First Degree Capital

We started First Degree with one belief:
AI isn’t tomorrow. It’s now.

If you’re building something ambitious in productivity, collaboration, or workflow automation — let’s talk. DM us or send your deck to kaan@firstdegree.capital

Founder & General Partner

Graphio.ai

Revenue failures don’t happen overnight. Silent stalls, missed renewals, and broken handoffs start weeks earlier — but most leaders only see them when it’s already too late.

Graphio solves this.
It’s the AI-powered operating layer for modern GTM and ops leaders — what strategy consultants recommend once a year, running continuously.

Backed by 100+ senior exec angels from Mastercard, PwC, Snowflake, Experian, HelloFresh, BambooHR and more, we’re proud to support Dmitry, Andrey, and the Graphio team via firstdegree.capital

Investor (+ Partner)

Limelight

B2B go-to-market has changed. Buyers trust people more than brands, and the creator-led model is exploding — growing 30% year over year. Yet most brands still lack the analytics, attribution, and automation needed to make creator marketing work at scale.

Limelight solves this by giving GTM teams one place to:
Discover the right creators with the right audience
Automate outreach, contracting, and activation
Run creator and employee-led campaigns across LinkedIn, newsletters, podcasts, YouTube, X, and more
Connect the dots between social signals, CRM data, and revenue
It’s SaaS, marketplace, and AI outbound all in one — built for modern GTM leaders who want results without the manual hustle.

Backed by great co-investors and super-angels, we're happy supporting David, and Youngjae and the team via firstdegree.capital

Trampoline AI

Trampoline is building the AI-native workspace for proposals — starting with RFPs. It automates everything from brief ingestion to draft generation and collaboration. The result: service teams close more deals, faster.

We’re proud to partner with Edouard, Gabriel, and their team alongside investors like Salesforce Ventures, betaworks, and True Ventures.

🔗 Learn more https://trampoline.ai
🔗 Or check https://firstdegree.capital/portfolio/trampoline

WINN.AI

Winn.ai is your AI-powered meeting assistant built for revenue teams.

It joins your calls, tracks action items, and automatically syncs notes to your CRM — all without manual input.

No more “Oh, I forgot to ask!”
Set up your playbook — or adapt one of Winn’s with a click.
Winn tracks conversations in real-time, showing you which talking points you’ve covered and what’s still left to say.

It goes beyond transcription. It understands context, tracks pipeline impact, and ensures nothing slips through the cracks.

Backed by top-tier investors (Insight Partners, Sarona Ventures, S Capital VC + multiple prominent operators and angels) and loved by sales teams, we’re proud to support Eldad and Bar + the entire team at Winn.ai via firstdegree.capital.

Topo (YC W24)

Topo.io provides AI SDR agents to execute custom B2B outbound playbooks tailored to each company and industry. 

It identifies, qualifies, and engages high-value leads using real-time data signals. Beyond basic personalization, it delivers strategic, context-driven outreach.

Topo.io (YCW24) is backed by leading VCs and industry experts, happy to supporting Dan, Leonard, Robin and the team at Topo.io via firstdegree.capital

FullEnrich

Enrich anybody on LinkedIn with 1 click. You’re visiting a LinkedIn profile and want the contact info? Boom, you click on "Enrich", and your contact is enriched and saved in a list.

Backed by leading VCs and super-angels, we're happy supporting Benjamin, Grégoire, Jean-Luc and team at FullEnrich via firstdegree.capital

AlphaLens

Who is building something similar? Get razor-sharp intelligence on your market in seconds.

Whether you are a bootstrapped founder looking to map your market, an M&A professional  looking for a deal, or the head of data at a multi-stage firm, have a look at Alphalens and what it can do for you.

Supporting the Leo, Walid and team via First Degree.

Deckmatch uses the power of AI and advanced analytics to revolutionize investment deal flow. Our platform seamlessly integrates your deal flow with external data, offering investors intelligent parsing, precise startup-investor matching, and actionable insights through tailored memos.

With our API, Deckmatch fits effortlessly into your existing workflow and CRM, enhancing your investment strategy with sharp, data-driven insights.

Supporting the team at DeckMatch via First Degree.

WhiteBridge.ai

Whitebridge.ai is an AI-powered digital identity research tool that finds, verifies, and analyzes publicly collected data about someone and structures it into an insightful report. 

Supporting the team at Whitebridge via First Degree.

lablab.ai

Supporting Pawel, Simon and the team at LabLab via First Degree.

Investor

Cooking up something new. Stay tuned!🧑🏼‍🍳🪄

10x Founder → Early Stage Investor. 
General Partner @ First Degree Capital.

We’re backers of brave beginnings:

Dmitry & Andrew — graphio.ai (Sep ‘25)
David & Youngjae — limelighthq.com (Aug ’25)
Gabriel & Edouard — trampoline.ai (Jul ’25)
Eldad & Bar — winn.ai (Jun ’25)
Dan, Robin & Leonard — topo.io (May ’25)
Benjamin, Jean-Luc & Grégoire — fullenrich.com (Jan ’25)
Leopold & Walid — alphalens.com (Sep ’24)
Paulius, Tomas, Irmantas & Justin — whitebridge.ai (Sep ’24)
Simon & Pawel — lablab.ai (May ’24)

We co-invest alongside great angels and co-investors such as Y Combinator, Insight Partners, Kima Ventures, Flex Capital, Alliance VC, AltaIR, Luminar, Skyfall, and more.

We 💜 AI-driven companies “changing the way we work” and take out the 🫏 work. 

If you’re building something ambitious in productivity, collaboration, or workflow automation — let’s talk.

