Joris van Huët

Grow Your Boat

Still figuring out where your revenue comes from as a Fashion brand running on Shopify doing > 30K MRR? Read on 👇

We do this:

Connect your marketing data sources,
>>>
Ask questions,
>>>
Act upon clear and actionable insights.

We cure frustrated DTC brands of their inaccurate data analytics.

It's really that simple.

Founder & CEO

marketingupgrade.pro

People call me when their marketing broke or it's slowing down. We then have a fun call after which a usually equally fun follow-up meeting takes place. By then we've narrowed down what needs to be down and how much time will be needed to get there.

Owner - Performance marketeer - EN, FR & NL

Marketing Advisor - NL

Scaled DTC brands in the Netherlands doing 1Mio+ ARR.

- Paid Social performance marketing execution.
- Growth Manager of a performance marketing team (5).

Senior Growth Specialist - NL

Helped design, build and operate inbound - and outbound marketing systems.

Digital Marketeer - NL & EN

Helped validate and / or soft launch MVP's designed by R&D departments of AAA's in the F&B, GM/HBC and Financial Services industries.

Corporate Venture Marketeer - EN & FR

Helped with the definition, conception, implementation and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish Briqwise as a global brand.

Chief Marketing Officer - Briqwise - NL & EN

Your tournament starts here.

Easily manage your tournament with Tournify. Your own tournament format, a drag & drop scheduler and beautiful live presentation view.

App out now!

🤖 https://lnkd.in/gDNJist
🍏 https://lnkd.in/gHqza6x

Helped Tournify with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish Tournify as a global brand.

Chief Marketing Officer - Tournify - EN, FR & NL

I worked as a research assistant for Rijkswaterstaat, the Dutch executive agency for public works and water management. My main task was to conduct a research project on how to scale the use of second hand furniture in the Netherlands to bolster sustainability in the industry.

The research project involved:

- Reviewing the literature on the environmental and social benefits of second hand furniture, as well as the barriers and drivers for its adoption by consumers and businesses.

- Conducting interviews and surveys with various stakeholders, such as furniture manufacturers, retailers, resellers, refurbishers, NGOs, and customers.

- Analyzing the data and identifying the best practices, opportunities, and challenges for scaling the use of second hand furniture in the Netherlands.

- Developing recommendations and strategies for Rijkswaterstaat and other relevant actors to promote and facilitate the circular economy of furniture.

The research project was a valuable learning experience for me, as I gained insights into the complex and dynamic system of furniture production and consumption, and the potential for circular solutions to reduce waste and emissions, while creating social and economic value. I also improved my skills in research design, data collection and analysis, report writing, and stakeholder engagement.

I enjoyed working with a diverse and motivated team of researchers, consultants, and experts from Rijkswaterstaat and other organizations. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this important and innovative project.

(a.i.) Marketing Advisor - Rijkswaterstaat

Whether it’s a card game for two players with battling animals, a tactics game for your PC or your favorite digital board game on mobile, Grumpy Owl Games wants to turn your game experience into something that puts a smile on your face.

Smiling is a lot easier if the game you’re playing is easy to understand, nice to look at and makes you come back for more. That is why we create beautiful, accessible and high-quality games for your screens and tabletop.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps Grumpy Owl Games with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish the Grumpy Owl Games brand worldwide.

(a.i.) Marketing - Grumpy Owl Games - EN, FR & NL

Huispedia aims to democratize the real estate industry and give the power back to whom it's all about: the homeowners.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps Huispedia further establish their brand among homeowners in the Netherlands.

(a.i.) Marketing Advisor - Huispedia - NL

INNOVATE is committed to finding and supporting the Most Innovative Student in the
Netherlands. The grand ideas of tomorrow should be given a stage today. That’s why
we are looking for students with either an idea or a functioning start-up, who aim
to solve social and environmental issues. Ideas that tackle macro problems and are
being worked on to produce a head-on solution. Social inequality, climate change, the
relationship between essential data and privacy: in order to face the societal challenges
of the future, we have a hunch you’re out there coming up with innovative solutions.

(a.i.) Marketing Manager @ Innovatiefste Student van Nederland - INNOVATE

INNOVATE has the power to inspire people, and to show that innovation is something you should do, especially when things go wrong. That is why INNOVATE was there in 2020. This time we mainly manifested ourselves digitally, and not in the form of all kinds of large physical events. We developed into an online platform where others can present themselves, and organized no fewer than 5 online (live) INNOVATE Meetups with dozens of innovative parties from the Arnhem, Nijmegen and Wageningen region. This formula provided connection, inspiration and activation. In 2021, we will continue to work from that online vision for the time being. There will also be a number of offline activities, where regulations allow.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps INNOVATE with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Communication strategies. Together we aim to further establish the INNOVATE brand, mainly in the Netherlands.

