Level Agency

Chief Executive Officer

Managing Partner & President

President

Senior Vice President of Operations

Developed product and market strategies that positioned the company to achieve long term growth, while meeting annual revenue and profitability goals. Continually identified and assessed new markets, product and technology opportunities and ensured resources were in place to drive marketing strategy and capitalize on opportunities. 

• Served as a key and active member of the senior management operating team
• Provided leadership for the development of global strategic marketing plans including objectives and strategy for targeted markets
• Drove efforts with product and business development to define an overall product and technology portfolio strategy to drive the long term growth of the organization
• Ensured the development of all strategic product roadmaps and corresponding marketing plans
• Continuously evaluated trends and adjusted strategy to capitalize on shifts in the marketplace. 
• Analyzed existing product and markets in terms of the ability to compete, gain market share, grow revenue and sustain or grow profitability
• Monitored business metrics in regard to revenues, profitability, market share and product portfolio mix. 
• Established metrics for the measurement of marketing program effectiveness
• Developed and manage the marketing budget
• Responsible (in collaboration with sales) for the development of the company’s revenue forecast
• Responsible for the overall management of the marketing team providing coaching, leadership and assistance with resources and strategy development

Vice President of Technology and Product

Member

Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

CallerReady LLC

Responsible for developing and implementing a product roadmap for the company that ensures development and testing of high quality, high value products/services that can be successfully marketed to consumers. Also responsible for leading the development of strategies to migrate customer service and sales onto a completely self service platform. 

• Drive the implementation of a Product roadmap within the company.
• Manage the existing stable of products and lead the ongoing development of enhancements to support increased value to customers.
• Gather and analyze feedback from sales, marketing, operations and partners/prospects to set the strategic vision for existing products and development of new products.
• Manage the execution of consumer research to further support rationale for product development and positioning within the marketplace.
• Direct our internal process to define the product strategy, roadmap and priorities.
• Research, develop & implement a best processes strategy for new product development, launch and analysis.
• Develop requirements documents and use cases for new product features.
• Monitor the status of development projects supporting new features
• Become an expert on other products in the marketplace
• Product life cycle & profitability management.
• Provide guidance and direction to the team on developing new products and managing the lifecycle of existing products
• Build a team to support rapid growth expectations.
• Develop & implement strategy to drive product and customer service onto the web.

Director of Interactive and Product Development

EDMC

As a member of EDMC Online Higher Education marketing department, the Search Manager is responsible for leading and executing search engine strategy for all OHE brands. This position entails development & management of search marketing plans, keyword campaigns, SEO, search inclusion and interactive advertising programs; negotiating contracts, monitoring results and making necessary adjustments in order to generate high-quality, cost-effective student inquiries. 

•	Direct and coordinate multiple “cross-platform” projects while working within established deadlines. 
•	Develop and implement strategy for Internet advertising campaigns designed to increase web site visitors, generate quality student inquiries, and strengthen all EDMC online brands. 
•	Manage and administer EDMC brands’ online budgets.
•	Ensure accuracy (BPC compliance) and quality of all electronic advertising and marketing creative.
•	Develops a collaborative relationship with EDMC to assure online marketing initiatives are in sync with EDMC philosophies and procedures.
•	 Adhere to budget constraints and adjustments while continuing to increase inquiries and web site traffic through the respective EDMC brands’ online marketing campaigns. 
•	Remain current with and possess a thorough understanding of available online advertising, SEO and marketing vehicles as well as measurement tools. 
•	Analyzes current procedures and processes to assure optimal utilization of web-based and email marketing initiatives. 
•	Monitor/track results of online marketing vehicles purchased.

HIGHLIGHTS
•	Launched 3000+ page online education directory portal site from concept to completion in 3 months (2010)
•	Directly managed $20+ million marketing budget to drive year over year growth and drive direct response initiatives (2008-2010)

Search Marketing & Display Advertising Manager

• Analyze Web traffic using Omniture, Google Analytics, and other data collecting sources to support the analytic needs of the business
• Lead driving core insights from the data to suggest, create and execute multivariate or a/b/c tests that drive fundamental improvements to the site experience
• Develop and implement data strategy across multiple “listening posts” (websites, surveys, testing, CRM systems, market research etc) to provide a comprehensive view of students, faculty, and prospects across the online web experience 
• Work  with the Web Strategies team to identify gaps in the data capture strategy and implement enhancements  Improve and document processes for gathering metrics and data analysis

HIGHLIGHTS
•	Implemented multiple analytics software packages throughout web experience to facilitate creation of executive dashboards and reports (2007-2009)

Web Strategies Analyst

• Ownership for operational results of recruitment websites.  Personally manage and drive daily performance of metrics against internal requirements as well as competitive positioning
• Web strategy development including ensuring the brand experience by combining the convenience of on-line education with the experience of a top traditional school and making it come to life through our recruitment websites to support a consistent web-based end to end student experience.   Creates web environments to support the student recruitment goals and provide automation that supports growth and scale to the organization. 
• Provide leadership on web solutions development for the OHE organization.  Develop and manage scope, resources and project plans to deliver appropriate web solutions.
• Partner with OHE Marketing organization to implement marketing strategies.

HIGHLIGHTS
•	Introduced Landing Page Optimization and MVT testing to company leading to 100-300%+ increases in conversion across three different brands (2007-2010)
•	Successfully oversaw implementation of new student recruitment initiatives including: marketing site redesigns, microsite launches, online student tours, and admissions tools (2008-2010)

Web Producer, Student Recruitment

Recruit new students to meet new student plan. Develop and maintain positive relationships with students. Provide creative solutions to complicated admissions problems. Contribute to a positive results driven professional work environment. Serve as a job knowledge expert, trainer, and mentor for new hire and veteran ADAs.

Director Of Admissions

The Dinner Pantry, Inc

Developing and executing the go-to-market strategy for a food service startup. Creating and fully developing company network infrastructure and e-commerce website. Responsible for the content and publication of said website by coordinating, designing, and monitoring electronic publications for distribution. Developing and implementing strategies to improve group marketing.