DM us or send your deck to kaan@firstdegree.capital

Kaan Anit

Nothing beats building. 

Before starting First Degree Capital, we’ve started and scaled RocketX. 

Back then, we were building every day.

Helping founders solve problems.
Finding product–market fit.
Scaling what worked.

We worked with over 300 founding teams.
And no matter the stage or industry,
the challenges were always the same:

⏱ Time.
🧠 Expertise.
🤝 Access.

Access to revenue.
Access to people.
Access to capital.

We turned those lessons into playbooks — real stories, distilled into practical steps. 99problems 😉

But even with playbooks, founders still wanted to talk.

Not theory. Not advice from afar.
Just a real conversation.

That’s why we’re proud to join Hubble Cohort 22 🚀

A platform built for exactly that —
where founders, operators, and investors
share what they’ve learned the hard way.

No panels.
No pitches.
Just honesty.

Because giving back is part of the journey.
And if what we’ve learned can save someone else a few steps, that’s time well spent.

💡 Early-stage fundraising
🎯 GTM & product–market fit
🤝 Founder-to-founder guidance
⚙️ Building with (and around) AI
🧭 Recruiting & hiring

Playbooks → https://lnkd.in/eCCdVPty
1:1 Talk → app.hubble.social/kaananit

Kaan Anit 🫧

Guillermo’s post on Harry Stebbings hit me harder than most content does.

Not because of Harry’s success (we love people to succeed), but because it exposed the one thing we haven’t built yet.

Harry has mastered something we haven’t:

A disciplined, systematic approach to closing capital.

✅ Weekly LP conversations.
✅ Quarterly updates.
❌ Hundreds of relationships nurtured long before he ever raises a fund.
❌ Relentless follow-through.
❌ Velocity that compounds.

It’s the opposite of how most funds raise.

And it’s the exact opposite of what we’ve been focused on.

We’re very good at building the engine — sourcing, evaluating, connecting people, and creating systems that actually work.

We’re good at moving fast, building trust, giving founders access, and turning zero into something.

But we’re not good at one thing: closing capital. 

And without that, nothing scales. 

We haven’t build a network of investors way before we started…

So we’re making a shift.

We’re looking for someone exceptional to join us — someone who lives and breathes capital raising.

Someone who treats LP relationships the way we treat founders.

Someone who can take our system, our network, our engine, and turn it into momentum on the capital side.

We’re a small team — Anouk and myself, supported by great people around us — and we’ve built everything from scratch over the last 18 months.

Now we’re ready for the person who completes the circle.

If you want to read the whole thing subscribe to Guillermo Flor his newsletter (link in comments) 🔗

But more importantly for us 😉
you know someone who should be doing this with us, we’d love an introduction.

Please share and repost this so we’ll get hold of this person we really need. 

And if this sounds like you, reach out.
DM me. 💜

No alternative text description for this image

We first met David. 💜
Clear. Fast. Obsessive about the problem.
A founder who sees exactly where GTM is heading — and is already building for that world.

Then we met Youngjae.💜
Technical, calm, incredibly sharp.
The kind of builder who gives you immediate confidence the product will keep improving every single week.

And together with Demir, Blas, and Janine, they form a small, fantastic team… focused, product-first, and relentless.

That’s when we said:
“We’re in.”

The problem they’re solving?

Everyone sees the shift:

• creators = distribution
• employees = media
• buyers follow people, not slide decks

But until now, nobody could measure it.
Everyone knew influence drives revenue nobody could prove it.

Limelight fixes this.

Their platform shows exactly how content turns into pipeline, with real attribution and real buyer intent.
And their new AI agent:

→ learns your company
→ defines your ICP
→ maps competitors
→ listens to social
→ surfaces intent
→ turns it into pipeline

Exactly the kind of AI-native product we back.

The proof?

A world-class group of investors joined + respected operators from across the ecosystem.

And of course they won the Global Pitch Competition at SaaStock, taking home €1,000,000.
Hard proof. Real momentum. 🙌🏼

That’s why we invested.

Great people.
A real problem.
A product that already delivers.

Proud to be in the round with this team.

#Limelight
#FirstDegreeCapital
#BackersOfBraveBeginnings

Founder & CEO @ Limelight | B2B Creator Marketplace | 3x Founder | MBA Mentor

Today I’m announcing our $2,100,000 funding round 🎉💰
And a HUGE NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH!! ...

Our brand new AI agent for Social Listening is live.

It can:

→ Research your company
→ Precisely define your ICP
→ Identify all of your competitors

Then automatically surface buyer intent from social content and turn it into sales pipeline. 

Early users are raving about it already!!

And just a few weeks ago,
We won the Global Pitch Competition!
On stage at SaaStock (€1M prize money)

THIS. IS. WHAT. MOMENTUM. LOOKS. LIKE.

Here’s why investors are loving Limelight

👇🏼👇🏼

Everyone is talking about personality-led marketing.

- Niche B2B creators are stealing trust.
- Employees are becoming mini media brands.
- Buyers follow PEOPLE, not 40-page whitepapers.

But the problem - up until now?

Everyone KNOWS influence drives revenue.

Yet nobody can measure it.

So budgets have stayed trapped in paid ads & cold outbound.

Limelight SOLVES this problem.

We’re showing brands - how CONTENT drives REVENUE.

We are making influence marketing performance-based.

So brands can track:

🔎 Which post led to $142,000 in pipeline
🔎 Which creator drove 237 product signups
🔎 Which campaign closed $1.9M new business.

(All REAL Limelight case studies! 📈)

We’re turning B2B influence from a “nice-to-have branding play” into a scalable revenue engine.