(a.i.) Marketing Manager - INNOVATE

It is only logical to use existing materials and to produce locally with fair conditions and transparent payments while designing products that last. We see waste materials as a mountain full of potential, and by simply maximizing the lifespan of materials we aim to reduce the waste pile, one bag at a time.

Introducing our bag made out of banners, car seatbelts and inner tubes from bicycles. For every occasion, we got your bag!

Co-Founder - Het Nieuwe Logisch - EN & NL

The Bin creates products from waste. With us, any company in any industry can become part of the new economy. Simluator of the circular economy.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps The Bin with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish the The Bin brand, mainly in the Netherlands.

(.a.i.) Marketing Lead - The Bin

Health organizations and insitutes come to Amulet for custom eHealth platforms, (web)apps, portal and websites. Thanks to a broad range of clients we are familiair with a number of technologies and innovations, which we can apply in each industry. Our belief is that tech is a tool the bring joy to hard-working individuals.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps Amulet with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish the Amulet brand, mainly in the Netherlands.

(a.i.) Marketing Lead - Amulet

Start-up minded companies come to IGNE for platforms, (web)apps, portal and websites. Thanks to a broad range of clients we are familiair with a number of technologies and innovations, which we can apply in each industry. Our belief is that tech is a part of your team. When your tech starts to show it's limitations, it is like a team that is not performing well. How do you start optimising your tech? IGNE guides you towards the answer.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps IGNE with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish the IGNE brand, mainly in the Netherlands.

(a.i.) Marketing Lead - IGNE

An organization commited to helping children regain inner peace and calmness in an age of information overload.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps Stichting Glimlach in je Hoofd with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish the brand among Dutch schools.

(a.i.) Marketing Specialist - Stichting Glimlach In Je Hoofd

Scanfie lets your guests order quickly and easily.

Did you know that the biggest annoyance among visiting guests the long wait for service? Sometimes guests visiting a (dining) café even have to wait half an hour before they can place their first order.

Would you stcik around around after having your patience tested like this?

This summer there were even several beach tents, cafes and other catering companies that had to close off part of the terrace or drastically shorten their opening hours due to staff shortages. An unnecessarily big disappointment for your guests and an unnecessarily large impact on your turnover.

Avoidable, with Scanfie.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps Scanfie with the researching and realization of (new) strategic partnerships for Scanfie. Together we aim to further establish the Scanfie brand in the Netherlands.

(.a.i.) Business Development Manager - Scanfie - NL

Searious Business creates business solutions aimed at increasing sustainability and limiting plastic waste. To that end, Searious Business collaborates with companies to solve plastic waste.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps Searious Business with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing, PR and Sales strategies. Together we aim to further establish the Searious Business brand in Europe.

(a.i.) Chief Marketing Officer - Searious Business - EN, FR & NL

Positive change starts from education. The BD School believes that everyone deserves a chance to build the future of their dream. The mission is simple: to enable individuals and ambitious founders to acquire the skills and knowledge they need to leave their mark in society.

Anima Cloud Efflux helps The BD School with the definition, conception and execution of Marketing strategies. Together we aim to further establish the BD School brand around the globe.

(a.i.) Chief Marketing Officer -  The BD School - EN

Stichting Oogfonds Nederland

Het aantal mensen met een oogprobleem stijgt. De oplossing ligt in voorlichting, preventie en meer oogonderzoek. Het Oogfonds financiert wetenschappelijk oogonderzoek naar het voorkomen en behandelen van oogproblemen. En steunt patiëntenverenigingen in het verbeteren van de kwaliteit van leven voor mensen met een visuele beperking.

Senior Online Marketeer

internationovel

This projected was terminated. 

- Concept was successfully validated.
- Follow-through to expand operations was more arduous than expected.
- Will be repeated in the future!

The world is changing. The way we consume literature is changing. But our mission remains the same: to bring you the best stories, from the finest writers, every single day. Sign up now and receive our novel one page a day in your inbox for free.

The Writers

Our young writers were carefully selected to form an international team composed of vastly various backgrounds. Each playing an instrumental part in this project.By signing up, you'll get access to the novel for free! You'll receive one page a day directly in your inbox.In our messages, we'll give you opportunities to support our writers (should you become a fan of their work).

The Story

Each writer narrated the story of their own protagonist. Making it that they all come from different worlds (like in real life!)In this epic fantasy tale, five unlikely heroes are brought together by a shared touch of fate.Be it so remedy their own misery or to fight for something much bigger than themselves: their convergence was no coincidence.

