Venture Capital Investor at Mundi Ventures

Industrial Engineer turned tech early stage investor and builder of a media company.

I’ve worked as a VC backing early and late stage startups, and now invest globally at pre-seed as a business angel, helping founders with distribution and go-to-market.

I also write and run two of the leading tech newsletters for founders:

▪ The VC Corner (100k+ on Substack, 130k+ on LinkedIn):  Actionable VC insights, fundraising strategies, and curated resources
→ Ranked #4 tech newsletter globally on Substack
→ Fastest-growing tech newsletter on Substack
→ Largest Substack in any category created by a Spaniard

▪ The Founders Corner (40k+ on Substack, co-written with Chris Tottman): Real-world tips and tactics from top founders

Rubén D.

🚨BREAKING
Kalshi has raised 1 billion dollars at an 11 BILLION valuation.
And the speed of this company is getting hard to ignore.

They hit 2B valuation in June. 7 months later they are at 11B.
One of the fastest jumps in consumer fintech and market infrastructure in years.

Prediction markets went from niche to banned to mainstream.

Kalshi is now used weekly by millions and is shaping a new consumer behavior: people moving from passive observers to active participants in the future.

This round was led by Paradigm (Matt Huang), with participation from:
▫️ Sequoia (Alfred Lin)
▫️ a16z Growth (Alex Immerman)
▫️ a16z Crypto (Chris Dixon)
▫️ Bond Capital, Meritech, CapitalG, IVP, ARK Invest, Anthos Capital
▫️ Y Combinator (Michael Seibel)

Founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara have spent 7 years fighting regulators, opening the category, and turning prediction markets into a real information layer for the world.

Kalshi now clears 1B dollars in weekly trading volume and is building toward the next 100 million users.

Where do you think this market goes next? Is prediction trading becoming a permanent part of consumer behavior—or still early?

Rubén Domínguez Ibar

Elon Musk was asked for his best advice to entrepreneurs. His answer was simple:

“Anyone who wants to make more than they take has my respect.”

He said the goal isn’t to chase money, but to build things people truly value.
Money follows usefulness the same way happiness follows meaningful work.

His core idea:

Create value greater than the effort you put in.
Expect the grind.
Accept the risk.
Aim to be a net contributor.

Everything else is a byproduct.

Where do you think most founders focus too much on the wrong thing?

👉 10 Lessons from this interview that Founders and Investors Should Take Seriously: https://lnkd.in/d5CVJsGy

Found something crazy useful today 😳
Someone put the entire AI Agents Roadmap on one single page.

Videos, repos, guides, books, papers, courses, newsletters. Everything you need to understand and build agents.

A few highlights:

📹 Videos
▫️ LLM Introduction
▫️ LLMs from Scratch
▫️ Agentic AI (Stanford)

🗂️ Repos
▫️ GenAI Agents
▫️ Microsoft’s AI Agents for Beginners
▫️ Prompt Engineering Guide

🗺️ Guides
▫️ Google’s Agent Whitepaper
▫️ Google’s Agent Companion
▫️ Anthropic’s Building Effective Agents

📚 Books
▫️ Understanding Deep Learning
▫️ Building an LLM from Scratch
▫️ The LLM Engineering Handbook

📜 Papers
▫️ ReAct
▫️ Generative Agents
▫️ Toolformer

🧑🏫 Courses
▫️ HuggingFace’s Agent Course
▫️ Anthropic MCP
▫️ Pinecone Vector DB Course...

Find all resources below 👇
https://lnkd.in/dPUwZqPe

Enjoy and share it with more people who can find it helpful. It's free! 🫣

Why build from scratch when you can copy what already works?
Here are 10 resources that save companies years of trial and error 👇

1️⃣ 100+ Pitch Decks That Raised $2B+ in 2024 and 2025
https://lnkd.in/dR6wVrCn

2️⃣ Investor List of Lists: 10k+ VCs, Family Offices, Angels, Accelerators
https://lnkd.in/dtQnbv4q

3️⃣ Cap Table Template 
https://lnkd.in/dcdW2y4G

4️⃣ Financial Modeling Examples for Founders: A Startup Guide Templates
https://lnkd.in/dQTKxZWt

5️⃣ OpenAI’s 4-Part Framework for AI Product Strategy
https://lnkd.in/d6_3FKQs

6️⃣ 2,500+ Angel Investors Backing AI & SaaS Startups
https://lnkd.in/djjN-TD2

7️⃣ 200+ Startup Pitch Decks That Raised Over $50 Billion
https://lnkd.in/denNjKSQ

8️⃣ The Venture Capital Method: How Investors Really Value Startups
https://lnkd.in/dPesU_G5

9️⃣ 350 Ways to Promote your Startup
https://lnkd.in/daRiU-RW

🔟 GEO Playbook
https://lnkd.in/eCvhk7Hn

Find more here: https://lnkd.in/d_NvAM_9 🔥

Which one do you find more useful? Any other resource you can recommend?

How do VCs decide what your startup is worth? 💰
Here’s the exact Excel model they use, and I’m giving it away: 

This template shows how investors apply the VC Method to value your company, from Seed to Series A and beyond.

