I built and sold a business to HubSpot in just 17 months.

I co-founded Mindstream, an AI newsletter that scaled to 150,000+ subscribers. Today, Mindstream is part of the HubSpot Media Network, where I lead brand strategy for the AI media products. 

Along the way, I’ve grown a 200,000+ following on LinkedIn, sharing real, unfiltered lessons on AI, entrepreneurship, and business growth. The wins and the mistakes.

I believe action beats hesitation. The biggest risk? Never starting.

Adam Biddlecombe

Helping Entrepreneurs Build with AI | Founder, Mindstream (Acquired by HubSpot)

Co-Founder & CEO 

98% think they’re using Claude perfectly.

They open the AI chat box and start prompting.

That’s exactly why they’re leaving 80% of its power unused.

When I first started using Claude, 
I made the same mistake.

I treated it like a chatbot.
Ask question → get answer → repeat.

But now, as I’ve set up Claude properly, 
Everything changed.

It started behaving like a system that actually works with me.
I got:
- Better writing.
- Better research.
- Better coding.
- Better reasoning.

Most people never unlock this because they skip the setup.

That’s why I’ve created this simple breakdown of how you can set up Claude the best way for you.

Here are the key ideas behind a powerful Claude setup:
→ Install Claude properly (desktop unlocks more capabilities)
→ Choose the right model for the job
→ Create a personal voice file Claude can reference
→ Define what you reject so Claude avoids bad habits
→ Give Claude real folders and context to work with
→ Enable features like artifacts and code execution
→ Add job-specific plugins for specialized work
→ Build reusable skills and workflows

When you configure Claude correctly, 
It starts acting like a reliable AI operator.

Do’s:
✅ Set profile preferences so Claude understands your writing style
✅ Give clear instructions and structured prompts
✅ Connect tools and folders for real context
✅ Create repeatable skills for frequent tasks
✅ Test different models based on the problem

Don’ts:
❌ Don’t rely on vague prompts and expect perfect outputs
❌ Don’t leave API keys or secrets in prompts or code
❌ Don’t ignore Projects when organizing complex work
❌ Don’t share sensitive data without checking security settings
❌ Don’t skip testing new Claude features and tools

If you set this up correctly, 
Claude becomes extremely powerful for:
• Writing
• Coding
• Research
• Analysis
• Workflow automation

To see the full setup breakdown, 
Check the infographic below 👇 
It will save you hours of trial and error.

Want to master how to use ChatGPT at work?
Grab my free guide here: https://lnkd.in/eJPyZ-Qe 

Curious to know something:
What do you think about setting up Claude for your workflow?
Comment below 👇

98% think they’re using Claude perfectly.

They open the AI chat box and start prompting.

That’s exactly why they’re leaving 80% of its power unused.

When I first started using Claude, 
I made the same mistake.

I treated it like a chatbot.
Ask question → get answer → repeat.

But now, as I’ve set up Claude properly, 
Everything changed.

It started behaving like a system that actually works with me.
Better writing.
Better research.
Better coding.
Better reasoning.

Most people never unlock this because they skip the setup.

That’s why I’ve created this simple breakdown of how you can set up Claude the best way for you.

Here are the key ideas behind a powerful Claude setup:
→ Install Claude properly (desktop unlocks more capabilities)
→ Choose the right model for the job
→ Create a personal voice file Claude can reference
→ Define what you reject so Claude avoids bad habits
→ Give Claude real folders and context to work with
→ Enable features like artifacts and code execution
→ Add 

If you want to be ahead of everyone in 2026,

You need to build your team of AI employees.

I used to think scaling meant working more hours and doing everything myself.

But now I did something different.
I built an AI team.

Every AI tool acts as an employee.
One for marketing.
One for development.
One for design.
One for research.
One for automation.
And more.

And suddenly, 
Work that took weeks,
Started finishing in hours.