Head of Marketing & Product

In his tenure as president & CEO of Level Agency, Patrick Patterson oversaw its transformation from a pioneering, fast-growing higher education shop into the performance-marketing powerhouse it is today. Under his leadership, the agency’s revenue grew 30% or more annually; its profit margin increased 4X; its marketing spend now tops $50M annually, and its capabilities have broadened to offer more complementary services for more industries.

Great marketing starts with asking great questions. From the outset of his career, Patterson applied his background in computer science and math to the challenge of reaching and engaging audiences (and carefully measuring every result). In an industry increasingly driven by automation and machine learning, he excelled, ultimately managing a $30+ million budget for Education Management Corporation. Patrick then took his passion for creating value to product development, implementing lean methodology at a technology startup that focused on using data to drive efficient sales enablement.

His drive for efficiency, performance, and continuous improvement led him to join agency founder Thomas Donohoe in 2012 to oversee Level’s operations and strategic direction - eventually purchasing the company in 2021 with his partner, Patrick Van Gorder.

Patterson’s vision for Level Agency is to be the go-to performance marketing agency when clients want real, measurable results. Reaching this goal requires an uncompromising commitment to performance: platform excellence, compelling creative, client partnership, growth mindset, and constant innovation. By surrounding himself with talented, adaptable colleagues, he knows he’s set the agency up for success.

Patrick Patterson

Matt Gray

Founder & CEO, Founder OS | Proven systems to grow a profitable audience with organic content.

Over the last decade, I’ve built 4 successful companies and a community of over 14 million people.

My mission is to inspire 100 million founders to live their dreams through proven systems.

I help entrepreneurs remove themselves from operations, grow on autopilot with content and an engaged audience, and automate core systems.

I’m the founder of Founder OS, Gray Enterprises, and Bitmaker (acq. General Assembly).

My portfolio:

→ I'm the founder & CEO of Founder OS, a community of 650 entrepreneurs
→ I’m the founder & CEO of Gray Enterprises with a community of over 14 million people
→ I teach the Founder OS Program to help entrepreneurs scale their online businesses to $1M+ revenue
→ I coach entrepreneurs that need help with marketing, sales, systems, community, and growth
→ I advise early-stage companies in AI, Education, Creator Economy, and SaaS verticals

My results:

→ 14M+ people community
→ 2.5M+ people following Founder OS
→ 2B content impressions annually 
→ 0 advertisements
→ 80%+ margins

If you want to learn more about how I built this, you can join my newsletter:

→ GO HERE: https://fos.now/li-newsletter-14

If you want to explore 1:1 coaching or consulting visit my personal site:

→ GO HERE: https://fos.now/li-book-now

If you want to join Founder OS Program:

→ GO HERE: https://fos.now/li-course

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Founder & CEO

Founder OS helps you build a predictable lead engine with organic content & make $1M+ online.

33 habits that (quietly) changed my life forever: 

1. Protect The First 4 Hours Of The Day

Your morning hours are sacred. Guard them like your life depends on it.

2. Write Before The World Wakes

Clarity comes in silence. Write first, react later.

3. Break A Sweat Daily, Energy Is Everything

Movement isn't optional. It's the foundation of everything.

4. Watch The Sunrise Often

Nature resets your nervous system better than any app.

5. Say "No" With Love

Protect your time without burning bridges.

6. Ask: "What's The One Domino That Knocks The Rest?"

Focus beats volume every single time.

7. Operate From Systems, Not Moods

Systems eliminate the need for motivation.

8. Journal My Fears Until They Dissolve

Writing exposes irrational thoughts.

9. Automate One Task Every Week

Compound small automations to leverage.

10. Build Once, Distribute Forever

Create assets that work while you sleep.

11. Re-Read My 10 Year Vision Weekly

Clarity fades without repetition.

12. Ask "Who Not How" Every Day

Delegation beats doing it yourself.

13. Leave One Day Plan-Free

Spontaneity feeds creativity.

14. Call My Parents Unprompted

Connection matters more than productivity.

15. Give Credit Publicly, Often

Generosity compounds faster than hoarding.

16. Build A Brand I Actually Admire

Don't build what you think will work. Build what you respect.

17. Return To Nature Every Week

Disconnect to reconnect.

18. Practice: Slow Is Smooth And Smooth Is Fast

Rush kills quality. Patience wins.

19. End Showers Cold

Discomfort training builds mental resilience.

20. Carry A Pocket Notebook Everywhere

Ideas don't wait for you.

21. Sketch Ideas Instead Of Typing Them

Visual thinking unlocks solutions.

22. Meditate On Impermanence

Everything ends. That makes today matter more.

23. Leave My Phone Outside The Bedroom

You before notifications.

24. Let Go Of One Grudge

Carrying resentment only punishes you.

25. Sing Alone In The Car, Loudly

Joy doesn't require an audience.

26. End The Day With Gratitude

What you focus on expands.

27. Eat Until I'm 80% Full

Discipline at the table creates discipline.

28. Eat The Same Lunch Every Day

Decision fatigue is real. Eliminate unnecessary choices.

29. Invest Automatically Monthly

Wealth is built through systems, not impulses.

30. Edit My Possessions Every 90 Days

Clutter in your space creates clutter in your mind.

31. Block One Full Week Per Quarter Fully Off-Grid

Deep rest creates deep work.

32. Sleep Without An Alarm

Your body knows what it needs.

33. Replace "I Have To" With "I Get To."

Language shapes reality. Choose empowering words.

__

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Makeni Theophilus

Notebooks are the new operating systems.

I know that sounds surprising, but hear me out.

Most founders have 17 half-filled notebooks scattered across their desk, car, and backpack.

Each one started with good intentions. Each one abandoned by week two.

Last year, I threw out every productivity app and went back to paper.

I built what I call "The Daily OS" a one-page framework that actually works.

Here's how to organize a notebook you'll actually use:

1. Theme Of The Day 

Start every day by naming what it's about.

Not a to-do list. An intention.

"Today is about deep creative work."
"Today is about strategic planning."
"Today is about connecting with my team."

This single sentence filters every decision you make.

2. Top 7 Priorities

Not 20 tasks. 
Not 50 emails. 
Seven priorities.

If you can't pick seven, you don't have clarity yet.

List them by impact, not urgency.

3. Meetings / Leverage Calls 

Here's the filter: Does this meeting create leverage or consume time?