▫️ Model every round up to exit
▫️ Adjust revenue, valuation, dilution, returns
▫️ See how ownership shifts across time
▫️ Simulate exit outcomes and IRR

It’s plug-and-play, just drop in your numbers and see how the math plays out.

If you're raising, prepping for it, or just want to think like a VC… you'll find it helpful

👉 https://lnkd.in/dPesU_G5

You can also check out the following resources, that include decks, financial templates, investor lists, etc:
https://lnkd.in/dxWsxKZU

So much for the “drop out and build” myth. Most unicorn founders actually met at school or work 🤯

Palle Broe pulled together how the co-founders of 40 top tech companies first met. The pattern is clear

More than 80% were either classmates or colleagues:
▪️ Stripe, Grammarly, Gusto, Figma, Ramp, Canva → met at university
▪️ Coinbase, Miro, Revolut, Discord, Klarna → met at work
▪️ Others like OpenAI and Notion → introduced through friends

Even the giants of AI and fintech were sparked by connections in lecture halls and offices, not random chance.

It’s a reminder that university and early jobs aren’t just about credentials. They are networks where future co-founders collide.

If you’re an aspiring founder, one of the most underrated strategies is to be intentional about where you spend those early years. The people around you matter more than the classes or job titles.

Do you think today’s new generation of founders will keep meeting in school and work — or will it shift to accelerators, online communities, and programs like YC and Speedrun?

more 👉  https://lnkd.in/dxWsxKZU

🔥 The most valuable VC-backed startups in the world — 2025 edition

The $10B+ club tells you more about the future of tech than any prediction:

AI dominates.
Private markets have become their own universe.
And companies are staying private longer than ever.

From SpaceX, ByteDance, and OpenAI to the breakout newcomers like Perplexity, Mistral, Rippling, Kalshi, Figure AI, and Cursor, this list shows where capital, talent, and geopolitical influence are shifting.

I broke down the full map of the world’s most valuable private startups, including:
▫️ Every company worth $10B+ (curated by Trace Cohen)
▫️ Patterns across AI, fintech, defense, robotics, and infra
▫️ What it means for founders and investors in 2026

👉 Full list + analysis:
https://lnkd.in/dGhG7byX

Which company on the list surprised you most? Which one will on it soon?

How much equity should you give up at seed? Most founders have no idea 🤔


Palle Broe pulled together real data from 15 iconic startups, and the results are eye-opening:

▪️ Figma gave up 40% in their first investor-led round
▪️ Revolut, Grammarly, Brex all diluted around 28%
▪️ Airbnb and Uber lost 24% each
▪️ Wiz and Chime only 14%
▪️ Facebook 10%
▪️ Deel just 7%

On average: $3.3M raised, $12.3M valuation, and 21% dilution

The lesson? There is no magic formula. Some of today’s biggest companies gave up huge chunks early. Others barely diluted at all

For founders, this is both liberating and terrifying. You can raise on almost any terms if the story, timing, and team resonate

Would you take 40% dilution at seed if it meant building a $10B+ company?

Most startup founders struggle for years to learn what Paul Graham explained in 10 essays:

Airbnb, Stripe, Dropbox, Reddit... all shaped by his thinking.

His essays have defined startup trends for decades.

Still, I keep meeting founders who’ve never read them.

So here’s your shortcut:
The 10 Paul Graham essays every founder should read 👇

1. Do Things That Don’t Scale
Your first 10 users should feel like clients, not clicks.
https://lnkd.in/dcKYH9M5

2. Startup = Growth
If it’s not growing, it’s not a startup.
https://lnkd.in/duwMFSFz

3. Startup in 13 Sentences
The closest thing to a YC cheat sheet.
https://lnkd.in/dGqiq3Fm

4. Founder Mode
What it actually feels like to be a startup founder.
https://lnkd.in/dv4HsKdc

5. Be Good
No growth hack beats a product people love.
https://lnkd.in/dB3xThCG

6. Billionaires Build
Talk less, ship more.
https://lnkd.in/dUW4w3RZ

7. The Hardest Lessons for Startups to Learn
The distractions that quietly kill great companies.
https://lnkd.in/d26g2uAf

8. 18 Mistakes That Kill Startups
Avoid these and you're ahead of 90% of teams.
https://lnkd.in/d38XQE4M

9. How to Convince Investors
What to say before you ever send a deck.
https://lnkd.in/dQZkxjjW

10. Ideas for Startups
Curiosity is the seed of every great company.
https://lnkd.in/dSi6QhwV

If you’re building, fundraising, or scaling, this is gold.

Save it and share it with any founder who can find it helpful!

Which one changed your thinking the most?
Which one would you add to the list?

Want more? Check out the following resources 🔥

▪️ 10k 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 List: https://lnkd.in/dtQnbv4q

▪️ VCs 𝗗𝘂𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 Excel Template: https://lnkd.in/dXzaqRiA

▪️ 100+ 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗸𝘀 That Raised Over $2B: https://lnkd.in/dR6wVrCn

▪️ SaaS 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗹: https://lnkd.in/dUgPHBFv

▪️ 𝗖𝗮𝗽 𝗧𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 at Series A & B: https://lnkd.in/dcdW2y4G

▪️50+ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀: https://lnkd.in/dxWsxKZU

Elon Musk just gave his most important interview in years 💣 


It is his clearest view yet on AI, robotics, energy, work, money, global talent, deflation, and even the simulation theory.

