David Goldstein's Linkedin Analytics

A little league moment reshaped my leadership approach (Here's how) I noticed something at my kid's baseball game last weekend that made me rethink leadership. Down by five runs, a teammate of my son's struck out and tossed his helmet in frustration. My son simply picked up the helmet, handed it back and said, "We still need you." That player got on base his next time up. What struck me wasn't just the turnaround, but how straightforward the approach was: • No complex frameworks • No elaborate feedback sessions • Just a genuine connection at the right moment 🤝 For years I've been collecting leadership tactics, but the most effective move I've seen was showing someone they matter when they're struggling. This has completely changed how I work with founders. Instead of theoretical models, I focus on authentic support when it counts. The best leadership isn't about having all the answers – it's about being there when things get tough. 💪 Let's inspire each other! 💬 What unexpected situation taught you your best leadership lesson? Share your story below. 👇 And if you found this post insightful, give it a like or share!

Looking to level up your growth game? Here's a little secret: It's not about having more resources. It's about setting the right boundaries. 🚀 Most founders chase after more—more budget, more people, more features. The idea is that if we’re free from constraints, we’ll fly higher. But surprise, surprise, that can actually slow you down. From my work with fast-growing companies, I’ve learned that constraints are the real game-changers. When you set the right limits, amazing things happen. Constraints don’t stifle creativity; they ignite it. Too much freedom? It can drown you in choices and inefficiencies. Here’s why embracing limits is a smart move: 🧩 Creative minds love a little pressure. Without the luxury to throw resources at every problem, you start finding clever solutions. ⚡️ Decisions happen fast. No more getting stuck in analysis paralysis; you’ve got clear options and you're ready to act. 🎯 You focus on what truly matters. No more chasing every shiny idea; you're dialed in on what will actually make a difference. Let me share a quick example. I worked with a founder who asked his product team to zero in on refining just three features per quarter, instead of their usual ten. The result? Revenue jumped 38% faster than before. By narrowing their focus, they gained clarity, and with that clarity came speed. So instead of constantly asking what more you can do, think about the power of setting limits that actually push you forward. Constraints aren’t the enemy; they’re your secret weapon. ✨ What’s one constraint you could try out this quarter to boost your growth? Drop your thoughts—I’d love to hear from you! 🤔

Drowning in data but hungry for insights? Discover the key metrics every SaaS founder needs to transform chaos into clarity! The metrics obsession is real. But there's a problem: So many founders are drowning in data while starving for insights. After reviewing dashboards from companies at various growth stages, I noticed a clear pattern separating high-performers from the rest: The fastest-growing companies ruthlessly focus on just three numbers: 1. 💰 Acquisition cost relative to customer lifetime value 2. ⏱️ Time to first value (how quickly users experience benefits) 3. 📈 Expansion revenue percentage from existing users Why this works: - 🚀 These metrics reveal the efficiency of your growth engine - 🎯 They force you to optimize user experience over vanity metrics - 🤝 They align your team around actual business health indicators One founder I worked with eliminated 12 of 15 dashboard metrics and saw team productivity increase by 26% within 60 days—simply by cutting the noise. The key insight? When everything is important, nothing is important. Try this: Identify the fewest possible metrics that would tell you if your business is truly healthy or not, then ruthlessly eliminate everything else. What's the single most valuable metric in your business? Share below. 👇

Exciting news! I’m honored to have joined the Forbes Business Council. Being part of this incredible community of dynamic leaders and entrepreneurs is a significant milestone for me. It's an opportunity to contribute, learn, and collaborate on driving impactful change within the business world. I’m grateful to the Forbes Council team and look forward to sharing insights, participating in expert panels, and supporting fellow innovators. Here’s to fostering growth, exchanging ideas, and making a real difference together! Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this journey. I'm excited to see where this new chapter will lead! #ForbesBusinessCouncil #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #ForbesContributor

The most dangerous words in business? "Best practices." Everyone quotes them. Everyone follows them. Almost no one questions them. But here's the harsh truth: Best practices are just average practices in disguise. They're what worked for someone else, in a different context, with different strengths, serving different customers. When you blindly implement "best practices," you: - Surrender your competitive advantage -Blend in with everyone else in your industry - Miss opportunities for genuine innovation I've watched countless founders abandon unique approaches that were working because some guru told them it wasn't a "best practice." The real winners aren't following best practices—they're creating next practices. What industry "best practice" have you questioned or abandoned that led to better results? Share your experience below.