Big SHOUT out to our new investors for believing in us

Amit at SNR (led the round!) 
Eran at Savyon Ventures 
Kenneth at BackFuture
Kaan at First Degree 
Josh at OpenSky 
Kirby at Ascend

And many others like Ran Makavy, Gert Lanckriet, Suhit Gupta, Amir Ashkenazi, Mike Head, Eli Schwartz, Tom Waddington, Dan Murray🧠, Garrett Scott, Michel Lieben 🧠 & Alex Vacca 🧠🛠️.

A group of incredible operators/investors who know personality-led growth will define the next decade of GTM.

What’s next?

Goal remains the same:
→ Hit $10M ARR with a team of 10.

This funding round lets us:

⚡ Build even faster
⚡ Hire a few elite engineers + AMs
⚡ Push deeper into creator-based attribution
⚡ Power influencer programs for every GTM org

Huge gratitude to my tiny but might team Youngjae JI, Demir Capan, Blas C. and Janine Bulao. 

And most importantly...

The creators and brands (HubSpot, Webflow, Clay + 100s more) who are building this category WITH us 💪🏼

THIS IS JUST THE START.

PS. if you sign up as a new customer in the next 48 hours you get your 2nd month free! (DM me and I will do it for you)

How we bootstrapped First Degree Capital in 2025.

We tried a lot of tools this year — many AI-native, many custom-centric.
Here’s my Top 15 that helped me run the whole operation for < $250/month.


COMMUNICATION & OUTREACH

1. Wispr – People have spoken to my people for years because I can’t type.
Now I use voice. https://wisprflow.ai

2. Superhuman – Email, speed, focus. Beats Gmail. And definitely Microsoft.
https://superhuman.com

3. TryKondo – LinkedIn is part of my stack, but for messaging I use Superhuman for LinkedIn.
https://app.trykondo.com

4. Folk CRM – My digital Rolodex. Works seamlessly with LinkedIn and Superhuman.
https://folk.app

MEETING PREP & INTEL

5. WhiteBridge.ai – For meeting prep and personal intel.
https://whitebridge.ai

6. Alphalens – Company, competitor & product intel in seconds.
https://alphalens.com

7. FullEnrich – I don’t look for numbers or email addresses anymore.
https://fullenrich.com

RESEARCH & THINKING

8. Perplexity – Research, answers, clarity.
https://perplexity.ai

9. ChatGPT – My colleague. After two years, (s)he knows me by now.
https://chat.openai.com

PLANNING & ORGANISATION

10. Google Workspace – Docs, Sheets, Drive, and Gemini for meeting notes — all in one place.
https://lnkd.in/eCFawhbV

11. Google Drive – Still undefeated for storing and sharing.
https://drive.google.com

12. Happenstance – Natural-language search on my network. Outperforms LinkedIn Recruiter Seat or Sales Navigator by far.
https://happenstance.ai

RUNNING THE DAY

13. Calendly – Keeps my calendar under control.
https://calendly.com

14. Comet – My daily command centre.
https://comet.com

15. Gamma – Turns any content into clean, sharp slides.
https://gamma.app

THE HARDWARE BEHIND IT ALL
My iPhone and MacBook Pro – The foundations everything runs on.

If one of these saves you even 30 minutes a day, use it.
And if you’re building tools that change the way we work — I want to meet you.

Another great post from Mr. Stockholm aka Oliver Molander. 

Great insights for anyone thinking enterprise and AI. 

Especially point 6, "Change the way we work." As in get work done. 👀⤵️

I don't think people truly understand how early we're in enterprise adoption of AI agents.

McKinsey just released their 2025 AI report. 

Some nuggets:

1️⃣ 90% of companies “use AI,” but 67% are still stuck in pilot mode. Corporate AI theater is alive and well.

2️⃣ 62% of orgs are experimenting with AI agents, 23% are scaling AI agents. Most are in tech and healthcare.

3️⃣ The impact gap is massive. 64% say AI helps innovation, but only 39% see real EBIT gains. 

4️⃣ The high performers (top 6%) think bigger. They rebuild workflows, set growth goals, and invest real budgets not just PoCs.

5️⃣ Leaders who own AI personally are 3x more likely to scale it. Makes sense.

6️⃣ The winners use AI to transform how work gets done, not just speed it up.

7️⃣ The average company measures efficiency. The best ones measure how fast their agents can act.

8️⃣ Risk management is catching up with 51% have already seen AI backfire, mostly from inaccuracy.

9️⃣ The workforce impact is foggy. 32% expect cuts, 13% expect growth, everyone else is guessing.

Agentic AI looks magical in demos, but scaling it across teams and systems (especially in enterprise settings) is where it still breaks. You can do basic single-step automation reliably right now (tool calling).

As Andrej Karpathy recently noted on LLM agents:

"My critique of the industry is more in overshooting the tooling w.r.t. present capability."

Bottom line: we're still super early, this transformation will go on for another decade.

I'm bullish, but this will take a bit longer than we think, having fully autonomous agents. Just like autonomous driving took a bit longer than we thought, but here we are.

E.g. one of the biggest challenges in building AI agents today is agents' long-term memory.

#artificialintelligence

AI isn’t taking jobs — it’s taking tasks.

I just read Deel’s new AI & Workforce Policy Report (a fantastic report!!) and one thing stood out:

What AI means for people, employers, and founders is no longer theoretical.

It’s happening. Right now. 
Here are my key takeaways: 

👩🏻‍💻 For people:
Entry-level roles: the classic way in — are being automated out.

