Stephen Mostrom's Linkedin Analytics

"Did AI just replace me?" ← My unfiltered reaction when ChatGPT came out. Two years later, I see GenAI as a push to double down on connection, emotion, and clarity. I joined Joshua Molina on the Zero to CMO podcast to break down the evolving relationship between AI and the human writer. In the episode, we talk about: – The good and bad of AI-powered content – How content teams can get the most out of robots and humans – What’s working on LinkedIn (and how to avoid the "sea of sameness") – And more If you're a content marketer — or just trying to create content that actually connects — this one's worth a listen. Link in the comments. 👇

My house looks like a bomb went off. Dust everywhere. Furniture stacked in the garage, while my kids climb over toolboxes and pallets to get to their room. We’re remodeling. And it’s messy. You know what else is often messy? Career growth. As I watched our floors get torn up to make room for something new, I kept thinking about how similar this feels to professional transformation. The kind that changes how you operate. Today, I’d like to share a simple way to think about professional growth inspired by the chaos in my living room. It’s a framework I’ve been using to check in on my development: - Maintain - Refresh - Remodel Here’s how it works.👇 —— ♻️ 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 to share this with your network. 🧠 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 the Develop Daily newsletter for weekly playbooks on learning, career growth, and productivity.

You don't forget meeting someone like Lorraine K. Lee. She's not loud. She's not flashy. She just has that *this person’s on to something* energy. She has presence. And I'll let you in on a little secret: It's no accident she comes across this way. Her presence is a skill. One she's crafted over years of practice and experience. That's why I was THRILLED to get my hands on Lorraine's new book, Unforgettable Presence. It's the playbook for presence. In it, Lorraine breaks down: → How to become the "CEO of your career" → How to win at LinkedIn, video, meetings, and more → How to be unforgettable to your leaders → How to help others boost their influence I'm finishing my first read and can already tell... this is a book I'll return to time and again. Insightful. Actionable. Sharp. Want to boost your presence? Lorraine's Unforgettable Presence is the best investment you’ll make this year. Link in the comments if you want to check it out. 👇

"Can I be real a second? For just a millisecond? Let down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second?" 🎶 Yes, you can. And you should. Why? Because stories are the new credibility on LinkedIn.  Because struggles are the new authenticity on LinkedIn.  Because lessons learned are the new value on LinkedIn. AI has turned everyone with a laptop into a “thought leader.” Except… all the thoughts sound the same. What’s not the same? You. Your experiences. Your unique perspective. That’s AI-proof content. And when you craft it right, it’s the fastest path to standing out in a feed drowning in "you should be doing XYZ" posts. Example: One of our ghostwriting clients went viral the other day. A bajillion impressions. Thousands of new followers overnight. The post?  Her journey getting rejected from her dream job…  And the tweaks she made that finally opened the door. It was simple. It was one-of-a-kind. And it resonated. Because she was real a second. — P.S. Have a story, but not sure how to craft it? I’ll help (no strings attached). DM me “story” and let’s jump on a quick call.

Sharing your career stories on LinkedIn? Here are 5 simple ways to go from "cool story bro" to “wait, what happened next?” 👇 1. Start with the good stuff. In fiction, it’s called starting "in medius res." In plain English: skip the boring setup and get to the point. No one needs to know what you had for breakfast. Drop us into the moment. EXAMPLE: I hadn't even finished my morning coffee when I suddenly realized I was about to get fired. 2. Sprinkle in the juicy details. Details make your story leap off the screen. ❌ "I was overwhelmed" ✅ "It was 2 a.m. and my eyes watered as I stared at the same spreadsheet for the sixth time.” 3. Build suspense. If your story feels flat, you’re probably giving away the ending too soon. Add some tension. A little teasing. ✓ Save your outcome for the end. ✓ Use short sentences. Like this. ✓ Break up long paragraphs. ✓ Try "what's next?" lines like ... "then everything changed." 4. Answer: So what? Don’t just share what happened — share what changed. ▸ What did you learn? ▸ What should we (the readers) take away? Make it clear. Make it land. 5. Respect the scroll. LinkedIn isn't the place for your memoir. Aim for 500 words or less. Tell the story. Make the point. Move on. —— What’s your go-to storytelling trick?

I assume every LinkedIn post will flop (yes, even after 1M+ impressions). So, I run mine through this 10-point checklist before hitting publish.👇 The result? 10k+ followers Viral client posts Countless connections Here's the checklist: 1. Did I start with the good stuff? Weak hook, no go. I’ll tweak it 100x to get it right. 2. Does this post sound like me? (Or like AI?) Beep boop. No thanks, I’ll stick to Stephen writing. 3. Did I make it easy to read? No one’s reading bland blocks of text during their coffee break. 4. Did I paint the picture? Feelings, stakes, pain. That makes a story real. 5. Will I remember this tomorrow? If it’s forgettable to me, it’s forgettable to them. 6. Am I talking to one person, or broadcasting to everyone? Generic tone = generic results. I write to one reader and one reader only. 7. Did I edit out the filler? Adverbs, clichés, throat-clearing intros. I cut them with a chainsaw. 8. Did I anchor it in lived experience? Real stories beat abstract advice every day (twice on Sundays). 9. What’s the one thing I want someone to remember? If my post has 6 points, it has no point. 10. Did I enjoy writing it? If it felt like a chore, it’ll probably read like one too. Your go-to?

I’ve been underqualified more times than I can count. Teaching. L&D. Even running a business. I’ve walked into rooms where I had no idea what half the acronyms meant. I’ve Googled things between meetings just to stay afloat. I’ve questioned whether I was the right person for the job... while doing the job. Over and over. Why? → Because 99% of the time, the best opportunities show up before you've figured it out. Wait around to feel "ready" and you'll miss your window. Instead, I'm a *huge fan* of this formula: 1 - Walk through doors that open 2 - Bring a growth mindset ("I'll figure it out") 3 - Pair it with a daily learning habit 4 - Make friends with the pros in the room Not saying this will work every time.  But my on-base percentage is pretty good so far. So if you’re staring down an opportunity you don’t feel ready for... This might be your sign to go for it. 🚀

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LinkedIn is the best writing gym nobody talks about. One post a week = 52 reps a year. You get sharper just by showing up. And the best part... → Every post is a feedback loop. Take it from a professional writer who wrote 1M+ words for clients last year. Want to write better? Post on LinkedIn. You learn what lands. What falls flat. What actually connects. And that kind of feedback compounds *fast.* Here’s a simple gameplan to start posting: 1. Use AI to brainstorm 10 ideas (lessons you’ve learned or mistakes worth sharing). 2. Pick a topic you really care about. Don't follow trends, focus on what you wish you'd known sooner. 3. Write like you’re texting a smart friend. Plain language, simple structure. Keep it <500 words. 4. Post once a week. It doesn’t need to be perfect ... it just needs to be yours. 5. Watch what hits. Adjust and keep going. When writing on LinkedIn, the reps are small. But the return isn’t. Time to post. P.S. Tired of staring at a blank LinkedIn post? I built a tool that helps founders use AI to get out of their head and into growth mode. DM me if you want details.