Founder

Infi

Infi believes in the strength of long-term and balanced collaborations. Together with our customers, we seek out the most effective and efficient road to success. Their dreams become ours, as do their problems. "Growing together" defines us best. My mission within Infi takes form with the following tasks;

- Marketing strategy
- B2B community management
- Business development
- Developer community management
- Content & social media marketing
- Brand management
- Storytelling 
- Partnership management
- Event management

In a nutshell: Infi takes pride in building loved products with our awesome clients, by writing beautiful code with their team of amazing developers. Both in Utrecht, as in Amsterdam.

#infinl

Chief Marketing Officer - EN & NL

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences

Topics within Online Marketing; 

- Consumer Behavior 
- Content Marketing
- Influencer Marketing
- Programmatic Marketing
- Social Media Marketing (B2C / B2B)
- Storytelling in Marketing

Guest Speaker - EN & NL

United Wardrobe

Tasked with the cultivation and and nurturing of United Wardrobe's presence in France.

- Business Development
- Campaign Data Processing & Analysis
- Content Production Management
- Imagineering
- Influencer Campaign Conception
- Influencer Campaign Management
- Influencer Partnership Management
- Multichannel Storytelling Strategy

Influencer Marketeer - BE & FR (directly contributed to EXIT)

Omnicom Media Group

Tasked with with the trafficking, set-up, optimalisation and evaluation of programmatic media trading campaigns. 

- Contribution to Content Marketing
- Contribution to Copywriting
- Contribution to Translations

Account(s): Bacardi, EasyJet, Levi's, Monsterboard, PepsiCo and Renault.

Programmatic Media Planner / - Buyer & AdOps Specalist (OMD NL) - BeNeLux

Publicis Groupe

Tasked with with the trafficking, set-up, optimalisation and evaluation of programmatic media trading campaigns. 

Account(s): L'Oréal & Film1.

Digital Executive (Zenith NL) - Programmatic Media Planner / - Buyer & AdOps Trainee - BeNeLux

WeTransfer

Tasked with the acquisition of new potential advertisers in designated regions, as well as the negotiations and management of branding campaigns.

- Account Management
- "Artvertising"
- Business Development
- Channel Management
- International Sales
- Key Account Management
- Media Trading
- Sales Process Optimization (Eastern Europe, APAC, GCC)

Sales Manager - APAC, EEU, FR & GCC

We cure frustrated DTC brands of their inaccurate marketing analytics. || Founder Grow Your Boat. || Freelance End-to-End DTC & SaaS Growth Strategist.

Let's be honest, most marketing tools are stuck in the past. 

You just want that helping hand to do your thing, but tools nowadays...

They give all the credit to the 'last click' like some kind of participation trophy. 

Who cares about the last pat on the back?

You need to see the whole customer journey, 
from the wide-eyed browsing to the 'buy now!' moment.

But those old-school tools? 

Blind to all that juicy data.

This means:

→ Hidden growth opportunities waving goodbye.

→ You waste money on ineffective marketing.

→ Your competitors get ahead with better data insights! 

We clearly don't want that, 
right?

Enough is enough, 
my friend. 

We get it. 

You deserve better.

That's where we come in. 

Grow Your Boat isn't your old-school marketing tool. 

We go beyond the limitations of those old school tools and help you to see the complete customer journey, 
identify hidden growth opportunities, 
and optimize your marketing spend.

All you need to do is connect your data, 
talk to it, 
get insights,  
act upon them and generate profitable growth. 

The result? 

We've seen our clients scale their marketing from 30k MRR to 500k MRR. 

Typical problems we solve entail questions such as;

"What are the consequences if I turn off Pinterest ads? The ROAS on other channels is much better, but is Pinterest perhaps contributing to those somehow?"

+7% renvenue growth in Q1 2024.

"My return rates are eating my margins, what customer segments should I be targeting per channel to reduce the liklihood of returns?"

+3% margin increase in Q1 2024.

See where I'm going with this?

You can throw any problem at Grow Your Boat and work it out together.

That's a clear advantage you can't afford to ignore.

Until then, ask yourself:

What are your customers REALLY telling you? 

Do you know what you DON'T know?

Book a free demo to find out. 

It's a no-brainer (probably the best decision of your week).

((yes, we truly think so.))

(((jump on a call with us and you'll hear our irresistible offer.)))

((((man, even I want to get on a call with us now.))))

The world is changing. The way we consume literature is changing. But our mission remains the same: to bring you the best stories, from the finest writers, every single day. Sign up now and receive our novel one page a day in your inbox for free.

