 

- Try to enjoy this writing game
- Don't try to make up stories
- Write what you know

→ This will create trust, and people will love it.

Pro tip: Don't overedit and put your personality drug...

You'll know what/how you like to write. 
(experiment like crazy)

You'd like to write more and have fun at last.

There is no hack except...
(execution and experimentation)

Repeat it until you get the hang of writing.

If dumb people like me can write - fail - improve - grow
Before I need it

You can too...

P.S. Is it just me thinking, or is 2026 already going at flash speed? It's the 6th of Jan lol 🤣

"I’ve been writing on LinkedIn for the past 100+ days, without burnout or stress"

But I had 0 clue what to write (at first.)

My 0-90 days were pretty rough...

- I was so lost on LinkedIn
- Didn't know what or how to write. 
- And how to format the posts. 0 ideas.

And it’s so tough when you don't know what to write

But I knew, without execution, I would never know

Then here’s what I did…so you can do it too:
(It works pretty well.)

1. I simply observed other creators I like

- How and what they are doing
- I understood their patterns
- Hook, rehook, body, CTA
- I still do - it works 100%

Extra tip: Practice hook writing by slowly swapping their words with yours (you'll understand hooks super fast)

2. And started writing on LinkedIn. 

(It's been 100+ days now.)

- I write about my career moves.
- I write about my transformations.
- I share my perspective from my angle. 
- I share how I'm slowly growing on LinkedIn.
- I share how I learn a skill & share the process.
- I document my journey during my career break. 

Extra tip: Always write from my lived/current experiences

3. I understood what I wanna try/choose 3 MAIN topics.

- Personal storytelling. LinkedIn writing. LinkedIn growth
- Because that's what I'm learning - no randomness
- It gives me focus, and focus = fun writing

Extra tip: Just find what you know and what you're learning - write about it, nothing fancy. 

4. I understood the basics of copywriting. 

- It will help you understand the psychology of writing
- (I've attached the image under this post.)
- You'll think and write clearly, too

You've already everything that you can write about online

You just need to sit down, think, and document
That's how you'll know what/how to write

And you'll enjoy writing and simplifying, too.

P.S. Did you struggle to figure out what to write online in the beginning?

P.S.S. Yes, I have a Nano Banana fever too, because I'm literally working with a viral AI guy. 🤣

Out of my 100+ LinkedIn posts, 90% flopped

But 10% clicked with you

If I had quit after that 90%, I’d never know what made the 10% click.

Yet most of you:

- Don’t spend real time on writing skills
- Don’t allow yourself to suck at first
- Don’t try to improve daily
- Try once, then quit

At the end, you blame the pretty algorithm. 

And the whole point of writing this post is:

- Don't quit until you make it.
- Don't quit until you know what works.
- Don't quit until you get f*cking good at writing. 

Here’s what I do to keep moving:

1. I post even when most flop - I said “once more”.
2. I write through my current/lived experience.
2. I write even when I feel like my writing sh*t
3. I post daily to test, learn, repeat (your call)
4. I write and comment like a REAL human
5. I understand the writing patterns
6. I learn how to storytell by doing
7. I try to get better at my skill
8. I both consume and create 
9. I write what I know

Write your 100 posts. Suck at it. Find what works.

Your unfair edge? 99% quit. 
Only 0.00001% fail fast to grow & improve.

That 0.00001%… has to be YOU.

P.S. Do you ever just quit after trying once? Me? yeassss.

In September 2024, I quit everything (all at once).

Internships. Applying for jobs. Giving interviews.

Decided to get a career break, but I f*cked up...

In my first 90 days, my confidence got shattered.
(My self-belief was broken into pieces.)

But I quit. It felt like the right move because...

- I wasn’t happy.
- Felt like I stopped growing.
- I was badly stuck in the same place.

THIS decision felt guilty at first.
"Like I committed a crime."

But in Feb 2025, I randomly started writing on LinkedIn.
(After quitting once)

It was brutal at the start. I'd broken writing skills. 
Never written online before. I hated it.

Still, I kept moving...and won't you even believe?

1. 4 months in? I got hired by Charlie Hills
2. I went from 18 likes to nearly 100
3. Built my writing habit in 60 days.
4. I started liking writing online.
5. I network with cool people.

But the awesome part? I'm going beyond CVs and cover letters + building my online presence publicly.