If it doesn't compound, decline it or delegate it.

Only write down the calls that actually move needles.

4. Notes / Insights

Throughout the day, capture insights immediately.

Don't trust your memory. 

Write it down in the moment.

This section becomes your second brain.

5. The Scoreboard

Track three metrics daily:

• Gratitude (1 thing you're grateful for)
• Energy (1-10 scale, where 10 = you feel unbelievable)
• Revenue (1-10 scale, where 10 = you made significant progress)

Numbers don't lie. 

This scoreboard reveals patterns you'd otherwise miss.

6. End Of Day Reflection

Ask yourself 3 questions every evening:

What worked?
What didn't?
What will I accomplish tomorrow?

This 2-minute practice compounds into massive clarity over time.

The entire system fits on one page.

No apps. 
No syncing. 
No notifications.

Just a notebook and a pen.

Why does this work when digital tools fail?

• Because writing activates your brain differently than typing
• Because paper doesn't have notifications competing for your attention
• Because you can't optimize what you don't track, and this forces you to track what matters

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Matt Gray 

How to build a plan for 2026 you'll actually use:

1. Start With One Word

Not a paragraph. 

Not a mission statement.

One word that defines your year.

Mine for 2024 was "simplify."

Every decision ran through that filter.

Should I take this meeting? 
Does it simplify or complicate?

Should I launch this product? 
Does it align and simplify?

One word creates instant clarity.

2. Write Your Dream Outcome

People usully set goals.

I write the headline I want written about me on December 31st.

What do you want to have accomplished?
How do you want to feel?

This is your North Star.

3. Identify Your Top 3 Goals

One business growth goal.

One team goal.

One health goal.

More than three and you're lying to yourself about what matters.

4. Find Your One Metric

You need proof you're winning.

Choose one number that shows undeniable progress.

So you can track it.

For me, it's active community members.

5. Build Your Systems First

Here's where most plans die:

People focus on what they'll do.

I focus on what I'll build to make it automatic.

What will I delegate?
What will I automate?
What habit must I lock in?
What system must I create?

Systems beat willpower every single time.

6. Name Your People

Success isn't a solo sport.

Who's going to help you get there?

I write down specific names and roles:

• One mentor I'll lean on for guidance
• One teammate I'll empower to level up
• One accountability partner who'll call me out

Vague support systems fail. 

Specific people show up.

7. Define Your Non-Negotiables

What will you always do?
What will you never do?

What's your number one priority when everything's on fire?

These are your laws from now on.

For me: 

I will always protect my morning deep work. 
I will never compromise on team culture. 
My priority is solving our biggest constraint first.

8. Map Your Constraint

Most people try to do everything at once.

I identify the one bottleneck holding everything back.

Then I solve one constraint per month for the entire year.

January: Fix hiring process.

One focused constraint. 
One month. 
Then move to the next.

9. Schedule Quarterly Reviews

A plan without checkpoints is just hope.

Every 90 days, I ask three questions:

What worked?
What didn't?
What did I learn?

Then I adjust. 

The plan evolves because I do.

Build a plan for the person you actually are.

Make it so simple you can't ignore it.

Make it so focused you can't fail.

__

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How To Build A Plan For 2026:

I'm finishing 2025 with less.

Not more goals. 
Not more hustle. 
Not more complexity.

Less.

Founders usually enter a new year by adding more projects, more meetings, more commitments.

Then they wonder why they're overwhelmed by March.

I spent the last week doing the opposite.

Deleting everything that doesn't move the needle.

Here's what I'm ruthlessly removing before 2026:

1. Instagram Before 9am

Your brain's sharpest in the morning, don't waste it scrolling.

I used to grab my phone before my feet hit the floor. 

Now I protect those first hours like they're sacred. 

Because they are.

2. Meetings That Don't Move The Needle

If it doesn't produce revenue, a decision, or a deliverable, cancel it.

I audited my calendar last week. 

Half my meetings existed just to "stay connected." Those are gone.

3. Software You're Not Actually Using

Check your subscriptions, cancel anything you haven't opened in 30 days.

I found $847/month in tools I forgot I was paying for. That's over $10,000 a year on digital clutter.

4. Your Lowest-Paying Client

They take 60% of your time for 10% of your revenue.

You know exactly who I'm talking about. 

Fire them. 

Your business will thank you.

5. Slack Notifications After 6pm

Your team will survive; you need to recharge.

I turned off after-hours notifications six months ago. 

Not a single emergency. 

Plenty of sanity gained.

6. The Project You Haven't Touched In 3 Months

It's not "on hold", it's dead.

Archive it. Stop pretending you'll get back to it. 

That mental weight is costing you more than you realize.

7. Coffee Meetings With No Agenda

"Pick your brain" equals wasting your time.

If someone can't send a clear agenda beforehand, they don't respect your calendar enough to deserve a spot on it.

8. Your 47-Item To-Do List

Write down 3 things that actually matter, do those.

Long to-do lists are productivity theater. 

They make you feel busy while keeping you from what's important.

9. The Need For Perfection

Ship the draft you've been sitting on for 2 weeks.

Done beats perfect every single time. 

Perfectionism isn't excellence, it's fear wearing a fancy mask.

10. Saying "Let Me Think About It"

You already know, decide now.

Indecision is a decision to stay stuck. 

Trust your gut and move forward.

Every "yes" to something meaningless is a "no" to something that could transform your business.

I'm entering 2026 lighter.

Fewer commitments. 
Fewer distractions. 
Fewer things competing for my attention.

More focus. 
More energy. 
More impact.

__

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10 Things To Delete Before 2026

Here's how to scale (without selling your soul):

1. The Faster You Grow, The More You Must Slow Down

Speed without systems creates chaos.

Slow down to speed up.

2. Scaling Chaos Doesn't Create Freedom, It Multiplies Pain

Fix the foundation before you scale the building.

3. What Got You Here Is Hustle, What Gets You There Is Harmony

Different stages require different strategies.

4. Build Systems, Not Stress

Systems eliminate the need for heroics.

5. If It Drains You, It Doesn't Scale

Energy is your currency. 

Spend it wisely.

6. Your Nervous System Is Your Operating System

If your body is in fight-or-flight, you can't think strategically.