I went through the full interview, transcript, reactions, and commentary.

These are the 10 ideas that matter most for founders, operators, and investors 👇

1. Work Will Become Optional https://lnkd.in/d-sr988U

2. Money Eventually Disappears https://lnkd.in/dx38Muts

3. “Make More Than You Take” https://lnkd.in/d9jSACh5

4. X Will Become a Global AI Video Platform https://lnkd.in/dguVqUnM

5. The Meaning of Life: “The Question Matters More Than the Answer” https://lnkd.in/dy3SjwGw

6. Immigration Is a Superpower https://lnkd.in/dJWDUDNX

7. Energy Becomes the Real Measure of Progress and the Currency https://lnkd.in/dqnzeKSY

8. Tesla, SpaceX, xAI Are Converging https://lnkd.in/dzGjS-UC

9. The Population Crisis Is Real
https://lnkd.in/dxYfnuq4

10. Yes, He Still Thinks We’re in a Simulation
https://lnkd.in/dBsnGbVh

I put the full breakdown, insights, and a playbook on where to build and invest next in the piece below:
https://lnkd.in/d5CVJsGy

JUST IN: Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei says he should not be in charge of AI’s future

He admits he is “deeply uncomfortable” with how a small group of tech leaders is making decisions that will affect billions of people.

The same people building the most powerful systems are also the ones defining the guardrails.

There is still no clear governance model and no agreement on who should make these calls.

What should a better structure for AI oversight look like?

⚠️JUST IN: Anthropic reports that a China-linked group carried out what may be the first major cyber espionage campaign driven mostly by AI agents

The attackers used Claude Code to probe systems, generate exploit code, harvest credentials, and extract sensitive data across nearly thirty global targets in tech, finance, chemicals, and government.

Anthropic estimates AI handled 80 to 90 percent of the operation, with humans intervening only at a few decision points. The scale and speed went far beyond what human teams could achieve.

The company has expanded its detection systems and shared the case to help industry and government prepare for this new class of threat.

How do you think incidents like this will reshape cybersecurity priorities in the coming year?

AI Resources you might find helpful:

• OpenAI’s New Playbook for Product-Market Fit in AI Startups
https://lnkd.in/dy-HgVtX

• 2,500+ Angel Investors Backing AI Startups - https://lnkd.in/djjN-TD2

• 50 AI Agent Startup Ideas for 2025 - https://lnkd.in/dy9E-MCn

• AI Co-Pilots for Startups & VCs - https://lnkd.in/dSX3ss2q

• The Agentic Revolution - https://lnkd.in/dadFm25a

• 118 AI Communication Agent Use Cases - https://lnkd.in/dr9cM5BT

Peter Thiel said his biggest mistake when he was young was using education as a substitute for thinking about the future

He didn’t ask “what do I want to build?” He just followed the standard path through college, grad school, and a safe job

He believes this mindset traps people into collecting degrees and titles to “keep options open,” without ever finding purpose

The lesson is simple. Real progress comes from intentional choices, not default ones. Ask yourself early what you want to build, and how your actions align with it

Control is shifting to the top of the AI stack

Google is now the only company fully integrated across the entire AI value chain

That level of vertical control sets the limits for everyone else.
Startups compete through focus, proprietary data, or niche expertise, not infrastructure.

The higher you build in the stack, the more the moat depends on creativity, not compute.

🧠 Full breakdown: https://lnkd.in/daH8Btz6

The Ultimate INVESTOR List of Lists
More than 10K investors in one place 🎁

I built a complete database for founders raising capital, with:
▫️ 25 curated lists
▫️ VCs, angels, family offices, accelerators
▫️ AI, SaaS, climate, crypto, foodtech and more
▫️ No warm intro lists and diversity focused investors

👉 https://lnkd.in/dW3gt3dM

If AI gives us all this time back… what will we do with it? 🫣
A Google-backed startup has an answer, and I’m sharing its original deck and secrets

Meet-Ting started with a simple idea that caught Google’s attention.
Every morning, the world collectively reshuffles its schedule.
Millions of people move meetings, lose time, and slow down momentum.

They realized the real problem is systemic, not personal.
Their AI coordination network connects calendars, reads context from email and text, and learns how people actually collaborate.

▫️ 600+ calendars connected in two months
▫️ Top launch on Product Hunt
▫️ Backed by Google’s AI Startup Program

Founders Daniel B. and Mariana Oliveira Prazeres bring unique experience to the problem.
Dan helped shape TikTok’s global strategy at ByteDance, while Mariana has been building deep learning systems since 2017.

This might be one of the most interesting early AI startups in Europe right now

👉 Comment “Time” below and I’ll send you the full story and their original Google-funded pitch deck :)

🎁 The ultimate FREE AI bundle for founders is LIVE 


HubSpot For Startups partnered with the leading AI tools in the ecosystem to create a full AI-native startup stack — plus exclusive offers you won’t find anywhere else.