But new jobs are emerging just as fast: 
AI Librarians, Trainers, Tutors. The shift isn’t from human to machine… 

It’s from execution to judgment.

🏢 For employers:
AI is no longer an experiment.

70% of companies have moved beyond pilots. Yet compliance, trust, and talent are now the real constraints.

The question isn’t “if we use AI,” but “how responsibly we do it.”

🚀 For founders:
Every industry is hiring AI talent.

And the biggest opportunity isn’t building the next model, but it’s helping people and companies use AI safely, productively, and in ways that make work better.

Read the full report here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eZ8CgSaj

#AI #FutureOfWork #Productivity #Founders #VentureCapital

If I had the skills — and lived in LA — I’d apply myself.

David, Youngjae, and the team at Limelight are building something truly special.

They’ve cracked what every creator, brand, and marketer dreams of: real, data-driven influencer partnerships that actually convert.

They’re growing fast.
They move like true founders.
They treat customers like partners.
And they’re now looking for a Customer Success Manager who can help them scale that magic.

If you’ve ever wanted to join a rocket ship at just the right time — this is it.
An opportunity you don’t want to miss.

Trust me, you’ll want to keep an eye on this team.

#BackersOfBraveBeginnings
#LimelightHQ
#FirstDegreeCapital

I’m HIRING a Customer Success Manager!! 🎉 👀 Want to join a tech startup DOMINATING the creator economy space?!

Keep reading 👇

I don’t care about your fancy degree.
Or what brands are on your CV.
Or how old you are.

If you're awesome at what you do...

WE WANT YOU!!!

Simple as that 👏👏

The ideal candidate:

🔥 Has startup experience (and can work fast)
🔥 Can build relationships with enterprise customers
🔥 Understands B2B influence/creator partnerships
🔥 Has the grit and accountability to own outcomes

You'll get:

→ Ability to work from anywhere
→ Skin in the game + bonuses
→ Responsibility from day one
→ Total creative freedom

This is a rare opportunity for someone to join our early team and go on a MAJOR growth journey with us.

A bit about Limelight:

- Just won SaaStock Europe’s global pitch
- Growing fast with $3.6M in proposals sent
- Working with brands like HubSpot, Clay, Xero
- Building the future of B2B influencer marketing
- Used by thousands of world-class content creators

We made our last hire in under 10 days.

And we’re looking for someone incredible again.

Ready for the challenge?

Apply here: https://lnkd.in/d6bnJyJP

Know someone who is?

Tag ‘em!

“Europe is fine to start.
But once you want real numbers, you need to go where people buy fast.”

A fantastic post and must read for any European founder. 👀⤵️

All credits to Jérémy

CEO @The Mobile-First Company 📱Fixing broken desktop software with AI mobile apps 🌍 Angel Investor in +40 startups

Sell only in France if you want a small company.

Patrick Collison, the cofounder of Stripe, shared a chart this week that speaks for itself.  

If you build software and you don’t sell in the US, you miss the biggest part of the opportunity.

The US revenue curve goes up fast.
Even without AI companies in the mix, the US still grows faster than Europe.

The US is one big market with buyers who move fast.
Europe is split, slow, and full of small rules that block you the moment you try to scale.

Look at Pigment, PhotoRoom, Hyperline.
French teams growing fast because they sell in the US.

Europe is fine to start.
But once you want real numbers, you need to go where people buy fast.

If you want a big company, you go to the US.
If you want a small one, stay in France.

Follow For Daily Insights on Mental Health, Performance & Personal Growth | Chief Medical Officer | Raised $500k Pre-Seed Funding | Venture-Backed AI-Health Tech Founder | Consultant Psychiatrist M.D. 🧠

Hey - I’m Dr. Neetu.

🩺  UK Medical Doctor. 
🧠 Consultant Psychiatrist (mental health expert). 
👩🏽‍⚕ Chief Medical Officer and Founder at PrescribeLife. 
🚀 AI Health Tech Founder.

♻️ Follow me on LinkedIn for daily posts on mental health, personal growth and performance.

📩  I write a regular newsletter with thousands of subscribers, providing deeper insights and actionable advice on mental health, personal growth and performance.

📨 For commercial enquiries (PR, Sponsorships,  NED opportunities) - email partnerships@prescribelife.ai

Dr. Neetu Johnson M.D.🧠🩺

7 Brutal Life Lessons

That no one told you about.

Life isn’t always fair or kind.
Some lessons hit hard, and no one prepares you for them.

Here are 8 truths you need to know even if they feel uncomfortable:

1/ Not Everyone Will Like You
↳ Trying to please everyone wastes your energy
↳ Focus on those who value you

2/ Hard Work Doesn’t Always Pay Off
↳ Effort is essential, but results aren’t guaranteed
↳ Sometimes timing and luck matter too

3/ Failure Is Inevitable
↳ It’s not a sign you’re weak or unworthy
↳ It’s a stepping stone to growth

4/ People Change and Sometimes Leave
↳ Not all relationships last forever
↳ That’s okay, make space for new connections

5/ Saying No Is Necessary
↳ You can’t do everything for everyone
↳ Boundaries protect your wellbeing

6/ Comfort Zones Kill Potential
↳ Growth feels uncomfortable
↳ Staying safe means staying stuck

7/ Success Can Be Lonely
↳ Not everyone understands your journey
↳ You might have to walk some paths alone

The truth? These lessons are tough but they build resilience and clarity.
Ignoring them won’t make life easier. Facing them will.