7. Freedom Is The Ultimate KPI

Revenue is vanity. 

Freedom is the metric that matters.

8. Complexity Is Ego Wearing A Productivity Costume

Simple systems beat sophisticated chaos every time.

9. Simplicity Compounds Faster Than Speed

Elegant solutions outlast complicated hacks.

10. Don't Chase More. Design Less, But Better

More isn't the answer. 

Better is.

11. The Founder Who Can Relax Under Pressure Wins

Calm is a competitive advantage.

12. Stillness Is A Strategy, Not A Vacation

Your best ideas come in silence, not chaos.

13. You Don't Need More Time, You Need Fewer Decisions

Decision fatigue kills more companies than lack of effort.

14. Every System Is Designed To Protect Your Energy

Design your business around your wellbeing, not against it.

15. Energy Creates Clarity. Clarity Creates Systems. Systems Create Freedom

It all starts with managing your energy.

16. Work Should Feel Like A Creative Ritual, Not A Survival Drill

If you dread Mondays, something is broken.

17. Profit Means Nothing If Peace Is Missing

What's the point of wealth if you're too stressed to enjoy it?

18. The Goal Isn't To Escape Work, It's To Enjoy Building Again

Fall back in love with the process.

19. Burnout Is What Happens When Your Calendar Owns You

Take back control of your time.

20. True Leverage Is A Peaceful Mind Directing Powerful Systems

Calm + systems = unstoppable.

21. Automate The Repetitive. Delegate The Rest. Keep The Art

Your genius work can't be delegated. 

Everything else can.

22. Build In A Way Your Future Self Will Thank You For

Short-term wins that destroy long-term health aren't wins.

23. Don't Scale To Escape Your Life. Scale To Express Your Soul

Build something that reflects who you actually are.

24. The Real Exit Is Daily Freedom

 Founders are scaling the wrong things.

They're scaling revenue while sacrificing health.

But what if you could build a company that grows without consuming you?

That's what scaling without selling your soul looks like.

__

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10 secrets to become mentally unbreakable:

1. Don't Fear Being Alone 

Solitude is a superpower. 

Leverage your time alone to:

• Tame your thoughts 
• Control your emotions 
• Becom comfortable with silence 

“No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path.” ― Buddha

2. Don't Stress The Past

Everything is built from the present.

“If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.” - Lao Tzu

Be in the here and now.

3. Don't Think Life Owes You Anything 

You become vulnerable when you set expectations. 

Root yourself in a brutal world: 

• Earn each day 
• Prove your worth 
• Never let comfort conquer you 

Appreciate what you have, but never expect it to be constant.

4. Don't Worry About What People Think 

Never seek others' approval. 

Be courageously you.

Don't give a f*** what other people say.

Focus on being the best version of yourself, and the score takes care of itself.
5. Don't Feel Sorry for Yourself 

Embrace the suck.

Feeling sorry for yourself: 

• Builds a habit of self-pity
• Prevents you from taking action 
• Leads you to expect negative outcomes 

It's simple. If you've chosen the wrong road, turn around.

6. Don't Worry About Things You Can't Control 

When faced with obstacles, ask yourself 3 things: 

• Is this essential? 
• Can I control this? 
• What are 2-3 actions I can take now?

Control your response to events. 

That is where your power lies.

7. Don't Resent Other People's Successes 

There are:

• 32.5 million small businesses
• 22 million millionaires 
• 607 unicorns 

... in the US alone. 

It's a positive-sum world out there. 

Not just for wealth, but for: 

• Health
• Growth
• Happiness

8. Don't Shy Away from Responsibility 

Walking towards responsibility is the fastest path to progress. 

Build a mindset to: 

• Drive change as a leader 
• Assume extreme ownership

"The price of greatness is responsibility."

9. Don't Give Up 

Most people give up too early. 

As a founder you learn that your product is never dead. 

Learn to experiment with: 

• New pricing models 
• New acquisition strategies 

Giving up builds a crack in your resilience that will cave in crucial moments.

10. Don't Fear Hard Things

Never adopt an assumption that a task is "hard."

Frame your thinking around the topic as being simple:

• You got this
• You're a warrior
• You're a great problem solver

My motto: 

"This is easy work."

__

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I read 112 books in a year, here's which ones you should read:

1. Deep Work By Cal Newport

In a world of constant distractions, focus is a priceless asset.

Newport teaches you:

• The value of deep vs shallow work
• How to avoid the trap of 'busyness' 
• How to create rituals and routines for focus

Conquer distractions with this book.

2. Zero To One By Peter Thiel And Blake Masters

This book redefines the startup landscape.

You'll learn to:

• Challenge conventional business thinking
• Grasp the philosophy of true innovation
• Learn how to build a monopoly 

Don't iterate.

Innovate.

3. Scaling Up By Verne Harnish

Grow your business smartly with Harnish's insights.

He talks about:

• Recognizing the barriers to scaling up
• Mastering the four major decisions in business
• Implementing actionable tools and techniques 

Scale with strategy, not just size.

4. The Power Of Now By Eckhart Tolle

Awaken your mind to the present moment.

Tolle guides you through:

• Achieving personal liberation 
• The profound concept of the 'Present Moment'
• Recognizing patterns of self-created suffering

Live now. 

Everything else is a dream.

5. Shoe Dog By Phil Knight

Learn about Nike's extraordinary journey.

Knight shares:

• The evolution of a global brand 
• The raw hustle of entrepreneurship
• The risks and rewards of his venture

Every empire starts with a single step.

This book makes this clear.

6. Built To Last By Jim Collins And Jerry I. Porras

Discover what makes visionary companies thrive.

Collins and Porras reveal:

• Timeless management principles
• The habits of successful companies
• The 'Preserve the Core/Stimulate Progress' concept

7. Rework By Jason Fried And David Heinemeier Hansson

Redefine the way you perceive business.

Fried and Hansson advocate:

• Challenging the norms of the corporate world
• Embracing a simpler way of working
• Less is more

Revamp your strategy. 

Less fuss, more clarity.

8. The Lean Machine By Dantar Oosterwal

Embark on a journey of streamlined processes.