What’s inside:
▫️ Clay — $50 credit
▫️ Lovable — 1 month free
▫️ Make — 1 year free
▫️ Gamma — 50% off
▫️ Captions — 75% off
▫️ MindStudio — 60-day trial
▫️ Claude — free plan
▫️ Notion — 3 months free
▫️ HubSpot — up to 90% off

Here’s the link to unlock it:
👉 https://lnkd.in/gyF8VqGT

📘 Also… there’s a free guide that pairs perfectly with this bundle.
It shows you how to use these AI tools together to build your startup in days, not months.
Real workflows, prompts, templates, and step-by-step use cases.

If you want the guide, comment AI and I’ll send it your way

And if you want more founders to get access to this, feel free to repost and share

Excited to share my first investment in the Fall 25 Y Combinator batch: Karumi (YC F25) 🚀 
Most companies still demo like it’s 1990...
Static onboarding flows, endless demo requests, and sales reps booked for next week.

But buyers have changed.
They want instant, personalized product demos, not waitlists.

That’s where Karumi comes in :)

Karumi is your AI demo agent, available 24/7, in any language.
It joins live video calls, speaks, clicks, navigates your product, opens tabs, and tailors each walkthrough to every customer’s use case.

Founded by Toni Lopez and Pablo Omenaca Muro (previously StackAI, YC W23), Karumi makes product demos scalable, personal, and human again.

Congrats on the launch!

💬 Comment “Demo” if you want to try it.
🔁 Repost to give the founders a boost.

Anthropic and Cursor leading


Years from inception to $1B in revenue 😳


The playbook is being rewritten

𝗝𝗲𝗳𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝘇𝗼𝘀: The universe is pulling you toward average. Your only chance of survival is to resist it 💡

Jeff Bezos wrote that distinctiveness is fragile. Left alone, everything trends toward normal. Normal feels easier, but it’s the first step to irrelevance.

The truth is uncomfortable. Staying different takes constant energy. There is no fairy tale where uniqueness protects itself. Choosing to be original guarantees struggle, not safety.

But the fight is worth it. Distinctiveness creates value. Customers and partners remember you for what makes you unique. Companies that stop fighting to stay different slide into ordinary, then irrelevant.

Bezos’ advice to founders is simple:
▪️ Expect the pull of conformity from markets, competitors, and even your own team
▪️ Protect what makes you unique and make it a permanent habit
▪️ Pay the price, because the alternative is worse

Thoughts?

40+ Linkedin Money-Making-Influence Resources I Toxic Boss Immunity I Frequency of INFLUENCE: ETHICAL PERSUASION I $20k Brain-Based Sales System | HarvardX Neuroscience Research I Keynote 🎤 I X-Microsoft I Captain ⛵

$20k Monthly Brain Based Sales System Without Chasing the "Yes"

You know the feeling:
😳 Your brain lights up with “What if they think I’m pushy?” the second you open a DM.
😬 You’d rather post and pray the right people find you than risk being ghosted.
😅 You tell yourself that if you were really good, clients would just show up.

You don’t want to fake connection just to pitch.
You want sales that feels human. Real conversations, not pressure tactics.

You’re not bad at sales.
Your brain is just protecting you.

The amygdala flags rejection as danger.
Your prefrontal cortex freezes.
And boom hesitation, overthinking, silence.

That’s where my work comes in.
I teach the Neuroscience of No-Pressure Sales so you can sell with calm confidence instead of fear.

No scripts. No manipulation.
Just science, psychology, and simple tools to retrain your nervous system so selling feels natural again.

When your brain is relaxed, your authenticity returns.
You stop pitching and start connecting.
Outreach stops feeling like an intrusion and starts feeling like service.

This is sales made easy for coaches who hate selling.

✨ Ways to get started with me:

✅ If you're a coach DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a business owner DM me "Butter"
✅ If you're a sales leader DM me "Butter"
✅ Attend my next workshop for FREE BRAIN BASED SALES SECRETS. https://forms.gle/HvTRDEZEuu7bgQEF8
✅ Subscribe to the Be Like Butter Bugle: Weekly brain hacks for resilience and influence. https://synaptic-solutions.kit.com/newsletter

Personal interests: 
- Captain ⛵️ 
- Recovering Sugar Addict 🍭 
- Trash TV consumer 🗑️

Sales Coach | Toxic Boss Coach | Neuroscience Coach | Executive Coach | Master Behavioral Strategist | Speaker | Advisor | Expert | 7 figures | Virtual Speaking | Sales Performance Brain Hacker | Mindset Coach I Corporate Trainer I Influence I Key Note Speaker

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Leaders don't do things for you. 

They inspire you to grow into someone who can do them 

Your brain's mirror neurons are fascinating...

When we observe great leadership, 
Our neural networks literally reshape themselves 🧠

Here's what happened in my team's brains 
When I shifted from problem-solver to growth catalyst:

1️⃣ Neural Leadership Networks
↳ Prefrontal cortex activation in decision-making up 
↳ Stress response pathways decreased
↳ Reward circuits fired during problem-solving

2️⃣ Learning Circuit Activation
↳ Neuroplasticity peaked during challenges
↳ Dopamine loops strengthened team bonds
↳ Cognitive flexibility increased 

3️⃣ Performance Neuroscience
↳ Cortisol levels dropped 
↳ Oxytocin boosted trust signals
↳ Group synchronization improved

Science shows: When leaders step back,
The team's collective neural networks step up.