Here’s how people are using AI as employees today:
→ ChatGPT as Chief Strategy Officer
→ Perplexity as Research Assistant
→ Claude as Writer
→ Canva as Designer
→ Zapier as Automation Engineer
→ Replit as Developer
→ HubSpot as Sales Manager
→ Beehiiv as Newsletter Manager
→ Taplio and Tweet Hunter as Ghostwriters
→ Gamma and VEED as Presentation and Video Experts

Most people fail with AI because they treat tools like toys.
High performers treat them like roles.

Do’s:
✅ Do assign one clear role per tool
✅ Do give examples and standards upfront
✅ Do review outputs like a manager
✅ Do combine tools into workflows
✅ Do keep humans in the decision loop

Don’ts:
❎ Don’t expect perfection on first output
❎ Don’t overload one tool with many roles
❎ Don’t skip context and instructions
❎ Don’t blindly trust outputs without review
❎ Don’t chase every new tool without a system

AI doesn’t replace teams.
It replaces friction.

If you want to know all the tools,
Check the infographic below 👇 

It visually maps how each AI fits into a real team.

If you like this and want to get free access to our complete ChatGPT at Work bundle guide, get it here: https://lnkd.in/e6yDSf4F 

What you think about building your own team of AI employees using powerful tools?
Comment below 👇

If you want to be ahead of everyone in 2026,

You need to build your team of AI employees.

I used to think scaling meant working more hours and doing everything myself.

But now I did something different.
I built an AI team.

Every AI tool acts as an employee.
One for marketing.
One for development.
One for design.
One for research.
One for automation.
And more.

And suddenly, 
Work that took weeks,
Started finishing in hours.

Here’s how people are using AI as employees today:
→ ChatGPT as Chief Strategy Officer
→ Perplexity as Research Assistant
→ Claude as Writer
→ Canva as Designer
→ Zapier as Automation Engineer
→ Replit as Developer
→ HubSpot as Sales Manager
→ Beehiiv as Newsletter Manager
→ Taplio and Tweet Hunter as Ghostwriters
→ Gamma and VEED as Presentation and Video Experts

Most people fail with AI because they treat tools like toys.
High performers treat them like roles.

Do’s:
✅ Do assign one clear role per tool
✅ Do give examples and standards upfront
✅ Do review out

Stop using ChatGPT for everything.

The smartest builders use specialised AI tools instead.

Because the right AI tool can save you hours every week.

I’ve noticed something interesting.

Everyone around me kept opening the same tab.

ChatGPT.

For:
Writing.
Research.
Presentations.
Data analysis.
Video ideas.
Coding.

Everything.

But the truth is simple:

ChatGPT is powerful.
But not always the best tool for every task.

The real advantage comes from using specialised AI tools built for specific workflows.

Once I started experimenting with alternatives, 
My productivity accelerated overnight.

Here are some powerful AI tools most people should be using alongside ChatGPT:

Research → SciSpace
Presentations → Gamma
Brainstorming → Claude
Learning → NotebookLM
Data analysis → Rows
Data visualization → Julius
Video generation → Freepik
Image generation → Higgsfield
Marketing copy → Writesonic
Scriptwriting → Sandcastles AI
Content creation → Veed
Development → Replit
Website development → Webflow
Customer support AI → Expertise AI
Deep research → Perplexity Deep Research
Meeting notes → Granola

Each tool is designed for a specific problem.
Which means better outputs and faster workflows.

Instead of forcing one AI to do everything:
✔ Use the best AI for the job
✔ Combine multiple AI tools
✔ Build faster workflows

And the results compound fast.

Do’s:
✔ Use specialized tools for specialized tasks
✔ Combine multiple AI tools in one workflow
✔ Verify important outputs with reliable sources
✔ Use AI to speed up thinking, not replace it
✔ Experiment with different tools regularly

Don’ts:
✖ Do not rely on a single AI tool for every task
✖ Do not skip fact-checking for research outputs
✖ Do not assume AI-generated data is always correct
✖ Do not ignore domain-specific AI tools
✖ Do not replace human judgement with AI

If you like this and want to get free access to our complete ChatGPT at Work bundle guide, get it here: https://lnkd.in/e6yDSf4F 

To see the full breakdown of tools,
Check the infographic below 👇 

And I am curious
Which other AI tool alternative do you think works better than ChatGPT for a specific task?
Drop it in the comments 👇

Stop using ChatGPT for everything.