(Before I need it, during my career break)

And all I wanna say to you is this:

If you're not happy - move to a new place
Quit what drains you mentally - peace is a real MVP
Experiment with different things - until something clicks

Don't do the same thing you don't like.
(It's a dangerous loop.)

Don't let the loop hollow YOU out.

P.S. Are you happy with the work you're doing? Me? Yeah, now I'm feeling good where I'm working.

I finally stopped (scrolling) LinkedIn in Feb 2025

And started building my online presence before I needed it.

I had 1k (dead) followers. 0 writing skills.
No idea how to comment & network with others

But I had just THIS one thing…

Curious to learn how to write online/network with others
(During my career break)

• I started learning how to write & post about it
• I shared my career moves & my perspective
• I failed a lot in the process & it still happens

I wasn’t qualified for this, but I started.

And you know what?

• I improved my writing skills 
• I build my confidence post by post.
• I fail a lot, try again by doing/improving.
• I learnt how to comment under others' posts.
• And how to network with others on the internet.

All before I needed it. I’m still learning. 
It’s just been 100+ days of LinkedIn writing.

So here’s my soft reminder to you…

→ Use/show your unique perspective.

1. Pick one platform. 
2. Just find what you want from it
3. Write what you learn/what you know
4. Comment under posts and network with them
5. It’s draining - not easy, but it's worth your time

You’re not late
Your current timing is perfect. 
(You’re just delaying the process.)

Now, digital work looks for people with an online presence. 
They approach them first.

It doesn’t matter if you have a degree or not.
They check your skills and online presence. 

So yeah - build your presence before you need it.

P.S. Did you start building your online presence with any intention?

You’re forgetting one BIG thing...

(While you consistently post on LinkedIn)

→ Raise the bar of your actions

Without this...

• You’ll stay average at your skill.
• You won't experiment much.
• You'll feel bored and quit.

I know because it happened to me too.

I took action, but I didn’t try to raise the bar.

But now I'm trying. The results are pretty good.

1. My writing improved by 1% daily.
2. Feel excited about the process.
3. Randomness faded away.
4. Clarity is coming slowly.
5. Ideas are getting better.
6. My confidence boosts.

It made a HUGE difference.

Here’s how I do it and how you can too:

1. Experiment like crazy.

• Don't just post short-form or long-form
• Mix both and test what works.
• Experiment with hooks, please.

2. Raise your idea quality.

• The only way? Write more. It takes time.
• But you’ll get there. Practice your skill.
• Clarify your thinking slowly 

3. Detach from the results.

• If your post flops? Cool.
• If you want to cry? Cool. But…move on ASAP
• Don't stay stuck with 1 flop post. Just try again. 

4. Find posts outside of your niche you love reading

• Take fresh ideas from them.
• Observe the rhythm and wording.
• Swap their words into yours slowly.

Remember, every post you write...

Raise the bar. Small things matter. 
↳ Hooks, showing up, ideas – improve bit by bit.

Have a zeal to get f*cking awesome at your skill.

Because you gotta RISE high.

P.S. Which bar do you like more - bartenders or raising the bar? Or both? Me? both.

You don’t need writing experience to write on LinkedIn.

You only need some guts + a learner's lens

I started writing on LinkedIn 100+ days ago with…

No prior writing experience
No idea how to write
No fancy plan 

Just wanted to learn how to write online. 

Since then...?

- I’ve improved my trash-writing skills
- I make my perspective seen daily
- I fail, improve, and grow publicly
- Went from 19 to nearly 100 likes

(All while being scared and with a learner mindset)

Because I understood one thing…

- You don’t need writing experience to write online
↳ You can learn & improve as you execute.

And if you're just starting writing online... 
(Start from here, this helps me a lot.)

1. Hack your mini life/career stories
2. Write to your past/current self
3. Write to solve your problems
4. Share your current learnings
5. Understand the patterns. 
6. How others write online
7. Write in a simple way
8. Cut useless words
9. Improve as you 
10. GO daily &
11. Have fun

You don't need to wait to write online.

Own a learner's mindset. Have some guts.
Just start executing. Learn/improve as you go.

So, you can ROCK online later.

P.S. How many new people do you add to your network daily? Me? 5.

You don’t need "fancy" ideas to write on LinkedIn.

You just need "simple" ideas to write.

This sounds LAME, but...

When I started writing on LinkedIn…

• I had no fancy ideas
• No fancy experience
• No fancy titles

But I had one thing...
↳ An intense drive to improve my (broken) writing skills. 