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

PS: What neural pathway did your best leader help you strengthen? 🧠

Video credit: Unlnown

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to build stronger leadership brains
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

The hard things you avoid 

Are the exact things that free you

Most people avoid the hard stuff.
Not because they are lazy.
Because their brain is trying to protect them.

The prefrontal cortex wants long term wins
But the amygdala wants immediate comfort
So every hard task feels like a threat
And your brain tells you to delay it
Even when it hurts you later.

Here is how to flip the switch
So your brain stops fighting you
And starts working for you.

1/ Reduce the threat signal
 Big tasks feel dangerous
 So your brain freezes
 Break the task into the smallest next move
 Science: Small steps lower amygdala activity
 And increase dopamine for starting

2/ Front load the friction
 Do the hardest task first
 Before your brain is overloaded
 Science: Your decision making power is highest early
 And cortisol rises as the day goes on

3/ Create a reward loop
 Your brain needs a reason to try
 Pair the hard task with a positive cue
 Tea, music, a small celebration
 Science: Dopamine releases faster
 When a reward is tied to effort, not outcomes

When you train your brain to face hard things
You stop leaking energy
You build momentum
And the tough stuff becomes automatic

P.S. Whats your best procrastination buster? 

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

-----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

I used to shrink parts of myself to fit into corporate.

It quietly drained the life out of my ideas (and me).

At the time, I thought success required self-erasure.
I hit every goal on the board.
But I felt empty.

 🧠 Promotions
 🧠 Pay raises
 🧠 Prestige

None of it mattered.
My spark was gone.
And so was my creativity.

Have you ever noticed how your brain invents ideas
When you’re not even trying?

Your imagination lights up your neural networks
Like a synchronized light show.

Brain imaging reveals that
Most of your regions activate during visualization.

Here’s what fuels your imagination 👇

1/ Your Brain’s Creative Engine
 ↳ Default Mode Network turns on as the PFC steps back
 ↳ Memory blends with emotion to create new associations
 ↳ Your brain recombines patterns without limits

2/ The Moment Insight Strikes
 ↳ Gamma bursts peak during big realizations
 ↳ Hippocampus sends raw material to the DMN
 ↳ New pathways strengthen the more you play with ideas

3/ Your Creativity Enhancement Tools
 ↳ Take short intentional pauses for DMN activation
 ↳ Change scenes to trigger fresh circuitry
 ↳ Welcome boredom because it sparks innovation

Creativity is not magic.
It is a neural process you can train.
All you need is the space and permission to
Reconnect with curiosity and let your mind roam.
Don’t lose your spark chasing goals that dim you.

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

PS: When does your imagination run wild?

Video Credit: Unknown

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share to help others reclaim their creativity
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based growth insights

Your brain won't save you.

Your heart will. 

For two weeks, I volunteered to help rescue animals.
Feeding, cleaning, comforting the scared and the broken.

They had nothing to give back
but showing up still felt right.

Because giving changes you.
It pulls you out of fear and back into purpose.

And right now, the world needs more of that.
 💔 People are hurting.
 💔 Jobs disappearing.
 💔 Markets spiraling.
 💔 Stress levels through the roof.

Everyone’s doing their best just to stay afloat.
But when everything feels unstable,
most people grip tighter.
They try to control.
They chase.
They push harder for the “yes.”

That’s exactly why it stops working.
The brain senses pressure and shuts down trust.
You can’t sell, serve, or lead from scarcity.
You can only do it from calm generosity.

That’s why I’m giving away what I’ve learned.
The exact framework that helped me break free from corporate,
build consistency on my own,
and stop chasing clients who weren’t ready.

It’s called Stop Chasing the Yes.
A workshop to help you
 – Build your own predictable client system
 – Shift from pressure to presence in every conversation
 – Lead with calm confidence instead of fear

If you’ve been giving everything and still feel stuck,
this is your next step.

Because giving works best
when you give to yourself too.

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

P.S. Do you volunteer, if so where?

------------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for more neuroscience tools for calm influence
♻️ Repost to help others give without burning out

The only true failure in life is quitting. 

Success is never a straight line. It certainly wasn't for me.

I've had many failures and setbacks along my path.
Layoffs.
Failed ventures.
Bad investments. 

Life is messy. 
Mess is a part of life.

Enjoy the messiness. 
And, your brain kinda likes it messy too.

Why your brain craves zigzag paths 🧠

(The science of why progress feels so messy) 👇

Your neural pathways aren't built in straight lines
And neither is your path to greatness
Here's what's really happening in your brain:

1️⃣ The Neural Reality
↳ Growth pathways form through trial and error
↳ Each "failure" strengthens neural connections
↳ Your brain requires contrast to learn

2️⃣ The Resilience Loop
↳ Setbacks activate problem-solving networks
↳ Stress actually enhances memory formation
↳ Recovery periods boost cognitive flexibility

3️⃣ The Growth Paradox
↳ Progress activates dopamine reward system
↳ Plateaus create new neural foundations
↳ Breakthroughs happen during apparent standstills

Your "messy" journey is how your brain is designed to learn and grow.

P.S. What was your latest messiness?

Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Video Credit: Unknown

-------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you're ready to embrace the zigzag
➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based insights

Most people’s LinkedIn strategy: grind harder and hope

Mine: close clients while living life on my own schedule

I’ve wandered through the Greek islands
- Boat rides to hidden beaches
- Mornings working with seaside views
- A weekend in Skopelos without realizing it was a movie set

I spent a month in Athens
- Day trips to Agistri, turquoise blue waters
- Afternoons coaching clients

Why am I sharing this?
 Because your brain says “that’s not for me”
 Because it tells you to stick with the familiar
 (It’s called comfort bias and it keeps you stuck)

But here’s what no one will tell you:
If you want it, this life is closer than you think

Here’s how your brain makes it happen:

1️⃣ The Belief Reset
 ↳ Your brain avoids what feels out of reach
 ↳ Turn “impossible” into doable with simple shifts
 ↳ Stack wins until change feels normal

2️⃣ The LinkedIn Advantage
 ↳ Know what your ideal client looks for before they decide
 ↳ Post and message in ways that feel safe and personal
 ↳ Use a system that works even while you’re away

3️⃣ The Lifestyle Flywheel
 ↳ Every yes starts before the offer is made
 ↳ Match your approach to their decision process
 ↳ That’s how I work from coastlines and mountain trails

The point?

It’s not about more work
It’s about the right work for the brain

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

P.S. Where would you take your laptop first?
P.P.S. Pic from Poseidon's Temple (10/10)
-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

One more trip around the sun.

It's been a doozy.

Every birthday, I pause and reflect on my last year.
This year was the year that stretched me in every direction.

I lost my favorite person (my Belley Bean)
That loss began an 8 month walkabout across the globe.

I found my spiritual side.
I found strength I didn't know I had.

I escaped 3 typhoons
I sailed the Mediterranean
I ate the most amazing food 
I chopped a bajillion bananas
I swam in the Blue Cave in Croatia
I cared for 140 elephants and 700 dogs
I got bit and headbutted by deer in Nara
I moved what felt like a million watermelons
I spoiled myself at a Japanese Onsen regularly
I calmly navigated a stalker sitch right up to my airplane 
I lost a toenail trying an advanced yoga post in Cabo San Lucas

I missed my family.
I missed my friends.

I grew.
I grew so much.
I think I grew more this year than any year before.

I admired the precision of Japanese trains.
I learned Thai people do not use chopsticks.
I went from a 3k to 50k community in 8 months.
I was stunned by the beauty of the Greek islands.
I made new friends in the most unexpected places.
I built a predictable, brain-based revenue machine.
I helped countless clients do the same for their businesses.

This year was not easy.
It was not predictable.
But it was deeply transformative.

Here is to another year of becoming.
Here is to letting go, leaning in, and staying open.

And if you are reading this…
Thank you for being part of my journey.

P.S. Today, I am Seattle celebrating!
Wanna celebrate with me?

I am offering a once in a lifetime DONE FOR YOU SYSTEM
For One Month, I will revamp your LI system
- ICP Subtext Discovery 
- LI Optimization
- DM Framework that gets sales calls
- 1 month of content that gets inbound leads
- Engagement that builds your reach

I will only take ONE client. 
If you want me to build your system,
the way I went from 3k to 50k followers, then DM me
"DFY Butter" and we'll chat.

-----------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if your goal is freedom without the hustle
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales strategies

You have more answers than you think. 

You just don't know it...yet.

Most people say they want to think outside the box.
But few ever leave it.

Because the box feels safe.
It’s made of habits, rules, and comfort.
It’s your brain’s way of protecting you from uncertainty.

But that same safety is what keeps you small.
Every great idea, every business, every leap
starts the moment you question the walls around you.

When you think differently, new neural pathways fire.
Your prefrontal cortex lights up.
Dopamine releases as you connect unfamiliar dots.
That’s not chaos. That’s creativity.

Thinking outside the box trains your brain to
🧠 see possibilities instead of patterns,
🧠 stay adaptable when the world shifts,
🧠 and turn fear into curiosity instead of paralysis.

Inside the box, life feels predictable.
Outside, it feels alive.

If you want freedom, income, and purpose,
you can’t just color outside the lines.
You have to stop believing they’re even there.

That’s the work we do inside my workshop
Because the world doesn’t reward safety.
It rewards those who think beyond it.

🧠 Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

Usually, the answer is already within you 
(channeling Yoda today).

P.S. When was the last time you already knew the answer...you just had to remember you did?

Video credit: Unlnown

---------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for more neuroscience tools for clarity and creativity
♻️ Repost to help more people break out of their mental box

Persuasion isn't manipulation

Persuasion is making the prospect feel safe.

The top 8 secrets to ethically persuade 👇

Most people think persuasion means convincing or winning.
But real persuasion begins in calm awareness.
Your nervous system leads the conversation 
Long before your words do.
When your energy is steady, others feel safe to open.

Here's the 8 secret ways to ethically persuade

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
 Take one slow breath before you speak.
 This quiets the body and steadies your focus.
 Your calm signals safety and builds connection.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
 Ask questions that invite reflection.
 “What feels most challenging right now?”
 Curiosity keeps the brain open and the energy light.