The Writers

Our young writers were carefully selected to form an international team composed of vastly various backgrounds. Each playing an instrumental part in this project.By signing up, you'll get access to the novel for free! You'll receive one page a day directly in your inbox.In our messages, we'll give you opportunities to support our writers (should you become a fan of their work).

The Story

Each writer narrated the story of their own protagonist. Making it that they all come from different worlds (like in real life!)In this epic fantasy tale, five unlikely heroes are brought together by a shared touch of fate.Be it so remedy their own misery or to fight for something much bigger than themselves: their convergence was no coincidence.

Eric Melillo

Over the last two decades, I’ve led partnerships with 250+ brands, driven $100M+ in revenue, and built systems that scale businesses.Then in 2021, I hit a breaking point.So I walked away from the agency I built —forced to start over from nothing.And I had a revelation.Financial freedom isn’t just for the lucky few.With the right systems, founders and coaches can turn their knowledge into income —without wasting years figuring it out.So I built the frameworks I wish I had.And it changed everything.That’s when I went all in —proving that building predictable client income isn’t just a dream, but a system founders and coaches can follow.Now I help founders and coaches build predictable client income and profitable, system-driven businesses—without wasting years guessing.My Results:→ $100M+ revenue across 250+ brand partnerships→ 20+ years building revenue systems for Fortune 500s→ 1,000+ systems, 2,000+ automations, 5,000+ AI prompts deployed→ Helped founders and coaches build predictable income from their expertiseAI Creator Accelerator is launching soon — join the waitlist:→ www.ericmelillo.com/courses/entrepreneur-osThe Modern Creator (newsletter):Every Saturday, I share 1 exclusive growth system, automation, or AI prompt you won’t find anywhere else:→ www.ericmelillo.com/newsletterhello@ericmelillo.comX: @EricMelillo_

ProScale OS helps scale your business smarter with proven automation systems & 10x productivity.

If you’re easily offended, sales ain’t for you.

The distinction is simple:

Sales asks: “Will this solve their problem and are they willing to pay?”

Politeness asks: “Did I offend anyone?”

Sales defines results.
Politeness defines comfort.

Most people confuse being “nice” with being effective:

Hesitate to ask for the sale

Avoid tough conversations

Sugarcoat objections

Give away advice or solutions for free

Ask them for money? Crickets.
Push back when they resist? Awkward silence.

That’s not sales. That’s wishful thinking.

Real sales example:
“I can help you save 10 hours a week with this system. If it’s not a fit, no worries—but if it is, we can start this week.”

Direct. Clear. Honest.

That’s how you close without being pushy.

The process supports it:

Identify the problem your customer actually wants solved

Lead with value, not features

Ask for the sale early and often

Listen, adjust, repeat

When you master this:
✓ Deals close faster
✓ Customers respect you
✓ You grow predictably
✓ You stop leaving money on the table

Ignore it, and you’ll stay small:
❌ Avoid tough conversations
❌ Wait for the “perfect moment”
❌ Give away your time and expertise for free
❌ Wonder why growth is slow

The uncomfortable truth:
The people willing to sell will always win.
The people too polite to ask, fall behind.

Stop overthinking niceness.
Start mastering sales.

Sales chooses your growth.
Courage wins it.

---

Doing the work but nothing’s changing yet?
I made a free 2026 LinkedIn Growth Guide.

You’ll learn:
- 6-figure frameworks
- How to turn skills into income
- How to automate growth with systems

It’s free when you join the newsletter.

Get it here → ericmelillo.com/newsletter

One-person business builder | Helping experts turn their knowledge into income | Powered by systems, automation, and AI

The real flex isn’t grinding 16-hour days.

It’s setting up systems that keep your work moving
even when you’re drained.

Most solopreneurs rely on luck.

Memory.
Willpower.
“Maybe I’ll do it later.”

That breaks fast.

Here’s what actually works for solo founders:

• One place for everything. Not Slack. Not notes. Not DMs.
• Tasks written as actions (send, review, publish, reply).
• Daily work capped at 3–5 tasks. Everything else scheduled.
• Repeating tasks automated or templated.
• Follow-ups auto-reminded so nothing lives in your head.
• A “done → next step” rule for every task.

Before this, my days as a solo founder were chaotic.

After this:

• No wondering what to start first.
• No switching between 5 apps every hour.
• No end-of-day panic over what slipped through.

If your system relies on motivation, it’s not a system.
Good systems run on autopilot, low energy, or chaos.

Less friction.
More output.
Zero burnout.