The smartest builders use specialised AI tools instead.

Because the right AI tool can save you hours every week.

I’ve noticed something interesting.

Everyone around me kept opening the same tab.

ChatGPT.

For:
Writing.
Research.
Presentations.
Data analysis.
Video ideas.
Coding.

Everything.

But the truth is simple:

ChatGPT is powerful.
But not always the best tool for every task.

The real advantage comes from using specialised AI tools built for specific workflows.

Once I started experimenting with alternatives, 
My productivity accelerated overnight.

Here are some powerful AI tools most people should be using alongside ChatGPT:

Research → SciSpace
Presentations → Gamma
Brainstorming → Claude
Learning → NotebookLM
Data analysis → Rows
Data visualization → Julius
Video generation → Freepik
Image generation → Higgsfield
Marketing copy → Writesonic
Scriptwriting → Sandcastles AI
Content creation → Veed
Development → Replit
Website development

Quality of learning always beats quantity of content.

We live in a world where information is infinite.
But attention is not.

For a long time, I thought staying ahead meant consuming more.
More books. 
More newsletters. 
More podcasts. 
More tutorials.

It does not.
It means learning with intention.

Early on, books like Find Your Why shaped how I thought about purpose and direction. 
They gave me language for decisions I could already feel but could not yet explain.

Today, I still return to ideas like that.

Just differently.

I use Shortform.

Not to replace books.
But to understand them better.

Shortform creates book guides that go beyond summaries:

- Deep coverage of core ideas
- Smart analysis and connections across authors
- Interactive exercises that make ideas stick

It feels like your smartest friend walking you through a book.

Three categories I personally spend the most time on:

- Business and entrepreneurship
- Psychology and decision-making
- Communication and negotiation

Here are my favorite books I recommend to learn from:

1. Magic of Thinking Big.
You’ll learn
- Think bigger to unlock higher confidence, ambition, and results.
- Beliefs shape actions, and actions determine success.
- Positive thinking enables better decisions and consistent progress.

2. How to Win Friends and Influence People.
You’ll learn:
- Genuine interest in others builds trust and influence.
- Avoid criticism to maintain strong relationships.
- Make people feel valued to earn cooperation.

3. How to Get Rich
You’ll learn:
- Persistence matters more than talent or luck.
- Wealth comes from execution, not ideas alone.
- Long term success requires resilience and self belief.

The best part is:
On Shortform, I can combine learning from these best books.
To know what I should focus on in the long term.

That is where real leverage comes from.

Shortform also releases new book and article guides every week.
And I get to vote on what gets covered next.

And when I am reading blogs or watching long YouTube videos, 
Their browser extension, Shortform AI, 
Helps me generate high-quality summaries instantly. 
Just in one click.

The result is simple:
- I spend less time skimming.
- More time thinking.
- More time connecting ideas.
- More time building judgement.

Learning compounds when the input is high quality.

If your goal is not just to consume content, 
But to sharpen how you think, 
Shortform is worth exploring.

You do not need more information.
You need better understanding.

Try here: shortform.com/biddlecombe 

Get a free trial and $50 off the annual plan from my link. 

What do you think about learning this new way?
Comment below 👇 

#shortformpartner

Most people think they understand AI.

Until they realise they only recognise buzzwords.

I’ve curated the 40 important AI terms here to fix that gap.

A few months ago, I noticed something strange.

Smart professionals were using AI every day.
But struggling to explain it clearly.

They could say "LLM", "agents", or “hallucinations”.
But not understanding what those actually mean or why they matter.