3️⃣ Validate before you redirect
 When people hesitate, meet them with empathy.
 “I understand why you’d feel that way.”
 Validation relaxes tension and rebuilds trust.

4️⃣ Keep autonomy intact
 People need to feel in control of their choices.
 Invite, don’t push.
 “Would you like to explore this together?”

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
 Fear narrows focus, clarity opens it again.
 Ask, “What might shift if this were already solved?”
 It helps people see beyond the problem.

6️⃣ Align around shared intention
 Focus on what matters to both of you.
 “We both want this to create real results.”
 Shared purpose turns pressure into partnership.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding change
 People follow what feels familiar.
 First, attune to their tone and pace.
 Then gently guide the conversation toward calm and clarity.

8️⃣ End with clarity, not pressure
 Unfinished conversations keep the mind spinning.
 Summarize, confirm, and close the loop.
 “Are you ready to get started?"

Ethical persuasion is calm, curious, and choice-based.
🧠 Regulate first. 
🧠 Match energy. 
🧠 Keep autonomy strong.

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Have you ever felt pressured to buy?

Starting up my workshops again!
Learn how to build a $20k - No Chasing the Yes - Sales System
Apply here --> https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
 ♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Lighting someone else's candle doesn't dim yours.

It just makes the room brighter.

Helping others shine doesn't dim your light.
Your brain actually glows brighter when you lift people up.

Most people think helping drains energy.
Neuroscience shows it does the opposite.
Your brain rewards contribution.
It expands your capacity, not shrinks it.

Here are 3 ways helping others strengthens your brain 👇
1️⃣ Your reward system lights up
✔️ Kindness boosts dopamine
 Dopamine lifts motivation and focus
 Your flame grows, not fades

2️⃣ Your connection circuits strengthen
✔️ Support boosts oxytocin
 Oxytocin builds trust and safety
 Your brain gets more resilient

3️⃣ Your creative networks open
✔️ Giving lowers stress chemicals
 Lower stress frees the prefrontal cortex
 Ideas flow easier when your heart is open

Lifting others isn't self sacrifice.
It's self expansion.
Your brain shines brighter
every time you help someone rise.

P.S. What's the last time someone lit your flame?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

---------------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost to help someone light up today

The number 1 reason you’re invisible on Linkedin...

You aren't breaking through the RAS filter

Your prospect never sees most of what you say.
Their brain deletes it before it gets inside.

The Reticular Activating System filters everything.
It looks for relevance, novelty, safety, and clarity.
If your message feels routine, it gets ignored.
If it feels vivid and personal, it gets through.
Here are ten ways to pass the filter fast.

1/ Pattern breaks win
Don’t start predictable
Do open with novelty
Science: RAS flags newness first

2/ Short lines keep attention
 Don’t write long blocks
 Do use simple spacing
 Science: Low load keeps thinking open

3/ Make it about them
Don’t lead with yourself
Do mirror their world
Science: RAS checks for self relevance

4/ Signal credibility fast
Don’t over explain
Do give one strong proof
Science: Fast heuristics shape trust

5/ Use micro commitments
Don’t push for yes
Do ask tiny questions
Science: Micro wins open dopamine

6/ Use visual outcomes
Don’t stay vague
Do paint clear images
Science: RAS tags vivid scenes

7/ Match their energy
Don’t push your pace
Do mirror tone
Science: Mirror neurons sync fast

8/ Validate their words
Don’t jump to fixes
Do echo their phrasing
Science: Neural validation needs match

9/ Create safety, not pressure
Don’t force urgency
Do slow the tempo
Science: Threat shuts attention down

10/ Give one next step
Don’t dump info
Do guide clearly
Science: Sequence reduces neural noise

When you speak to the brain instead of the ego
You stop sounding like everyone else
You bypass resistance
You increase trust
And your message finally lands

P.S. Which one has worked for you??

Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe
Dec 15 - 11am - 2pm PST

----------------------------------------------------------------
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon  to get more brainy tips
♻️ Repost to help more people train their brain to thrive

Persuasion isn’t pressure.

Persuasion is helping someone feel safe.

Here are 8 ethical persuasion swaps that actually work 👇

Most people try to persuade with logic or force.
But the brain listens to safety signals first.
When you protect autonomy and reduce threat,
People open up, not shut down.

Here are the 8 upgrades:

1️⃣ Regulate before you relate
❌ Don’t say: 
“Let me just explain why this makes sense.”

✅ Say this:
“Before we dive in, take a breath. I want this to feel clear.”

🔬Science:
 A calm nervous system sends safety cues.
 Their mirror neurons match your steadiness, lowering resistance.

2️⃣ Lead with curiosity
❌ Don’t say:
 “Here’s what you need to do.”

✅ Say this:
 “What feels hardest about this right now?”

🔬 Science:
 Curiosity keeps the amygdala quiet.
 Questions activate the prefrontal cortex, the part that evaluates options calmly.

3️⃣ Validate before redirecting
❌ Don’t say:
 “I understand, but…”

✅ Say this:
 “It makes sense you’d feel that way.”

🔬 Science:
 Validation reduces cortisol.
 It signals “You’re safe to express hesitations,” which reopens trust pathways.