And today? I improved my broken writing skills
Slowly building my online presence
Went from 19 likes to nearly 100

→ Just by writing "simple" ideas every time.

(Before I needed it.)

Since then, I've learnt one important thing...

+ Anyone can write online with simple ideas, too
- You don’t need fancy ideas.

And if you also wanna write online, do this:
(Instead of finding fancy ideas)

1. Extract mini-stories from your career and life

Ex 1: I logged onto LinkedIn for a job. Didn’t get one.
Started writing. But hated it and quit.

Ex 2: In 2024, I made a massive career mistake.
(Still, regret it to this day.)

These may seem simple and boring to you...
But not to your reader.

2. Don't limit yourself just to education

- Share what you do right now.
- What's going on in your career/life
- I learnt this from Matt Barker. Follow him.

Ex: I share I'm on a career break at 27.

3. Document your overall situation in real time

- What skills are you stacking?
- How & why are you learning those skills?
- Solve your problems first – that's how you solve others

Just forget about fancy ideas.

Find simple ideas
Find your simple stories
That literally bores you every time

Once you learn how to turn boring into interesting
Every simple idea/story looks interesting

Simple ideas stop feeling simple to you.

P.S. How's your Saturday vibe? Me? goddamn lazy.

Writing your experiences on LinkedIn is "USELESS" if 

- You’re not living it
- You haven’t lived it. 
- Or you’re making it up. 

And the terrible news: most people are making this mistake

- Write what they don't know
- Write for the sake of it. 
- Write not to improve.
- Then quit badly.

Awesome news is easy to dazzle in the noise. 

1. Write what you know/learn

Ex: I talk about LinkedIn writing/storytelling. 
Because these are my current learnings

2. Write to transform yourself.

Ex: I quit being a “lurker” on LinkedIn in Feb 2025
And started writing in “public” before I needed it...

3. Write to solve your problems

Ex: You don’t need writing experience to write on LinkedIn.
You only need some guts + a learner's mindset.

4. Write to share your beliefs and opinions. 

Ex: Writing your experiences on LinkedIn isn't "cool" if
I write this from my unique lens. 

5. The weird parts. Your career wins and mistakes.

Ex: My 3 “proudest” career moves so far…
In 2024, I made a massive career mistake.

That’s how I have fun while writing on LinkedIn.

Just sit down and ask yourself:

- What did you learn today?
- What are you learning right now?
- What you know and how you make it interesting
- While scrolling, with whom you agree/disagree, or why?
- How can I make my experience useful for someone else?

This is how you can improve and write.
And honestly? This creates a real connection. 

So, next time you write? 
Write to hang out with your reader.

Your reader will love it. Read it. Remember it. 

P.S. Have you learnt something new recently? Yes or no?

Hack the writing game. Not the LinkedIn algorithm game.

When I started writing 100+ days ago...

First 60 days, I made the same STUPID mistake.
→ Trying to hack the algorithm. 

And it only led to:

1. Exhaustion
2. Everything feels impossible
3. Wants to quit forever and never try

But everything started working when I focused on writing.

Here’s how:

1. Fix your mindset game

- Just think nobody is watching you
- Everybody is focusing on themselves
- It's just in your head, you need to move on

→ Quick execution hack: write what you know/post
Tell your brain to shut up by posting 

2. Write trash posts and look stupid

- Your first 100 posts would be scrappy
- You practice writing and learn in real time
- They will flop, but it will build momentum

→ Quick execution hack: post while feeling fear
Nobody hates you if your 100 posts flop

4. Don’t try to become someone else.

- Because you get to be YOU.
- Your “YOU” effect is what makes readers:

Like you. Trust you. Remember you. 

→ Quick execution hack:
Write from where you are. What you did/are doing.

5. F*ck the “on repeat” things

- Using someone else's angle
- Using others' perspectives

→ Quick execution hack:
Take inspiration. But BREAK it with your words.
Nothing is original, but everything can be uniquely you.

5. Show what you love. It shows your VIBE.

• Watermelon martinis. 
• Vodka shots. 
• Whiskey. 
• Wine.

→ Quick execution hack: Use it in your writing.
Make frameworks. Make rules and break them.

Ex: My 3-step Clear-Like-Vodka Writing Test.