Oosterwal presents:

• Harley-Davidson's remarkable transformation 
• How operational excellence can fuel success 
• The guiding principles of lean thinking 

Efficiency is precision.

9. The CEO Within 

Recognize and unleash the inner leader in you.

Dive into:

• Building trust and fostering team unity 
• Harnessing innate leadership qualities 
• Navigating corporate politics with finesse 

You can be the leader you've been looking for.

__

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Founders are terrified AI will replace them.

I had the opposite realization.

I built an AI team that works while I sleep.

Here's how I built my AI team:

Step 1: Upload Your Universe

Feed it everything that makes you, you.

PDFs, books, posts, transcripts, brand guidelines, every piece of content that represents your voice and vision.

This becomes its knowledge base.

The more context you give it, the better it thinks like you.

Step 2: Train On Your Tone

Teach it to write like you. Think like you.

Upload examples of your best writing and tell it: "This is how I communicate."

The AI learns your patterns, your voice, your style.

Now it can draft emails that sound exactly like you wrote them.

Step 3: Connect Your Stack

Integrate it with the tools you already use:

• Slack → Daily syncs
• Notion → Task boards
• Figma → Visual output
• Google Drive → Summaries

Your AI team now lives inside your workflow, not outside it.

Step 4: Assign Roles

I created four distinct AI assistants:

• Writer GPT - drafts content in my voice
• Designer GPT - creates visual assets
• Analyst GPT - pulls insights from data
• Chief of Staff GPT - manages my calendar and priorities

Each one has a specific job. 

Each one operates independently.

Step 5: Chain Them Together

Here's where it gets powerful:

These AI assistants update dashboards, draft reports, and sync information without me.

They work while I sleep.

They hand off tasks to each other like a real team.

Step 6: Test + Tune

Feedback loops = faster learning.

The more you correct and refine, the smarter the system gets.

I spend 30 minutes per week tuning my AI team.

They save me 20+ hours per week in return.

You now run a company with 4 AI employees.

Founders are still treating AI like a search engine.

They ask it one-off questions and wonder why it's not useful.

But AI becomes transformative when you treat it like a team member.

Assign it roles. 
Give it context. 
Connect it to your systems.

That's when magic happens.

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I spent 3 years working 16-hour days and almost broke myself.

Now I have built successful companies while maintaining work-life balance.

The difference isn't more effort. 

It's systems.

Your hustle got you to $20K per month, but it won't get you to $100K. 

I learned this lesson the hard way so you don't have to.

Here's what transformed everything for me:

1. Content Creation Systems

The right systems turn strangers into buyers automatically. 

Not through endless hustling, but through systematized content that works while you sleep.

2. Team Operating Systems

Most founders stay trapped because they can't remove themselves from operations. 

Systems let you build teams that operate beautifully without your constant involvement.

3. Offer Scaling Systems

Breaking free from the 1:1 model requires systematic approaches to scale what you offer. 

This is how you create exponential rather than linear growth.

4. Consistency Over Hustle

Money loves systems, but wealth loves consistency. 

The entrepreneurs who build real wealth aren't working 80-hour weeks – they're consistently applying systems that compound over time.

5. Freedom Through Design

Poverty loves hustle. It keeps you spinning your wheels. 

True freedom comes through intentionally designed systems that eliminate the need for constant grinding.

Stop building your business like it's 1995. 

The old approach of outworking everyone else is the slowest path to growth.

Your freedom is literally one system away.

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Your Hustle Got You To 20K Per Month

I stopped treating Monday like the hardest day and started treating it like my competitive advantage.

While everyone else is dragging through Monday morning fog, I'm three steps ahead.

Not because I'm more disciplined, but because I have a system.

I call it the "Weekly Reboot Template".

So here's how to make Monday the best day of your week:

1. Reset Your Energy

Morning Rule: Sunlight + Silence + Sweat before phone.

No exceptions.

Get outside for 10 minutes. 

Sit in silence for 5. 

Move your body before you check a single notification.

This one habit sets the tone for your entire week.

2. Set The Intention

Answer two questions:

• This week I want to feel...
• My single word for the week...

Not goals. 
Not tasks. 
Feelings and focus.

"This week I want to feel productive and present."

"My word is 'clarity.'"

Everything you do filters through this lens.

3. Top 3 Priorities (In Order)

Not 10 priorities. Not 20 tasks. Three.

Write them in order of impact.

If you only accomplish these three things this week, would you consider it successful?

If no, rewrite them.

4. Delete What Doesn't Matter

Two questions:

• I'm saying "no" to...
• I'll automate or delegate...

Subtraction creates space for what actually moves needles.

Name what you're eliminating before you start adding.

5. Schedule Your Power Blocks

Block your calendar in three categories:

• Meetings
• Deep work
• Creative play

Don't hope you'll find time. 

Design time.

Protect your deep work blocks like they're investor meetings.

6. Design Your Environment

Two questions:

Where will I work from today?
What can I remove from my space?

Environment shapes behavior.

A cluttered space creates a cluttered mind.

Remove distractions before you need willpower to resist them.

7. End With Gratitude

Close your Monday with two reflections:

• One thing I'm proud of...
• One way I'll reward myself tonight...

Gratitude compounds momentum.

Celebrate the win before chasing the next one.

This entire template takes 15 minutes on Monday morning.

But it saves you 10+ hours of wasted time, scattered focus, and decision fatigue throughout the week.

Monday isn't the problem.

Starting Monday without a system is the problem.

I've used this exact template for the past year.

Every single Monday.

And Mondays went from my most dreaded day to my most productive day.

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Steve Jobs once said:

"Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do."

11 more golden nuggets on decision-making from the founder of the first trillion-dollar company:

1. Efficiency

Jobs believed in making decisions fast, valuing efficiency over collaboration.

“When you innovate, you make mistakes. It's best to admit them quickly and get on with improving other innovations.”

2. Clear priorities

Knowing what matters most to you makes all decision-making far easier. 

“Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.”

3. Trusting intuition

Don't fear the unknown.

"You can't connect dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. 
 
You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. 

4. Cutting corners

Jobs knew excellence was a habit.

"When you're a carpenter making a chest of drawers, you're not going to use plywood on the back, even though nobody will see it. 