For solopreneurs, that’s how you win without burning out.
And here’s the truth: your freedom is only as strong as the system you build.

That’s the real flex.

You don’t need a team to make real progress.

I’ve learned this the hard way. 

Early on, I tried doing everything with a “team mindset” by myself—thinking I needed perfect systems, perfect tools, perfect timing. 

It was slow. Exhausting. Frustrating.

Then I realized: one person with clear systems can outpace a team with no direction.

For me, that meant:
• A simple task list I actually follow
• A repeatable way to ship work
• Clear priorities, not endless to-dos

Suddenly, progress felt different. I was moving faster than before, even without anyone else involved.

Start where you are. Build brick by brick.

Write down what works.
Repeat it.
Cut what slows you down.
Automate what repeats itself.

Don’t wait for the perfect team, the perfect tools, or the perfect moment.
Clarity + action beats headcount every time.

Solo doesn’t mean small.
It means focused.
And focus, over time, compounds into momentum you can’t buy.

So today, pick one thing that matters. 

Ship it. 

Document it. 

Then do it again tomorrow. 

That’s how I keep making progress, and it works every time.

I help founders and coaches turn LinkedIn into a client machine | Powered by AI and systems | Ex Fortune 500 systems builder

3 audience growth myths that keep driven professionals overlooked online.

You post consistently.
You engage daily.
You follow all the "rules."

Still invisible.

Here's what I learned after building three different audiences:

Stop chasing numbers.
Start tracking signals.

Same content.
Completely different reach.

With vanity metrics? You're guessing.

Follower counts mean nothing.
Likes don't convert.
You're building in the dark.

With real signals? You're intentional.

One quality connection matters.
Engagement compounds.
Growth without gimmicks.

I spent two years posting into the void.

Then I tracked three simple metrics that actually predict growth.

The result?

Smaller audience.
3x the opportunities.
Zero algorithm anxiety.

Here's what to track instead:

1. Reply rate, not reach

Stop obsessing over impressions.

Track who responds.
Who starts conversations.
Who remembers your name.

That's your real audience.

2. Save rate over like count

Saves signal value.

Someone wants to return.
Reference your work.
Share it privately.

Likes are passive.
Saves are intentional.

3. DM quality, not quantity

One thoughtful message beats a hundred emojis.

Are people asking real questions?
Sharing their challenges?
Requesting your help?

That's traction.

Your audience isn't too small.

Your measurement is.

Track signals that predict real opportunities, not vanity metrics that feed your ego.

You'll grow slower but land faster.



If this helped:

Track one new signal this week. 🤙

 Myth

The truth about building in public:

Most people won’t understand your process.
They won’t see the point of sharing your work.
They won’t relate to the risks you’re taking.

And that’s normal.

The people who do get it?
They’re building too.
They’re experimenting, failing, adjusting.
They recognize the effort behind the progress.

Everyone else is just watching.
Reacting from the outside.
Waiting for a final result before forming an opinion.

You don’t need their approval.
You don’t need to explain yourself.

Your only job:

Keep building.
Keep showing the work.
Keep moving forward.

Because when it finally clicks,
they’ll call it “overnight” —
and you’ll know how long it really took.

undefined undefined

Helping Enterprise Companies Scale & Crush Competitors with HubSpot

I ignored LinkedIn for 10 years.

Quietly disrespected the platform.
Built audiences everywhere else.
Thought I was too smart for "professional" content.

Then I checked my booking data.

Every single prospect was coming from LinkedIn.
Not Twitter. Not Instagram. Not my newsletter.
LinkedIn.

6 months ago I went all-in.
0 to approaching 10,000 followers.
3x my inbound.

Here's what actually worked while building in public:

🎯 Post in-progress work, not polished lessons
People don't want your finished results.
They want the messy middle.
The thinking behind the decisions.

🎯 Write like a human, not a brand
Simple sentences beat smart-sounding ones.
If it feels boring to write, it's probably clear to read.

🎯 Solve one problem per post
Most content feels busy but audiences don't grow.
Because you're teaching everything at once.
Pick one thing. Go deep.

🎯 Reuse ideas that already work
Your best content isn't your newest content.
It's your clearest content.
Say the same thing better, not different.

🎯 Spend more time in comments than Canva
Engagement beats aesthetics.
Every single time.

The truth most people ignore:

Audience growth isn't about posting more.
It's about being useful.
Being visible.
Being consistent.

Same room. Every day.

No hacks.
No viral tricks.
Just clear thinking + daily reps.

Full breakdown in the carousel.
Pick one. Apply it today. 👇

___

💾 Save this
♻️ Repost to help someone in your network.
➕ Follow Eric Melillo​ for more personal brand insights.