That is the difference between using AI.
And thinking with AI.

So I broke it down here.

Why this matters more than people realise:
→ Clarity compounds faster than just using AI tools
→ Understanding beats memorising prompts
→ Vocabulary shapes how well you use AI

A few terms most people misuse daily:
• Bias → When training data tilts outputs
• Tokens → How models read and write text
• Inference → Using learned knowledge in real time
• Overfitting → When AI memorizes instead of generalizing
• Hallucinations → Confident answers without factual grounding

Do’s:
✅ Learn concepts before tools
✅ Connect terms to real workflows
✅ Understand limits, not just capabilities
✅ Revisit fundamentals regularly
✅ Explain ideas in your own words

Don’ts:
❎ Chasing tools without understanding basics
❎ Confusing AGI with current LLMs
❎ Ignoring training and data quality
❎ Treating prompts as everything
❎ Assuming AI is always correct

If you want leverage from AI,
You must speak its language first.

To get a quick scan of all 40 AI terms,
Check the infographic below 👇

Learn AI for free: https://lnkd.in/euYZeAdb 

How much time do you invest in learning AI every day?
Comment below 👇

Most people think they understand AI.

Until they realise they only recognise buzzwords.

I’ve curated the 40 important AI terms here to fix that gap.

A few months ago, I noticed something strange.

Smart professionals were using AI every day.
But struggling to explain it clearly.

They could say "LLM", "agents", or “hallucinations”.
But not understanding what those actually mean or why they matter.

That is the difference between using AI.
And thinking with AI.

So I broke it down here.

Why this matters more than people realise:
→ Clarity compounds faster than just using AI tools
→ Understanding beats memorising prompts
→ Vocabulary shapes how well you use AI

A few terms most people misuse daily:
• Bias → When training data tilts outputs
• Tokens → How models read and write text
• Inference → Using learned knowledge in real time
• Overfitting → When AI memorizes instead of generalizing
• Hallucinations → Confident answers without factual grounding

Do’s:
✅ Learn concepts before too

I’ve seen people waste months jumping between random AI hacks.

So I’ve created this one all-in-one AI cheat sheet for you.

To help you master everything important in one go.

Let me be brutally honest.

While you were writing one-line prompts, 
AI pros were using the RTCROS framework to get better results.

While you were guessing prompts, 
They were using chain-of-thought prompting to make AI think step by step.

While you were struggling with manual work, 
They were automating entire workflows with tools you've never even heard of.

Here's what the best AI users know that you don't:

Prompting tips to get 10x better outputs:
→ Zero-Shot gets instant results with no examples
→ Few-Shot guides AI with just 2-3 samples
→ Chain-of-Thought makes AI show its reasoning
→ Persona-Based makes AI adopt expert roles
→ Iterative Refinement keeps making outputs sharper

Tools they're using daily:
✅ Google Nano Banana Pro for stunning visuals in seconds
✅ Cursor for writing code 
✅ Zapier for automating tasks while they sleep
✅ Consensus for research that used to take weeks
✅ Gamma for presentations that look professionally designed

The AI models dominating right now:
→ ChatGPT-5.2 for adaptive multimodal thinking
→ Claude Opus 4.6 for deep reasoning and complex tasks
→ Grok 4.2 for live data and stronger creativity
→ Gemini 3.1 Pro for long-context multi-step workflows
→ Kimi K2 Thinking for hard analytical problems

Some business use cases where AI helps:
→ Digital operations getting fully automated
→ Lead generation running on autopilot
→ Sales cycles being cut in half
→ Marketing campaigns launching without agencies
→ Finance management handled without analysts

The crazy part?
All of this is learnable. 
Right now. 
For free.

The gap between people who invest in learning AI daily and those who don't is growing.

In the next 12 months, 
The professionals who mastered AI prompting, tools, and workflows will be untouchable in their careers.

The ones who didn't will be wondering what happened.
Actually using it every day is where winners are made.