5. Get rid of your ego

We often cling to a viewpoint in fear of admitting we were wrong. But shedding your ego leads to the most growth.

“I’ll admit that I’m wrong a lot. It doesn’t really matter to me. What matters to me is that we do the right thing.”

6. First principles

Never blindly accept anything you're told. Always ask why.

The answer you invariably get is ‘That’s just the way it’s done.’ 

Nobody knows why they do what they do. Nobody thinks about things very deeply in business. 

7. The shortness of life

Whenever you're scared to take a big leap, recall death.

"Remembering that you're going to die is the best way to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. 

8. Simplicity

In a world of noise and distractions, the ability to concentrate on a few things that truly matter is a huge advantage.

One of my mantras is focus and simplicity. "Simple can be harder than complex; you have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple."

9. The power of collaboration

Interdependence, not independence, is key to success.

My business model is The Beatles: They were four guys who kept each other’s negative tendencies in check; they balanced each other. 

And the total was greater than the sum of the parts.

10. Just do you

It's easy for your dreams to be muted by the armchair criticism of others. 

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life and don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your inner voice.

11. The Genius Effect

Sometimes, if you have unwavering conviction and no one's on your side, persist. You might just change the world.

While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. 

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9 ways to rewire your brain (based on science):

1. Cold Therapy  

Exposure to cold increases norepinephrine levels by up to 500%.

Norepinephrine enables brain plasticity and cell metabolism.

It can help you enhance:

• Mood
• Focus
• Attention
• Vigilance

A 3-minute cold shower provides huge returns.

2. Practice Breathwork 

Go through guided exercise on: 

• Diaphragmatic breathing 
• Coherent breathing 
• 4-7-8 breathing 

Find the techniques that help you: 

• Reduce stress 
• Improve mood 
• Battle anxiety

3. HIIT Workouts 

Exercise supports the brain on multiple levels.

• Increases gray matter
• Improves blood flow to the brain
• Regulates neurotransmitter levels
• Activates molecules that drive cellular adaptation

HIIT exercises maximize value/time.

4. Improve Your Sleep 

Sleep is essential for learning and memory.

Invest in your sleep by: 

• Using mouth tape 
• Buying blackout curtains 
• Getting a thermoregulated mattress
• Getting 0 screen time 2 hours before bed

5. Meditation 

Chronic stress reduces brain activity.

Use meditation to combat stress: 

• Maintain focus 
• Build emotional control 
• Center yourself during hectic times 

Building a consistent meditation practice will do wonders for your brain.

6. Learn Something New

The action of learning is plasticity.

When you learn something new, your brain physically changes.

• Pick up a new instrument 
• Study a foreign language 
• Learn a new skill

Learning something new every day keeps different parts of your brain active.

7. Eat Clean

A diet high in saturated fats and refined sugars:

• Impairs memory
• Raises stress levels
• Reduces learning capacity

But a diet with complex carbs and healthy fats:

• Improves mood
• Enhances memory
• Supports brain functioning

8. Ditch Positive Affirmations 

Affirmations do nothing to change our brains.

But asking ourselves questions does. 

• Who do I want to be? 
• What do I need to achieve to be that person? 

The process of searching for answers rewires our brain to think in a "can-do" manner.

9. Build Positive Habits 

40% of our daily actions are unconscious habits.

Employ the Habit Loop to build positive habits and cut negative ones. 

• Identify your cues 
• Control your cravings 
• Tailor your responses 
• Maximize your rewards

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Most founders burn out by Sunday night.

I used to be one of them.

I'd work all week, then fill my weekends with more work and by Monday morning, I felt more exhausted than I did on Friday.

Here's how to plan your weekend effectively:

1. Theme

What do I want to feel?

Start here, not with a to-do list.

Peace? 
Aliveness? 
Connection? 

Name the feeling first. Everything else follows from this.

2. Intention

This weekend is about...

Fill in the blank with one sentence.

"This weekend is about deep rest."
"This weekend is about creative exploration."
"This weekend is about quality time with family."

One intention. That's it.

3. Energy Reset

What will recharge me the most?

Not what you think you should do, what actually fills your tank.

For me, it's nature, movement, and solitude.

For you, it might be completely different.

4. One Domino

The one thing that makes everything easier.

What's the single action that would make the rest of your weekend flow?

Meal prep? 
A tough conversation? 
Organizing your workspace?

Do this first. 

Everything else becomes unnecessary or easier.

5. No-List

What will I do not do this weekend?

This is more important than your to-do list.

No email. 
No social media before noon. 
No saying yes to obligations that drain you.

Protect your weekend like you protect your bank account.

6. Adventure

One New Experience.

Create a story worth telling on Monday.

It doesn't have to be grand. 

Just something that breaks the pattern.

7. Connection

Who do I want deep time with?

Not surface-level hangouts. Deep, quality time.

Name the person. Schedule it. Protect it.

8. Creation 

One small act of art.

Journal. 
Sketch. 
Cook something new. 
Build something with your hands.

Creation is medicine for the soul.

9. Body

How will I move my body?

Hike, lift, swim, stretch, your body needs movement to process the week.

10. Mind

What am I reading or listening to?

Feed your mind something nourishing, not just entertaining.

11. Systems Reset

What do I want organized by Monday?

Clean workspace. 
Meal prep done. 
Calendar reviewed.

Set yourself up to win the week.

12. Sunday Reset

Three Questions:

What worked last week?
What drained me last week?
What is my intention this week?

The difference between founders who scale and founders who burn out?

They design their weekends intentionally instead of letting them happen accidentally.

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How to remove yourself from operations (and scale 10x faster):

1. Track Your Time on 15-Minute Intervals 

Free up time to focus on high-impact work. 

To track your tasks: 

• Use a timer 
• Review the list 
• Identify tasks to outsource 

2. Mark Tasks That Can Be Delegated

Delegating frees up time and boosts productivity.

Ask yourself:

• Do I like doing this?
• Is it repeatable?
• Can it be delegated?

3. Value Your Time at $2k/Hour

Setting a high hourly rate will make it easier to filter tasks to outsource.

Delegate tasks that are valued lower than this hourly rate.

4. Hire a VA to Scale Your Workflow

Delegate tasks to VAs who can do them 80% as well as you.