Which one hit you the hardest? Share your thoughts below 👇

♻️ Feel free to share this with someone who needs a reality check.
🔔 Follow Dr. Neetu Johnson M.D.🧠🩺 for daily posts on mental health and personal development.
-
✉️ Sign up for our newsletter for more helpful tips:
https://lnkd.in/eb94HmzF

Brutal life lessons that no one told you about

7 Phrases That Instantly Boost Your Confidence

And How to Turn Self-Doubt into Growth.

Words shape how we see ourselves.
Using the right ones daily can give you an instant confidence lift.

These simple phrases help you stay calm, focused, and ready to take action.

1/ "I’ve got this"
↳ Reminds yourself you can handle challenges
↳ Instantly shifts your mindset from doubt to action

2/ "Step by step"
↳ Breaks big tasks into manageable moves
↳ Keeps you focused and calm under pressure

3/ "I’ve handled tough situations before"
↳ Turns past struggles into proof of your strength
↳ Strengthens belief in your own abilities

4/ "I deserve this moment"
↳ Counters self-doubt
↳ Boosts self-worth and affirmation

5/ "I’ll try my best, nothing more, nothing less"
↳ Focuses on effort, not perfection
↳ Reduces stress and boosts performance

6/ "I am enough right now"
↳ Stops self-criticism in its tracks
↳ Creates instant self-acceptance

7/ "Help is a strength, not a weakness"
↳ Turns uncertainty into learning opportunities
↳ Builds collaborative confidence


Using these phrases daily is like a mental workout, strengthening your confidence bit by bit.

Which phrase hits home for you? Share below.

♻️ Repost to help someone feel more confident today.
🔔 Follow Dr. Neetu Johnson M.D.🧠🩺 for daily posts on mental health and personal development.
-
✉️ Sign up for our newsletter for more tips:
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Phrases That Instantly Boost Your Confidence

7 subtle habits that earn respect

(Not through titles, but presence and consistency)

Many believe respect comes from being loud or highly decorated.
But most of the time, it’s earned quietly in how you show up daily.

Here are 7 subtle habits that shift how people see you:

1/ You keep your word without needing reminders
 ↳ Follow through builds trust
 ↳ Reliability speaks louder than promises

2/ You let actions do the talking
 ↳ Less claiming, more delivering
 ↳ Results earn attention naturally

3/ You stay calm when others panic
 ↳ Composure signals strength
 ↳ People feel safe following you

4/ You share credit instead of hoarding it
 ↳ Confidence has room for others
 ↳ Humility leaves a stronger mark

5/ You listen without rushing to reply
 ↳ People feel valued, not dismissed
 ↳ Good listening creates quiet authority

6/ You own mistakes with clarity, not excuses
 ↳ Accountability earns respect faster than perfection
 ↳ Growth shows maturity

7/ You treat everyone with equal respect
 ↳ Position never dictates kindness
 ↳ Character does

Respect isn’t requested.
It’s recognised.

Which habit do you want to build next?

♻️ Share to inspire someone today.
🔔 Follow Dr. Neetu Johnson M.D.🧠🩺 for daily posts on mental health and personal development.
-
✉️ Sign up for our newsletter for more tips:
https://lnkd.in/eb94HmzF

Subtle habits that earn respect

7 Workplace Habits to Avoid

(Simple changes to protect your energy and focus)

Some habits slowly drain your energy at work, 
and you might not notice until you feel stressed, frustrated, or burned out.

Recognising them is the first step to taking control of your day and wellbeing.

1/ Saying “Yes” to Everything
↳ Every “yes” comes at a cost to your time, focus, and energy.
↳ Learning to say no strategically protects your priorities and mental space.

2/ Skipping Lunch Breaks
↳ Skipping meals leaves you tired and mentally drained.
↳ Taking proper breaks fuels your energy and keeps your mind sharp.

3/ Endless Multitasking
↳ Trying to juggle everything at once reduces the quality of your work.
↳ Focusing on one task at a time improves results and lowers stress.

4/ Living in Your Inbox
↳ Constantly checking emails traps you in reactive mode.
↳ Schedule focused inbox time to reclaim control of your day.

5/ Overloading Your Calendar
↳ Back-to-back meetings leave no space to think or reflect.
↳ Build in gaps for thinking, planning, and short mental resets.

6/ Working When You’re Unwell
↳ Pushing through illness drains your body and slows recovery.
↳ Rest first, returning fully charged makes you more effective.

7/ Neglecting Your Own Growth
↳ Skipping skill development limits your future opportunities.
↳ Invest small, consistent time in learning to stay ahead.

Small changes to daily habits lead to big improvements.

Which of these habits do you notice in your routine?

♻️ Share this to help someone protect their energy and focus.
🔔 Follow Dr. Neetu Johnson M.D.🧠🩺 for daily posts on mental health and personal growth
__
✉️ Sign up for our newsletter for more helpful tips:
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Workplace habits to avoid

7 Things That Make You Look Weak at Work

(And How to Build Your Presence)

Confidence isn’t about being loud.
It’s about showing focus, clarity, and reliability.

Watch out for these habits:

1/ Avoiding Decisions
↳ Hesitation = uncertainty
↳ Act: Gather info, decide, communicate

2/ Over-Apologising
↳ Saying sorry too much = low authority
↳ Act: Apologise only when necessary; show gratitude instead

3/ Not Speaking Up
↳ Silence = lack of insight
↳ Act: Share your ideas clearly and confidently

4/ Blaming Others
↳ Finger-pointing = unprofessional
↳ Act: Own your part; focus on solutions

5/ Being Unprepared
↳ Lack of prep = loss of trust
↳ Act: Do your homework; anticipate questions

6/ Over-Explaining
↳ Over-sharing = insecurity
↳ Act: Stick to the facts; keep it concise

7/ Failing to Set Boundaries
↳ Always saying yes = overwhelm
↳ Act: Prioritise, delegate, communicate limits

Small changes make a big impact on how you’re perceived.