It's amazing how a simple tweak turned my leadership game on its head! 🔄 I was always on the hunt for that ultimate productivity hack. For years, I dove headfirst into every strategy I could find: ⏰ Time blocking? Check. 🍅 Pomodoro technique? You bet. 📱 An endless scroll of apps and tools? Been there. 🌅 Morning routines of champions? Tried and tested. Yet, none of these really moved the needle for me. And then, a lightbulb moment hit: I needed a real break during lunch. Not those I’m still working Copy Edit & Post lunches or grabbing bites between meetings. I'm talking about true, undisturbed 45-minute breaks where I: 🚶‍♂️ Ditched my desk entirely 🍽️ Ate with focus, no screens in sight 💬 Engaged in non-work related chatter 🌳 Took a refreshing stroll afterward And what happened? 🧠 My decision-making surged in those post-lunch meetings. 💡 I got a serious boost in creative problem-solving. 🧘‍♂️ My patience levels soared when facing team challenges. 👂 I became a much better listener. I even suggested this to a founder I mentor. When his leadership team adopted this practice, the results were quick and significant—team dynamics shifted, and in just weeks! Want proof? Science backs this up. Our brains thrive on these cognitive breaks to fire on all cylinders. Sure, our culture loves the hustle and grind narrative. But here's the truth: strategic rest is a mega advantage for top leaders. Now, I’m curious: What unconventional habit has unexpectedly boosted your leadership game? Share your story below. 👇

⚙️ The 10-Minute Hack That’ll Change How You Get Things Done ⚙️ Ever feel like you’re sprinting on a treadmill, getting nowhere fast with your business goals? You’re definitely not the only one riding that struggle bus. It usually boils down to one thing: clarity (or a big lack of it). I had a heart-to-heart last year with a founder who was ready to pull her hair out—her team was missing targets left and right. I shared a crazy simple framework with her, and it turned everything around. Here’s the 3-step magic formula she used to crush her priorities: 🎯 Crystal-Clear Outcomes: Get super specific on what success looks like. Vague goals? Not today! 👑 Own Your Decisions: Ditch the complex charts. Hand out decision power and make sure people own it. 🔒 Spot the Stoppers: Know your limits—resources, time, and the non-negotiables. Why is this the secret sauce everyone’s craving? Because it clears out the usual execution roadblocks: 🌫️ Fuzzy goals that lead nowhere 🤷♂️ No one taking the lead 🐙 Projects that grow wilder than a jungle vine I’ve brought this to 11 leadership teams so far, and the results? Game-changing. Faster execution, fewer hiccups. The biggest aha moment? Be super clear about what winning looks like. Saying boost conversion rates" is like playing darts in the dark. But "increase homepage conversion from 3.2% to 4.5% by April 30th That’s aiming for the bullseye. ✅ So, where can you add a dash of clarity to power up your execution? Give it a thought. And hey, share your stories and ideas below—I’m all ears and would love to hear from you! 💡🎉

Great post by Ruben Hassid - it’s a must read for using AI

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 Here's what these top-converting founders do differently: They aren't following the usual playbook. They've tossed out the "features → benefits → call-to-action" approach most founders rely on. 🎯 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: They spend 80% of their messaging articulating the problem better than customers can themselves. 🔍 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆: These founders target audiences so specific that competitors think they're limiting their opportunity. Their conversion rates run 3-4x higher as a result. 💰 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: Instead of hourly or "market average" pricing, they charge based on the value gap between where customers are and where they want to be. 🗣️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆: They record sales conversations and build marketing using exactly how customers describe their problems—no industry jargon or clever copywriting. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵: Most founders sell what they built. The winners sell what customers actually want to buy. I've watched founders double their conversion rates by shifting from "here's our solution" to "here's how we solve the precise problem keeping you up at night." Join the conversation! 💬 Share your thoughts or experiences in shifting your sales approach. Let's learn and grow together. 📈👇

Stop asking customers what they want—it's killing your innovation 💡 Most founders rely on customer feedback to guide product development. It's the foundation of lean methodology, after all. But this approach is slowly suffocating your ability to create breakthrough innovations. Here's why customer-led development is a dangerous trap: - 🔍 Customers can only articulate improvements to what already exists - ⚡️ True innovation happens beyond the boundaries of current understanding - 🚫 The most disruptive products were initially rejected by focus groups Henry Ford famously noted that if he'd asked people what they wanted, they'd have said "faster horses"—not automobiles. I've watched dozens of startups dilute their vision to death by committee, while the most successful founders I've worked with do something different: They observe behavior rather than collecting opinions. 👀 The key difference? Focus on discovering what customers struggle with, not what solutions they think they want. Next time you're tempted to run another survey, consider spending that time watching how your customers actually behave instead. What innovative product do you use today that you would've rejected if asked about it beforehand? Drop it in the comments 👇