4️⃣ Protect autonomy
❌ Don’t say:
 “You should really move forward.”

✅ Say this:
 “Want to explore this together?”

🔬 Science:
Autonomy is a core human need.
When someone feels in control, dopamine rises and decision-making improves.

5️⃣ Reframe with clarity
❌ Don’t say:
 “You’re overthinking this.”

✅ Say this:
 “What might shift if this were already solved?”

🔬 Science:
Reframing widens cognitive perspective.
It moves the brain out of threat mode and into problem-solving mode.

6️⃣ Align intentions
❌ Don’t say:
 “I just want you to see my point.”

✅ Say this:
 “We both want a solution that actually works for you.”

🔬 Science:
Shared goals increase oxytocin.
Oxytocin boosts collaboration and reduces defensiveness.

7️⃣ Match energy before guiding
❌ Don’t say:
 “Relax, it’s not a big deal.”

✅ Say this:
 “I hear how this feels for you. Let’s slow it down together.”

🔬Science:
Attunement regulates the nervous system.
The brain trusts what feels familiar before it trusts new direction.

8️⃣ Close with clarity, not pressure
❌ Don’t say:
 “So… are you ready or not?”

✅ Say this:
 “Here’s what the next step looks like. Does this feel right to you?”

🔬 Science:
Clear choices reduce cognitive load.
When the brain knows the path, uncertainty drops—and commitment rises.

Ethical persuasion is simple:
 🧠 Lower threat
 🧠 Raise clarity
 🧠 Protect autonomy

That’s how influence becomes trust.

P.S. Ever notice how pressure makes you want to run?

My workshops are open again.
Learn how to build a $20k No Chasing the Yes Sales System
Apply here → https://lnkd.in/eZRF_jZe

----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain-based sales tools
♻️ Repost to help more people influence with integrity

Your answers are already in your head.

You just have to slow down long enough to hear them.

Your brain holds ideas you have not discovered yet.
But it cannot reveal them when you never pause.
Creativity needs space.
Insight needs quiet.

Most people overwork their minds.
But the brain solves problems when you stop trying.
Silence activates deeper networks.
Boredom lets ideas rise to the surface.

Here are 3 ways to access the answers inside you 👇
1️⃣ Give your brain boredom time
✔️ Take short breaks without your phone
 Boredom activates the default mode network
 This is where creativity lives

2️⃣ Use quiet as a tool
✔️ Sit still for a few minutes
 Quiet reduces noise in the prefrontal cortex
 Your thoughts get clearer and sharper

3️⃣ Let your mind wander
✔️ Go for a slow walk with no agenda
 Wandering boosts pattern recognition
 Your brain connects ideas without force

You are not stuck.
Your mind just needs room to speak.
When you rest it, it reveals what you need.
The answers show up when the noise drops.

P.S. When is the last time you surprised yourself?

BIG NEWS! SALES SAGE IS LIVE!
See the truth your reps won’t say out loud (before it blows up your number)
Taking 100 beta testers - 14 day free trial
Minority Report for Sales Teams
https://salessage.co/ 

Video Credit: Unknown

----------------------------------------------------------------

➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for more brain based insights
♻️ Repost if your best ideas hit you in the quiet moments

Your biggest risk is the rep who says they're "fine."

Your rep's "fine," is eerily similar to your spouse's "fine."

TL:DR It's definitely not "fine."

You don't lose a quarter in one moment.
You lose it in tiny blind spots.

A rep who says they're fine.
A pipeline that looks clean.
A deal that feels safe until it slips.

Then your forecast cracks.
Your VP starts asking questions.
And you wonder what you missed.

What every manager thinks but never says out loud:

You're managing stories, not data.
Your team tells you what feels safe to say.
Not what protects your number.

Sales Sage shows you the parts they leave out.
A simple 10 minute pulse surfaces early risk.

😶‍🌫️ Stress signals. 
😶‍🌫️ Confidence drops.
😶‍🌫️ Hidden struggles that turn into missed targets...
If you catch them too late.

We give you visibility your dashboards say they give you
But can't

The minority report for sales teams. 
14-day free beta: https://salessage.co for early adopters

Your clean pipeline is the biggest red flag.

Silence and perfection always come before surprises.

Every dashboard looks clean.
Every rep sounds confident.
Every pipeline looks alive.
Until the moment it’s not.

Reps hide struggle.
They mask doubt.
They soften bad news.
And you hear it too late.

Bad quarters don’t start in QBRs.
They start in silence.
SalesSage breaks that silence.
Ten minutes.
One pulse.
Full clarity.

Signals you can’t see alone.
Patterns no CRM reveals.
Early warnings before the miss.

If you want fewer surprises
and more control over your number
start your free 14 day trial:
https://salessage.co/

See what your team won’t say out loud.
Save the quarter before it slips.

P.S. When is the last time a squeaky clean pipeline bit you in the butt?

------------------------------------------------------

♻️ Share if you’re done with guessing
➕ Follow 🧠 Shannon for brain based sales insights

taplio

The Battle

Rubén D.

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreRubén D.'s LinkedIn Performance

Performance Score🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Rubén D.

🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

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

Performance Score🧠 Shannon Smith, J.D., M.S. 🚀's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreRubén D.'s LinkedIn Performance