Which of these do you see most in yourself, or others? Share below 👇

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Things That Make You Look Weak at Work

Emotionally immature bosses don’t just drain you.

They slowly shift how you see yourself at work.

You start doubting your judgement, adjusting your behaviour to avoid their reactions, and carrying the weight of emotions that aren’t yours to manage.

The effect goes beyond your output.
It touches your confidence, your limits, and your sense of stability.

Noticing the patterns is the first step to regaining control.

7 early signs your boss might be emotionally immature
(and how to look after yourself)

1/ They take everything personally
 ↳ Even light feedback feels like a slight
 ↳ Share ideas in group settings and document decisions

2/ They need to control every detail
 ↳ Delegation is rare and oversight is constant
 ↳ Give clear updates and keep your visibility strong

3/ They avoid difficult conversations
 ↳ Conflict gets pushed aside and issues linger
 ↳ Address problems early and follow up in writing

4/ They shift blame easily
 ↳ Accountability never lands with them
 ↳ Track your work and respond with facts

5/ Their mood sets the tone
 ↳ The team adjusts to how they feel, not the plan
 ↳ Build a support network that keeps you centred

6/ They compete with their own team
 ↳ Your progress feels threatening to them
 ↳ Capture your wins and build relationships across the organisation

7/ They expect respect but rarely offer it
 ↳ Appreciation is one way and rarely towards you
 ↳ Hold steady with your own standards and stay professional

You can’t change them, but you can protect your peace.
You deserve to grow, not shrink, in your role.

Have you ever worked with a manager like this?

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Signs your manager might be emotionally immature

7 things professionals learn too late

(and what to remember)

You give your all.
Yet opportunity stays just out of reach.

It’s not because you lack effort.
These silent truths kill progress quietly.

7 lessons professionals learn too late:

1/ The Effort Trap
↳ More work doesn’t mean more impact.
↳ Focus loses to intention.

2/ The Approval Loop
↳ Chasing validation drains confidence.
↳ Respect starts when you stop seeking it.

3/ The Silence Mistake
↳ Quiet ambition hides your value.
↳ Speak up — that’s how trust grows.

4/ The Comparison Spiral
↳ Someone’s always ahead.
↳ Your path is your own.

5/ The Loyalty Illusion
↳ Love for your company won’t always be returned.
↳ Be loyal to your growth first.

6/ The Lone Wolf Myth
↳ Success isn’t solitary.
↳ Allies amplify your impact.

7/ The Waiting Game
↳ “Soon” often becomes “never.”
↳ Start now, with what you have.

You can’t undo your mistakes.
But you can rewrite your path going forward.

Which lesson resonates with you most?

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Things professionals learn too late

7 Signs You’re Stuck Under a Toxic Leader

(And how to protect your focus and growth)

Some leaders quietly hold you back. 
Their actions can drain your energy and confidence.

Recognising the signs early helps you take control, 
protect your mental health, and find opportunities to grow. 

Here are 7 signs to watch for:

1/ Micromanages
 ↳ Controls every detail of your work.
 ↳ You feel stressed and powerless.

2/ Avoids Accountability
 ↳ Shifts blame to others consistently.
 ↳ Your achievements are overshadowed.

3/ Plays Favourites
 ↳ Rewards some while ignoring others.
 ↳ Team morale suffers.

4/ Poor Communication
 ↳ Important information is unclear or missing.
 ↳ Confusion and frustration build up.

5/ Unrealistic Expectations
 ↳ Sets impossible deadlines or goals.
 ↳ Leads to burnout and pressure.

6/ Criticises Publicly
 ↳ Feedback is delivered in front of others.
 ↳ Confidence takes a hit.

7/ Resists Feedback
 ↳ Ignores suggestions or constructive input.
 ↳ Growth opportunities stall.

Spotting these behaviours is the first step to reclaiming your professional life.

Which of these signs have you noticed in your workplace?

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Signs You’re Stuck Under a Toxic Leader

7 Hidden Signs You’re Sabotaging Your Career

(and why you need to notice)

You might think you’re on track for success.
But some subtle red flags could be holding you back.

Here are seven signs you shouldn’t ignore:

1/ The Reliability Illusion
↳ "Just 5 minutes late" is still late
↳ Small promises broken erode trust

2/ The Victim Mindset
↳ Believing others always get the opportunities
↳ Constantly making excuses

3/ The Competence Facade
↳ Pretending to know everything
↳ Avoiding help or clarification

4/ The Email Tell
↳ Taking too long to respond
↳ Sending messy, error-filled replies

5/ The Relationship Blind Spot
↳ Treating juniors differently than seniors
↳ Connecting only when convenient

6/ The Growth Delusion
↳ Avoiding tough feedback
↳ Defending mistakes rather than learning

7/ The Professional Appearance Trap
↳ Thinking skills alone are enough
↳ Ignoring how you're perceived

It’s not just what you do at work, but how you approach it.
Awareness opens the door to lasting change.

Which sign hit home for you?

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Hidden Signs You’re Sabotaging Your Career

7 Ways to Have Tough Talks That Actually Work

(simple steps that make hard conversations easier)

Most people avoid them.

They'd rather send an email, ghost someone, or
just let issues fester.

But here's the truth:

Your ability to handle difficult conversations directly
impacts your success as a leader (and in life).

Done right, you won't damage relationships.
You'll strengthen them.