They won't have: 

• Efficiency
• Full context
• Years of experience

And they don't need to.

5. The Quality VA Criteria

During your search, filter for: 

• $10k+ earned
• High approval rating
• Native English speaker
• Great training services

Your VA must meet these requirements to be a solid hire.

6. Onboard Your VA

Effective communication = smooth operations.

Onboard your VA to discuss:

• How often you meet
• How you communicate (Slack, Asana etc...)
• How they should track and update you on completed tasks

Set expectations early to minimize unexpected challenges.

7. Create Systems for Each Task

Your VA won't know the full context of what they're working on and why.

Create documents and videos for each step:

• Create how-to's
• Draft best practices
• Record Loom videos

Clear and concise systems will 10x your VAs output quality.

8. Review Systems and Performance Weekly

With your VA, learn to track unexpected challenges that you're not prepared for.

• Create a new process
• Create new templates
• Change an existing process

Build these with your VA to optimize your working relationship with your VA.

9. Spend Quality 1-1 Time

Working together 1-1 for up to a month to help them learn the ropes.

• Meet often
• Give detailed and direct feedback
• Listen to their suggestions

Experienced VAs can 10x the efficiency of your processes.

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How To Remove Yourself From Operations

The best mentors I've ever had gave me frameworks I could install that week.

They didn't just inspire me, they equipped me.

I now evaluate every potential mentor through my 3-Criteria Filter:

1. They're In The Trenches

Your mentor needs to be building right now, not telling stories about what worked in 2018.

The game changes every year.

If they're not actively playing, their playbook is outdated.

You need someone who's 10 steps ahead of you, still in the game.

2. They've Replicated Results

One person succeeding is luck.

A hundred people succeeding is a system.

Look for mentors who've helped tons of other people get results, not just crushed it themselves once and now sell a course about it.

If their students aren't winning, their system doesn't work.

3. They Built It Themselves First

You want someone who has actual battle scars from building the thing they're teaching.

They should have real proof they walked the exact path you're trying to walk.

Consultants who never operated are basically guessing.

You need operators who consult.

Red flags to take into account:

• They don't show their actual work or numbers
• Everything they say is super vague with no specific frameworks
• They teach stuff they haven't personally done in years
• Zero proof their students actually succeeded
• They hype you up but give you nothing to implement Monday morning

Green flags I look for:

• You get systems you can install this week
• Clear frameworks that remove all the guesswork
• Specific feedback on your actual business (not generic advice)
• Access to what they're doing right now (not what worked in 2019)
• A community of people winning together

The best investment I ever made was finding mentors who inspired me to create my own systems.

They gave me:

• My delegation frameworks
• Offer stack models
• Team org charts

They showed me how to think in systems.

When you have competence, the confidence comes naturally.

People usually procrastinate not because they're afraid, but because they don't know what to do.

A great mentor removes that paralysis.

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How To Find a Mentor

Tony Robbins once said:

"Clarity is power. The more clear you are about exactly what it is you want, the more your brain knows how to get there."

Here’s how to cut the noise and find your true clarity:

1. Clarity Helps You Understand What Truly Matters To You

Without clarity, you may spend years pursuing goals that don't matter to you, leading to unfulfillment.

But how do you find clarity in a world full of distractions?

The answer lies in the concept of Ikigai.

2. Ikigai Is A Japanese Word That Translates To "Reason For Being"

It's the intersection of four elements:

• What you love
• What you're good at
• What the world needs
• What you can be paid for

It's a powerful framework for discovering your reason for being, your "why."

3. Ikigai Is The First Step On The Journey To Clarity

It's the compass that guides you towards work that aligns with your values.

When you have a clear Ikigai, you can make better decisions and take action toward creating the life you want.

4. Finding Your Ikigai:

• Identify the four elements of Ikigai
• Journal daily about your passion and your 10-year vision
• Reflect on what gets you out of bed in the morning and fills you with energy and excitement

Discovering your Ikigai is a process of self-exploration.

5. Implement These 5 Golden Rules Of Ikigai

• Give thanks
• Follow your Ikigai
• Reconnect with nature
• Surround yourself with positivity
• Take it slow and enjoy the journey

6. Align Your Life & Work With It

This is where the real magic happens.

When you pursue what brings you joy and aligns with your values, your energy becomes electric.

Clarity fuels you to take massive action towards your goals.

When I aligned my life and work with my Ikigai, everything changed.

My content resonated deeply with my audience, and my reach exploded:

• Twitter grew to 214K
• LinkedIn grew to 266K
• Newsletter subscribers grew to 68K 

Clarity is the rocket fuel that propels you.

7. Use Your Ikigai As A Roadmap For Designing A Life You Love

• Build a team that shares your values
• Craft a business that supports your dreams
• Create content that lights you up and inspires others

With clarity as your guide, you can architect a life that truly serves you.

Clarity is not a one-time destination but a lifelong journey of growth & self-discovery.

Don't buy into the myth that success requires sacrificing your health and happiness.

You can have it all: a wildly profitable business and a deeply fulfilling life. 

Unlock your potential, and master the art of working when, where, and how you choose.

Clarity is the key.

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11 things I know at 36, I wish I had known at 21:

1. Practice Mindfulness to Stay Present

I struggled with depression and anxiety when I was 21.

These days to be at peak performance every day I:

• Do a guided mindfulness meditation 
• Get sunlight in my eyes at 6 am and 7 pm
• Practice yoga

Healthy body → Heathy mind

2. Dedicate 4 Hours to Daily Flow

“Who you are, what you think, feel, and do, what you love, is the sum of what you focus on.”

• Eliminate distractions
• Get off social media
• Invest 4 hours every day in deep work

Deep work = time you dedicate to master your craft

3. Focus on Profit > Revenue

Growth at all costs is BS.

Don't try to compete with others on revenue growth.

Focus on driving real profit from your business.

More profit → More peace of mind

4. Storytelling is a Secret Weapon

Storytelling is a superpower.

Learn the following story structure:

1. A character
2. With a problem
3. Meets a guide
4. That gives them a plan
5. That calls them to action
6. That results in...
7. Success
8. And helps them avoid failure

5. Embrace Hard Things

Building things is hard as f***.