LinkedIn Audience Growth

The best productivity method is the one that works for you.

Not the one your favorite creator swears by.
Not the one that looks good in Notion screenshots.
Not the one that worked for you during a completely different phase of life.

Your energy isn’t the same every day.
Your focus isn’t either.

Some days you can deep work for hours.
Other days, getting the basics done is the win.

That’s normal.

Listen to your body.
Notice when you’re sharp.
Notice when you’re drained.

Then test.

Short sprints. Longer breaks. Morning work. Late-night focus.

Keep what helps. 
Drop what doesn’t.

Over time, you’ll stop chasing “perfect productivity”
and start building a system that actually fits your life.

And that’s when work feels lighter.

I said yes to work that consumed an entire weekend.

Missed my son's soccer game where he scored his first goal.

Still think about it.

Most businesses struggle the same way…

Not because the product is bad.
Not because the team isn't skilled.
Not because customers are impossible.

I'm talking about businesses that:

• Agree with every client request
• Avoid saying no, even when it hurts the team
• Hide behind "the customer is always right"

They think "pleasing everyone" is a business strategy.

It's not.

It's a burnout strategy.

Because the strongest businesses aren't the ones that say yes, they're the ones that guide, challenge, and set boundaries.

They'll:

• Give advice instead of blind agreement
• Set clear expectations without fear of conflict
• Focus on results instead of endless "yes"

And they win.

Here's the truth most people ignore:

• Every extra revision adds stress, not value
• Every "yes" that doesn't make sense costs time and money
• Every unclear boundary leads to missed deadlines

I learned this the hard way.

Said yes to 5 change requests from one client.
Worked nights. Worked weekends. 

Their feedback? "We didn't feel like you worked hard enough."

That's when it hit me:

No amount of accommodation will satisfy some people.
But it will drain you completely.

The market doesn't reward "always right."
It rewards clarity, guidance, and results.

So I made two changes:

𝗡𝗼 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿-𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸
𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗰 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 (𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆)

The result?

Better clients who respect my time.
Clearer projects with fewer surprises.
Stronger relationships built on mutual respect.

And I haven't missed another soccer game.

Your competition isn't smarter.
They're just better at managing expectations.

What's one boundary you need to set this week?

Building your personal brand doesn’t need to be hard.

It’s actually quite simple.

And it comes down to one word.

You.

🎯 Write from what you already do
If you worked today, you have content.

A decision you made

A mistake you noticed

A shortcut you learned

A conversation that changed your thinking

Turn that into one post. No backstory. Just the lesson.

🎯 Share one opinion per post
Don’t explain everything.

Pick one belief and stand by it.

Example:
“I don’t think consistency builds a brand. Clarity does.”

That’s enough to start a conversation.

🎯 Use your real words
If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t type it.

Simple sentences > smart-sounding ones.

If it feels boring to write, it’s probably clear to read.

🎯 Repeat the same ideas
This is where most people mess up.

You don’t need new ideas.
You need the same 3–5 ideas explained from different angles.

Repetition builds recognition.

🎯 Post, then engage
Posting is only half the job.

Spend 15 minutes:

Replying to comments

Leaving thoughtful comments on others’ posts

That’s how your brand actually spreads.

No hacks.
No aesthetics.
No pressure to be “unique.”

Just show your thinking.
Again and again.

That’s the whole system.

Hiring is one of the hardest parts of entrepreneurship.

Not because talent doesn’t exist.
But because expectations are broken.

Everyone wants:
Big salaries.
Senior titles.
“Work-life balance.”

Few want:
Ownership.
Consistency.
Learning before earning.

Early on, I thought the problem was me.

Maybe I wasn’t a good leader.
Maybe I needed better systems.
Maybe I needed to “motivate” people more.

Then I noticed a pattern.

People who cared about the work?
They didn’t need chasing.
They didn’t need micromanagement.
They didn’t disappear after payday.

People who only cared about the paycheck?
No process ever fixed that.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

You can’t manage motivation into someone.
You can’t train hunger.
You can’t systemize responsibility.

Skills can be taught.
Experience can be built.
Work ethic? That’s already there - or it’s not.

Now I hire differently.

I look for:
✔️ People who show up before being asked
✔️ People who ask better questions than they give excuses
✔️ People who treat the work like theirs, not “the company’s”

Here’s how I actually test this:

I don’t start with long interviews.
I start with small responsibility.

A paid trial.
A clear outcome.
No hand-holding.

If they need reminders, they’re not ready.
If they over-communicate, they usually care.
If they improve without being told, that’s the signal.