Here's how:

1/ The Pre-Talk Reset
↳ Write down your triggers before the conversation
↳ Your brain can't be emotional and strategic at once

2/ The 3-Minute Opening
↳ Start with "I appreciate us taking time for this"
↳ First 180 seconds set the emotional temperature

3/ The Observation Bridge
↳ Share what you've noticed, not what you assume
↳ "I've observed" is stronger than "I think you're"

4/ The Curiosity Pause
↳ Stop talking, ask "Help me understand..."
↳ Silence is a tool, not a weakness

5/ The Impact Frame
↳ Focus on effects, not intentions
↳ "Here's how this affects our goals" beats blame

6/ The Solution Partnership
↳ Convert complaints into requests
↳ "What I'd like to see is..." opens possibilities

7/ The Reality Check
↳ Confirm understanding: "Let's recap what we agreed"
↳ Misalignment shows up in summaries

Think about it.

Every time you handle a tough conversation well,
you build trust.

Which approach resonates most with you? Share below 👇

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Ways to Have Tough Talks That Actually Work

7 Ways to Handle Conflict at Work

(and Maintain Your Reputation)

Think conflict always damages relationships?

Here's how top professionals turn tension into trust:

1/ The Timing Technique
↳ Address issues early, not angry
↳ Choose the right moment, not the first moment

2/ The Perspective Pause
↳ Step back before stepping in
↳ Ask "what am I missing here?"

3/ The Evidence Approach
↳ Focus on facts, not feelings
↳ Document before discussing

4/ The Alliance Builder
↳ Find common ground first
↳ Frame it as "our" challenge

5/ The Emotion Manager
↳ Acknowledge feelings without being ruled by them
↳ Stay professional, even when others don't

6/ The Solution Seeker
↳ Bring options, not complaints
↳ Think "what's next?" not "what happened?"

7/ The Reputation Guard
↳ Keep conflicts private
↳ Share resolutions publicly


Which strategy resonates most? Share below 👇

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Ways to Handle Conflict at Work

7 Ways to Show Kindness At Work

(and none of them cost a thing)

We all carry invisible weight,
but a simple act of kindness can lighten the load more than you know.

Here are some ways to spread kindness at work:

1/ Recognise when someone’s struggling
↳ Checking in with a colleague who seems overwhelmed shows you care.
↳ A simple “How can I help?” can make a big difference.

2/ Listen without interrupting
↳ Giving someone your full attention shows respect and care.
↳ Active listening strengthens relationships.

3/ Express gratitude
↳ Saying thank you makes people feel appreciated.
↳ Gratitude nurtures a positive work environment.

4/ Share your knowledge
↳ Offering guidance helps others grow and shows generosity.
↳ Mentorship builds trust and collaboration.

5/ Respect boundaries
↳ Being mindful of others’ personal and work boundaries shows empathy.
↳ Kindness means giving space when needed.

6/ Be patient and understanding
↳ Showing patience in stressful situations helps others stay calm.
↳ Kindness is staying composed and supportive.

7/ Offer a genuine compliment
↳ Recognising others’ efforts boosts morale and fosters connection.
↳ A simple “great job” can brighten someone’s day.

Kindness doesn’t cost a thing but its power is huge.
Simple acts can make your colleagues feel truly valued, respected, and seen.
You don’t need grand gestures.
Sometimes the smallest things make the biggest difference.

What’s one more way you show kindness at work?

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Ways to Show Kindness At Work

7 Signs You’re the Problem at Work

(And what to do instead)

It’s never easy to admit, but sometimes, we’re the source of the friction, not others.

Recognising your own patterns can prevent misunderstandings, improve relationships, and accelerate your career growth.

Here are 7 signs you might be the problem:

1/ Constant Complaining
 ↳ You focus on what’s wrong instead of solutions.
 ↳ This drains energy and discourages your team.

2/ Resisting Feedback
 ↳ You dismiss suggestions or become defensive.
 ↳ Growth stalls when you ignore constructive input.

3/ Poor Communication
 ↳ Emails, messages, or instructions are unclear.
 ↳ Misunderstandings multiply and work slows down.

4/ Blaming Others
 ↳ Mistakes are never yours, they’re always someone else’s fault.
 ↳ This erodes trust and credibility over time.

5/ Missed Deadlines or Commitments
 ↳ Promises aren’t kept or work arrives late.
 ↳ Reliability is key to being valued at work.

6/ Avoiding Responsibility
 ↳ You dodge difficult tasks or decisions.
 ↳ Leadership and influence are earned by stepping up.

7/ Creating Conflict
 ↳ You stir drama, gossip, or tension.
 ↳ Collaboration suffers when you prioritise personal wins over team success.

Self-awareness is the first step to change.
Notice these patterns, take ownership, and watch how your relationships and impact improve.

Which of these have you seen in yourself before? Share below 👇

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Signs You’re the Problem at Work

Nobody enjoys being criticised.

Sometimes we take it personally and shut down.

Or we react defensively and regret it later.
There’s a better way to handle it with calm and confidence.

7 ways to stay composed under criticism:

1/ Seek Clarification
 ↳ Ask questions to fully understand the feedback
 ↳ Helps separate facts from emotions and gain actionable insight

2/ Set Boundaries
 ↳ Clearly define acceptable behaviour
 ↳ Protects your mental space without being defensive

3/ Pause Before Responding
 ↳ Take a moment to breathe and think
 ↳ Respond thoughtfully instead of reacting emotionally

4/ Mirror With Professionalism
 ↳ Reflect the tone or concern calmly
 ↳ Helps the other person recognise their behaviour without confrontation

5/ Redirect to Solutions
 ↳ Focus on actionable steps rather than personal attacks
 ↳ Demonstrates maturity and problem-solving ability

6/ Use Controlled Humour
 ↳ Light, appropriate humour can diffuse tension
 ↳ Shows confidence while keeping the conversation professional

7/ Be Direct and Composed
 ↳ State your response clearly and respectfully
 ↳ Avoid overexplaining or apologising unnecessarily

Staying calm when someone criticises you shows real strength. 
It also makes people respect and trust you more.