6. Focus on what you know

- Spot what you know
- Spot what you're learning
- Hack your simple mini stories

→ Quick execution hack: Write about your career/skills/biz
Your lessons/mistakes/outcome/transformation/thinking

And observe:

- What do you like writing
- What you wanna write next
- What topics make writing simple

The best way to hack the writing game is?

Write - post - fail - improve - try again
Write - post - fail - improve - try again
Write - post - fail - improve - try again

That's how you grow and win :)

Writing game > Algorithm game

P.S. Did you also trap yourself in the LinkedIn algorithm?

100+ days ago, I (randomly) started writing on LinkedIn

I didn't wait to read copywriting books first.
I didn’t wait to make a fancy plan first.
I didn’t wait for a perfect summer.

I just gathered the courage and randomly decided to start doing it to see what would happen...

(after quitting once before)

And that one random decision leads to:

1. 100+ days of consistent writing – no burnout
2. Building my online presence before I need it.
3. I just learn and figure things out on the go.
4. I went from underconfident to confident. 
5. Dead profile to active in 100+ days.
7. I understood the power of writing.
8. I fail a lot, but I learn/improve.
9. Meeting cool people like you.
10. I started thinking clearly.
11. Stacking skills, not CVs
12. I got hired, too.

But you know why tiny wins happened THIS time. 
Not before?

Because I was scared to try and fail. I thought I'd get experience first, then I'll write (as an excuse)

But this time, I've got the courage and started moving
(I'm still scared but I know how to move with it 

Because here's a cold truth:

You don't need fancy plans you see online.
You just need courage/guts to start/fail.

That's your entry ticket to get into the writing game.

Random decisions with courage > Endless plans

P.S. What's the one thing you started randomly in your career/life?

Once you start writing & learning from others on LinkedIn

It feels like you are drowning in information, like debt.

- Save every single post daily
- Overconsuming content
- Follow endless advice

You think you’re following the right process

But all you get is overloaded with information, and quit. (I know. That was me in 2024.)

I was so lost in information, and I hated writing.

But in 2025, after restarting, I stopped everything. 

1. Stop following every creator's advice.
2. Find 3-4 creators whose stuff I like.
3. Apply what I learn and test it.
4. I scan their patterns slowly.
5. Find your own experiences
6. Write through them and
7. Educate myself. 

And since then? 

- I improved my writing skills
- I focus on execution and creation
- I find and solve my own problems too
- I learn and test it for myself and educate others

Because the reality is...

- You need to delete the pointless voices to grow
- Ignore 99% of the advice and test 1%
- To improve skills and grow online

→ So, pick a few people. 

And start creating ASAP...

Don't drown in endless information.
Start finding your own experiences

Simplify writing on LinkedIn/have fun.

P.S. Do you also drown in endless information? Me? Yeah, sometimes...

2024: Broken writing. Nobody will listen to me on LinkedIn.

2025: Let’s write and see who will listen to me.

I listened to my *gut*, and THIS made me:
(despite feeling fear as I'd die)

Improved my broken writing skills in 100 days.

Building my online presence before I need it. I went from hating writing to liking it. I went from 18 likes to nearly 100 and more.

(not just this...)

I made awesome friends in the process, got hired through LinkedIn, and am going beyond CVs and cover letters.

My endless posts and ideas flop.

But I didn't stop to drop my ideas faster. I test, see, and do more of what works and discard the rest. (it still happens…)

But you know what?

Flop posts made me understand what's broken. How to fix it quickly. My ideas are out. Not sleeping somewhere empty.

This led to (even if it's 1%)

Raise the quality of my ideas
Raise the quality of my writing 
Raise the bar of formatting daily

Experimentation is a VIBE for a reason.

Most of you stop writing after your 50th flop. But it’s best if your ideas flop.

Because that's how you find the right ideas. 

So, don't think "nobody will listen to you."
(see who will listen to you.)

- Drop your ideas, use what you've got
- Find what you know and write about it
- See what works for you and do more of it
- Spot your lived experiences, frame, and post
- Study, observe, learn, and figure out on the go

If you wanna write, go for it. (even if you feel fear)

You'll dazzle and feel the difference as it happens :)

P.S. What's the weather like on your side? If it's winter, are you feeling lazy too, like me?

taplio

The Battle

Joe Patchell

Smriti Maan

Followers

Posts

Engagements

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Performance ScoreSmriti Maan's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Joe Patchell

Smriti Maan

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);}Smriti Maan's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreSmriti Maan's LinkedIn Performance