Titles don’t impress me anymore.
Resumes don’t predict execution.

Behavior does.

The fastest way to spot the right people?
Watch what they do when no one is watching.

That’s who you build with.

You're not stuck because you're afraid to fail.

You're stuck because you're addicted to certainty.

I spent 3 years knowing I wanted to leave my agency.
3 years scrolling LinkedIn during lunch.
3 years telling myself "next year."

The issue wasn't capability.
It wasn't even fear of failing.

It was the comfort of knowing.

Knowing what every Tuesday looked like.
Knowing when the paycheck hit.
Knowing what level of miserable I'd be by Thursday afternoon.

It was predictable.
Predictable feels safe.

Even when it's slowly draining you.

Your brain is wired to avoid uncertainty more than it avoids pain.

That's why people stay in jobs they hate.
That's why "someday" never comes.
That's why you'll plan for years but never start.

The shift happened when I realized something:

I wasn't choosing between success and failure.
I was choosing between two types of risk.

The risk of trying and not knowing what happens.
Or the risk of not trying and knowing exactly what happens.

Both are risky.
One just feels safer.

I didn't leave because I had it figured out.
I left because I couldn't stomach another year of predictable misery.

Here's what I wish I knew:

You'll never feel ready.
The certainty you're waiting for doesn't exist.
It shows up after you start, not before.

The people who escape aren't fearless.
They just decided uncertain possibility beats predictable misery.

I break down how to actually make the transition in my free newsletter.

Real systems. Real frameworks. Not just mindset.

Get it here: ericmelillo.com/newsletter

___

♻️ Save & Repost to help someone in your network get unstuck.
➕ Follow Eric Melillo​ for more personal brand insights.

uncertainty carousel

Most of the work you’re doing every day shouldn’t exist.

I know because I was doing it too.

Most people think automation is complicated.
But that’s not why they avoid it.

They’re too buried in daily tasks
to notice which ones are quietly stealing their time.

Not the lack of tools.
Not technical skill.
Not budget.

The real problem is manually doing work that doesn’t require thinking.

I set one rule:
If I did the same task twice in a week, it got documented and automated.

That changed everything.

I see business owners stuck in things like:
- Chasing invoices and payment reminders
- Sending the same emails over and over
- Copying data between tools

So they stay busy.
They feel productive.
They burn out.

Meanwhile, others grow faster with less effort.

Not because they work harder.
Because they automated repetition first.

Here are 3 workflows that freed up hours in my week:

Client onboarding  
New client signs → contract sent → invoice generated → welcome email delivered.  
I built this after slow onboarding caused a few clients to second-guess their decision.

Content repurposing  
Newsletter published → auto-posted to LinkedIn → saved to a content library.  
No tabs. No copying.

Payment follow-ups  
Invoice overdue → reminder sent → escalation sequence triggered.  
No awkward chasing.

Each workflow took about 30 minutes to set up.
Each saves me 2–3 hours every week.

That time now goes to strategy, content, and growth.

Automation isn’t about replacing yourself.
It’s about removing friction so you can focus on what actually moves the business.

---

Still manually doing work that should run itself?
I'll show you how to fix it inside my free newsletter.

You’ll learn:
- 6-figure frameworks
- How to turn skills into income
- How to automate growth with systems

It’s free when you join the newsletter.

Get it here → ericmelillo.com/newsletter

People make purchasing decisions in a split second.

They land on your page.
They scroll for a few seconds.
And in that tiny window, one thought decides everything:

“Can I trust this?”

If the answer isn’t yes — they’re gone.

Not because your offer is bad.
Not because your price is wrong.
But because trust didn’t land fast enough.

That’s why social proof matters so much.

• testimonials
• client results
• case studies
• screenshots
• before → after stories
• real conversations

These aren’t “nice to have.”

They speed up trust.

They tell your audience:

“People like you took the leap — and it worked.”

And suddenly…

warm traffic turns into real leads.
Interest turns into action.
Curiosity turns into confidence.

Not because you shouted louder.

But because you proved it.

So if you want more conversions?

Don’t just explain your offer.
Show the receipts.

People don’t buy the promise.
They buy the proof.

Most entrepreneurs think success comes from learning.

It comes from pressure.

I used to believe the "right course" would unlock everything.

Spent over $20,000+ on programs.
Read every business book on my shelf.
Studied frameworks until I could teach them myself.

Then I launched my first business.

And something odd happened:

None of it prepared me for the real thing.

When cash flow dried up.
When a client threatened to leave.
When I had to choose between paying myself or my team.

Meanwhile, I kept watching entrepreneurs who seemed to have no advantages.