Enjoy the struggle. 

On the other side of pain is growth.

6. Writing is a Superpower

Learn how to write well:

• SEO = Writing
• Emails = Writing
• Twitter = Writing
• Branding = Writing
• Marketing = Writing

Write and win.

7. Build Your Tribe of Mentors

Take time to build a Personal Board of Advisors.

You are the product of the 5 people you surround yourself with.

Find a mentor in each of the following areas:

• Sales
• Growth
• Strategy
• Marketing
• Mental health

8. Build Your Personal Brand

100x your surface area for luck, build your personal brand.

• Grow your connections
• Grow your hiring pool
• Grow your revenue

My personal brand is growing at 47% month-over-month. 

It has changed the trajectory of my life.

9. Content is King

I've produced over 32k pieces of content in the last 10 years.

I wish I had produced more...

• Build your YouTube
• Build your LinkedIn
• Build your Twitter

Get started early...

And let compounding work its magic.

10. Community is Your Best Friend

There is nothing more powerful than an engaged community of raving fans.

Invest in your community.

Get outside of the building and talk to people.

"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."

11. Invest Time in Friends and Family

The longest-running study on happiness found that relationships contribute most to our happiness:

“The people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80.”

Invest in your people.

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The best habit you can develop is building systems.

 Systems are your clone.

They encode your decisions. 
They scale your expertise. 
They multiply your time.

These 3 systems transformed my business from needing me to running without me:

1. Decision Systems = Your Brain in a Doc

When this happens, do that.

If client asks X, respond with Y. 

Your judgment becomes their execution.

I documented every decision pattern I was making repeatedly. 

Client onboarding. 
Pricing negotiations. 
Scope changes. 
Refund requests.

Now my team acts like me - even when I'm not there.

2. Content Systems = Your Voice on Repeat

Bank 60 ideas in advance. 
Batch create in a few hours. 
Post 7 days without thinking.

I stopped creating content daily and started creating content strategically.

One focused session gives me weeks of consistent output. 

My brand grows while I sleep.

3. Delivery Systems = Excellence on Autopilot

Client onboarding? Templated. 
Weekly check-ins? Scheduled. 
Results delivery? Systematized.

Every touchpoint in my client experience runs on rails. Consistency without chaos. Quality without constant oversight.

I installed these systems over 6 months.

Now my business runs while I travel 47 countries. 

Same revenue. 
Zero daily fires.

It feels slow at first.

Documenting processes takes time. 
Creating templates requires thought. 

Building SOPs feels like busy work when you could be "doing the real work."

But that's exactly backwards.

The "real work" is building the machine that does the work.

Everything else is just trading hours for dollars with a fancy title.

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The Best Habit You can Develop

Last year, I asked myself one question that changed everything:

"What's the one thing in my business, if solved, would unlock $1B of value over the next 10 years?"

The answer was simple: become a founder-led brand.

Not just a founder. 

Not just a creator. 

Both.

The magic happens in the overlap.

When you combine both, you become a CEO who is: 

Visionary + Artist + Empire Builder.

Here's how to build a profitable founder-led brand: 

Stage 1: Audience

Build on YouTube, X, LinkedIn, IG.

Your audience is your distribution.

Stage 2: Enquiry

Convert attention into interest through newsletters and workshops.

Give value first. Sell second.

Stage 3: Sales

Offer positioning and pricing that reflects real value.

Not what you think you're worth, but what the market will pay.

Stage 4: Onboarding

Time to value, community, and accountability.

The sale is just the beginning. Deliver on the promise.

Stage 5: Delivery

Support systems and services that exceed expectations.

Under-promise. Over-deliver.

Stage 6: Collections

Cash conversion and accounts receivable.

Revenue isn't real until it's in the bank.

Stage 7: Finance

Reporting and CEO scorecards.

You can't improve what you don't measure.

Stage 8: Operations

Hiring and systems owners.

Your job is to build the machine, not be the machine.

Stage 9: Referrals

Reviews, recommendations, and affiliates.

Happy customers are your best salespeople.

Stage 10: Content

Education and behind-the-scenes content.

A founder-led brand is the most powerful distribution channel you can build.

It's trust at scale.

When people trust you, they buy from you. 

They refer you. 

They defend you.

Your personal brand becomes your company's moat.

I've watched founders spend millions on ads, partnerships, and PR campaigns.

But the founders who win?

They build their personal brand first.

They show up authentically. 

They share their journey. 

Then everything else gets easier.

Hiring gets easier. 
Sales get easier. 
Fundraising gets easier.

Because people already know who you are and what you stand for.

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When I started sharing my exact client acquisition systems openly, something unexpected happened.

My organic conversion rate jumped to 3x the industry average.

Last month, I published my complete "no-ads client system" breakdown, and the response was incredible. 

Founders started implementing these exact steps and getting real results.

Here's what I learned about transparent business building:

1. Reverse Engineering Works 

When you map your best clients' journeys backward, you find the exact content that converted them. 

It's like having a blueprint for success.

2. Value Ladders Build Trust 

Create a 7-step progression from awareness to conversion. 

Each piece of content serves a specific purpose in the journey.

3. Platform Depth Beats Width 

Going deep on 3 platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube) created exponential results. 

Focus over fragmentation wins every time.

4. Engagement Creates Compound Growth 

50 meaningful comments daily built relationships that became clients. 

It's not about broadcasting - it's about connecting.

5. Content Reciprocity Multiplies Reach 

When you feature other experts, they share it with their audience. 

Your content becomes a collaboration, not a competition.

6. Systems Beat Sporadic Effort 

2 hours of daily engagement following a specific framework outperformed random posting. 

Consistency with strategy is the ultimate advantage.

7. Transparency Accelerates Everything 

Sharing your actual numbers, frameworks, and failures builds trust faster than any sales copy. 

People buy from people they believe in.

This isn't just about getting clients without ads.

It's about creating a business that builds trust through radical transparency and systematic value delivery.

The future belongs to founders who aren't afraid to share their playbooks openly.

—

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taplio

The Battle

Patrick Patterson

Matt Gray

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The Battle

Patrick Patterson

Matt Gray

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Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Matt Gray's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreMatt Gray's LinkedIn Performance