Which of these strategies will you try next time? Share below 👇

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Ways to Stay Calm When Criticised

7 Simple Ways to Protect Your Mental Health

(For a calmer, clearer mind)

Life and work can feel overwhelming.
Stress creeps in before we even notice it.

Protecting your mental health isn’t about avoiding challenges.
It’s about creating habits that give your mind space, energy, and resilience.

Here are 7 simple ways to protect your mental health, and why they matter:

1/ Prioritise Sleep
↳ Sleep restores your brain and regulates emotions.
↳ Make rest non-negotiable and stick to a routine.

2/ Move Your Body
↳ Exercise releases stress and boosts mood.
↳ Even short walks or stretches throughout the day make a difference.

3/ Set Boundaries
↳ Saying “no” protects your energy and focus.
↳ Clearly communicate limits at work and home.

4/ Take Breaks
↳ Small pauses improve productivity and reduce burnout.
↳ Step away from screens, breathe, and reset.

5/ Connect with People
↳ Supportive relationships buffer stress and anxiety.
↳ Schedule meaningful time with friends, family, or colleagues.

6/ Mind Your Thoughts
↳ Negative patterns can spiral quickly.
↳ Practice mindfulness, journaling, or meditation daily.

7/ Seek Help Early
↳ Asking for support isn’t weakness, it’s proactive care.
↳ Talk to mentors, coaches, or mental health professionals when needed.

Your mental health is the foundation for performance, focus, and fulfillment. Start with one habit today.

Which of these will you try first? Share below 👇

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Simple Ways to Protect Your Mental Health

7 Silent Career Killers You're Probably Doing

(Hard truths nobody tells you)

You’re working hard, hitting targets.
But are you missing the hidden traps?
The best performers catch these subtle mistakes before they kill momentum.

Look out for these signs if you want to stay ahead.

1/ Chronic Excuses
↳ "Traffic was bad" isn't fooling anyone
↳ Your reputation suffers with every explanation

2/ Digital Disasters
↳ Sending emails with typos and poor formatting
↳ Forgetting to mute during virtual meetings

3/ Poor Time Management
↳ Missing deadlines by "just a few hours"
↳ Always being the last to join meetings

4/ Emotional Reactions
↳ Letting stress visibly affect your work
↳ Taking feedback personally

5/ Communication Blunders
↳ Using slang in professional settings
↳ Forgetting to double-check recipient lists

6/ Attention Deficit
↳ Multi-tasking during important discussions
↳ Checking phone during meetings

7/ Workplace Boundaries
↳ Oversharing personal problems
↳ Treating colleagues like therapists


Truth: These habits might feel normal, but they're silently destroying your professional image.

The good news? They're all fixable - starting today.

Which one hit close to home? Share below 👇

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Silent Career Killers You're Probably Doing

You’re getting close.

That’s why it’s getting tough.

Most people think struggle means they are failing.
But often, it means you are right at the edge of a breakthrough.

Right before growth, things usually feel heavier.
Right before change, things usually feel harder.
Right before progress, doubt usually gets louder.

Here’s what often shows up when you are close:

• Motivation dips
• Resistance rises
• Old fears resurface
• The urge to quit feels logical

That does not mean you are on the wrong path.
It usually means you are stretching beyond your comfort zone.

Progress rarely feels clean.
Growth rarely feels calm.
And confidence is often built after the hard part, not before it.

If things feel tougher than usual, pause before you pull back.
You might be closer than you think.

You’re getting close.
That’s why it’s getting tough.

Who believed in you before you believed in yourself? 
Tag them in the comments ⬇

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Most people stop at: “I failed.”

The powerful choice is to continue with: “I learned.” 

That is where growth begins.
Failure is uncomfortable, but it is never final unless you let it be. 

Every setback carries the seeds for your next step:

 - Strength: A reminder of how much you can handle.
 - Insight: Lessons you would not have noticed otherwise.
 - Direction: A clearer sense of what to try next.

Growth and mistakes come from the same effort. 
The difference is your choice:

 ✅ Do you dwell on what went wrong?
 ✅ Or do you use it to build what comes next?

Your journey is not about perfection. 
It is about learning and moving forward.

What is the most valuable lesson your last “failure” taught you?

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A lot of leaders don’t get this

But here’s the truth:

Burnout in high-performing leaders is far more common than people think. It rarely happens overnight. It builds slowly, quietly, and predictably.

Sharing a powerful conversation with Richard Stokes from The Mojo Under Fire podcast where he interviews Oli Johnson, a seasoned tech founder and co-founder of PrescribeLife.AI.

Working clinically with high-pressure professionals, these patterns show up again and again:

 • chronic overextension
 • subtle early warning signs
 • cumulative stress load
 • the belief that slowing down isn’t an option

Oli explains this from the founder's perspective, highlighting why early recognition and intervention matter more than ever.

They also explore how tools like biomarker tracking, AI-supported assessment, and personalised resilience insights are helping leaders stay healthy while still operating at a high level.

If you work with execs, founders, or high-performing teams, this episode offers a helpful lens on burnout and what sustainable performance can look like.

🎧 Listen here → https://lnkd.in/e8ab8Ew9

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