Ever thought about how much failure is actually a good thing? 🤔 In the world of entrepreneurship, failure isn't just inevitable—it's essential. Every setback is a setup for growth. Embracing failures can lead to breakthroughs you never imagined. This is the kind of practical wisdom we promote in the 9% Club; it’s about leveraging your challenges into stepping stones. Each time you falter, you’re granted an invaluable learning opportunity that can take your business to new heights. So, the next time something doesn’t go according to plan, celebrate it! Analyze what went wrong and implement better strategies moving forward. Remember, those who succeed don’t avoid losses—they learn from them! What lesson have you learned recently through failure? Share your insights! 💡

Most founders are missing this key metric—and it's costing them big time... I've seen it time and again—founders obsessing over acquisition while completely missing the retention goldmine right under their noses. Here's why this blindspot is killing your growth: The math doesn't lie. A 5% boost in retention can increase profits by 25-95%, yet most businesses I encounter are spending 80% of their resources on new customers. Here's what the fastest-growing companies I've analyzed are doing differently: 🔄 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝘀: Not monthly, but weekly, catching red flags before customers even think of leaving. 💬 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗘𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗽𝘀: The best founders I know speak directly with at least 5 customers weekly—not through surveys. 🎯 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀: One startup I worked with tripled engagement by segmenting users and creating targeted value paths. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Your existing customers already believe in you. Making them successful is your fastest path to exponential growth. Shifting your focus from "more customers" to "deeper value" could be the one move that transforms your entire trajectory. What's your most effective retention strategy? Share what's working for you! 👇

Why do some startups get funded while others don't? Here's what I discovered sitting in on five investor pitch meetings last week... The founders who walked away with term sheets weren't who you'd expect. It wasn't about perfect decks or hockey-stick projections. The pattern was clear: Investors funded the founders who had already proven they could execute without the money. Here's what these funded founders did differently: 💡 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: They launched early, learned from real customers, and iterated rapidly. 💰 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴: They sold something—even if imperfect—before seeking investment. Paying customers speak louder than potential customers. 📊 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴: They tracked specific metrics showing exactly where the business was working and where it wasn't. 🔄 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀: They demonstrated repeatable processes for customer acquisition and operations—not just one-off sales. The most compelling pitch I heard wasn't asking for money to survive. It was showing what they'd built efficiently and asking for fuel to do more of what was already working. Before your next fundraising attempt, ask yourself: "If funding disappeared tomorrow, could I still build a viable business?" If the answer is yes, you're ready.

Ever heard 'We're too small for a process'? That mindset is a recipe for burnout. Whether you're just starting or scaling past 7-figures, robust systems are vital for sustainable growth. In 'The 9% Club,' I reveal practical frameworks that replace chaos with strategy, helping founders thrive. Success isn’t just about hustle—it's about smart, strategic playbooks that guide every decision. Build businesses that thrive on structure, not stress, and ensure you’re in that top 9% of achievers. #StartupSuccess #Entrepreneurship

From $12K to $45K a month: a founder's pivot you need to hear about Hey founders, ever feel stuck in the growth loop? Here’s a story that might inspire you. I watched a founder flip the script—taking a $12K/month hustle to a $45K/month sensation in just three months. The secret sauce? Shifting from personal excitement to tackling what their audience was truly craving. Here's what I've learned about standout founders: 🌟 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲: They don’t ditch their vision; they adapt it to align with what the market is shouting for. 🎯 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘆: Your expertise is gold, especially when it hits at the heart of real problems. 💡 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The best ideas solve needs in fresh, unexplored ways. 📊 𝗕𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: The fastest growers trust their gut but rely heavily on real customer conversations. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗼: Dig deep into market needs, leverage your unique talents, and watch your passion flourish as you make a difference. Aligning your vision with reality isn’t about selling out—it’s about leveling up. When you get this right, customers become your biggest fans, and your growth becomes unstoppable. What’s the market insight that changed your path? I’d love to hear how you pivoted. Drop your story below! 👇

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Member and Contributor at Forbes Business Council!