No connections.
No safety net.
No backup plan.

Yet they were building 6-figure businesses.

Working flexible hours.
Actually sleeping at night.

What did they know that I didn't?

They understood that entrepreneurship doesn't teach you comfort.

It teaches you who you are under pressure.

They weren't chasing perfect plans.
They were taking messy action.

They weren't waiting for confidence.
They were building it through reps.

They weren't avoiding failure.
They were using it as feedback.

Every hard conversation.
Every moment of doubt.
Every time they chose to stay.

It all built character that no course could teach.

I stopped waiting for perfect.
Started embracing pressure.
Learned more in 6 months than 6 years of programs.

And built a business that didn't just make money, but made me into someone who could handle anything.

Now I teach others to do the same.

Because entrepreneurship isn't learned.

It's lived.

___

♻️ Repost to help an entrepreneur in your network.
➕ Follow Eric Melillo​ for more personal brand insights.

One of the big side effects of being a solopreneur is sacrificing your mental health and family time. 
 
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and forget what really matters. 
 
Burnout is real. 
Working nonstop can wear you down. Isolation can creep in, and you might start feeling lonely. 
 Skipping family dinners or missing events can hurt your relationships. 
 
I remember focusing so much on my work that I missed quality time with my family. 
It hit me hard. 
Those moments with family are irreplaceable. 
 Since then, I’ve made it a point to prioritize family time. 
 
 It has helped my happiness and productivity. 
 
Your mental health and family are your greatest assets. 
 
Make sure to take care of them.

90% of solo operators confuse activity with progress.
The other 10% build systems and move calmly ahead.

Which one are you?

The difference is simple:

Productivity asks: “Why does this work exist?”
Tasks ask: “What should I do next?”

Productivity creates leverage.
Tasks create busyness.

Productivity stays stable.
Tasks change daily.

I’ve seen too many solo founders drowning in:

To-do lists
Daily planners
Time-blocking calendars
Productivity apps

But ask them how work flows?

Silence.

Or worse:
“I just try to stay disciplined.”

That’s not productivity.
That’s willpower with a deadline.

Here’s a real productivity system example:

“Every task enters one inbox, gets prioritized once, executed with templates, and reviewed weekly.”

That’s clarity.
That’s repeatability.
That’s saying no to chaos.

Then the execution supports it:

Daily: Capture → Decide → Do
Weekly: Review → Improve
Monthly: Simplify → Automate

See the difference?

Systems are your theory of how work gets done.
Tasks are just today’s actions.

When you build systems first:
✓ Less decision fatigue
✓ Faster execution
✓ Fewer dropped balls
✓ More mental space

When you skip systems and chase hacks:
❌ Constant overwhelm
❌ Fake productivity
❌ Burnout cycles
❌ Busy days, slow progress

Hard truth:

Solo operators with systems are outpacing you quietly.

While you optimize to-do lists,
they’re compounding output.

Stop managing tasks.
Start designing systems.

Systems choose how you work.
Tasks simply follow.

That’s how solo ops scales.

I use this system to drive a 1,900% increase in impressions.
It works when you treat it like a system, not content.
Consistency and sequence do the rest.

I help you (actually) use AI for content.

When I started on LinkedIn, I was lost.

My posts used to die at 400 impressions.

I didn't know how to write hooks.
I didn't know how to structure content.
I didn't know AI could do 80% of the heavy lifting.

I just kept posting and hoping.

Now I scroll LinkedIn every day.

And I see the same pattern everywhere:

- People with valuable insights.
- People with real expertise.
- People with brilliant ideas.

Stuck at 500 impressions.

Not because their content is bad.

Because of fixable mistakes:
↳ Weak hooks that don't stop the scroll
↳ No structure, so readers bounce
↳ No systems, so they burn out

A few tweaks and they'd be flying.

That's why I built The AI Creators Club.

What members have done in 30 days:

☑︎ 100k impressions in 28 days
☑︎ 5k followers in four weeks
☑︎ Three new clients closed

What's inside:

✦ Templates behind 40M+ views
✦ ~10 hours of pre-recorded training
✦ AI systems and prompts I use daily
✦ Daily feedback on your actual content
✦ Weekly live coaching with me and Fatima
✦ Private community + quarterly London meetups

To put it in perspective:

60 minutes with me costs £500.
3 months inside the Club costs £495.

Doors are officially closed.

Join waitlist: https://lnkd.in/eXtBeCA4

taplio

The Battle

Joris van Huët

Eric Melillo

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreEric Melillo's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Joris van Huët

Eric Melillo

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);}Eric Melillo's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreEric Melillo's LinkedIn Performance