Learn AI for free: https://lnkd.in/euYZeAdb 

How much time per day do you invest in learning AI? 
Be honest, and comment below 👇

I’ve seen people waste months jumping between random AI hacks.

So I’ve created this one all-in-one AI cheat sheet for you.

To help you master everything important in one go.

Let me be brutally honest.

While you were writing one-line prompts, 
AI pros were using the RTCROS framework to get better results.

While you were guessing prompts, 
They were using chain-of-thought prompting to make AI think step by step.


While you were struggling with manual work, 
They were automating entire workflows with tools you've never even heard of.

Here's what the best AI users know that you don't:

Prompting tips to get 10x better outputs:

→ Zero-Shot gets instant results with no examples
→ Few-Shot guides AI with just 2-3 samples
→ Chain-of-Thought makes AI show its reasoning
→ Persona-Based makes AI adopt expert roles
→ Iterative Refinement keeps making outputs sharper

Tools they're using daily:
✅ Google Nano Banana Pro for stunning visuals in seconds
✅ Cursor for writing code 
✅ Zapier for 

Drowning in huge PDFs?

You don’t need more coffee.
You need AI assistance.

Here’s how to use AI for document analysis.

1. Go to ChatGPT
2. Click the ‘+’ icon
3. Add your document
4. Write your prompt
5. Get document analysis done
6. Follow up if you need more insights

Pros:
- Ultra-fast summarisation of long texts.
- Good at extracting key entities, relationships, and topics.
- Can handle multiple formats (text, tables) if converted appropriately.
- Provides a “first-pass” analysis so you don’t start from blank.
- Repeatable and consistent (for the same prompt & input).

Cons:
- May (rarely) hallucinate or invent details that aren’t in the document.
- Doesn’t always catch domain-specific nuance or technical subtleties.
- Performance degrades on very long documents (context window limits).
- No guarantee of source attribution or traceability.
- Biases in training data may skew interpretation.

Do’s
✅ Always give context or purpose before asking for analysis.
✅ Break large docs into smaller chunks for processing.
✅ Ask for both summary and insights/implications.
✅ Request sources or cite-backs for key claims.
✅ Iterate (ask follow-up clarifications) instead of expecting perfection on the first prompt.

Don'ts
❎ Don’t dump an enormous document in one go without context.
❎ Don’t trust the output blindly; always verify critical facts.
❎ Don’t ask vague prompts like “analyse this” without direction.
❎ Don’t ignore structure (tables, figures, sections); treat them explicitly.
❎ Don’t overload with too many goals in one prompt (summary + critique + rewrite + translate all at once).

To get a more detailed explanation,
Check the carousel below 👇 

What do you think of using AI for document analysis?
Comment below 👇 

Learn AI for FREE: https://lnkd.in/eAAacxSK  

♻️ Share this to help your network use AI for document analysis

How To Do Document Analysis For Free With ChatGPT

Nathan Hirsch

5k to $12M ARR in 4 yrs (w/ Exit) 🔥 Scaling my 4+ B2B companies in the same way 🚀 Daily advice for entrepreneurs.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve built five businesses to 6, 7, and even 8 figures in annual revenue.  Now I buy businesses

In 2019, I exited one of them — FreeeUp — after scaling it from a $5K investment to $12M+ in ARR in just four years. It was acquired by The HOTH, and that journey changed everything for me.

Unique About the FreeeUp sale:
- No office
- No Us Employees
- Bootstrapped (No outside funding)
- Zero Money spent on Paid ads
- An internal team of 30+ All-Star Virtual Assistants from PH

These days, I’m focused on growing Hirsch Gillivan LLC — the holding company Connor Gillivan and I started. We're building a portfolio of 5-star businesses, each run by amazing operators who truly care about our clients. It’s been a blast supporting great people, growing cool companies, and enjoying life after our first exit.

Here are a few we own:

→ EcomBalance: Monthly bookkeeping for eCommerce sellers
→ AccountsBalance: Monthly bookkeeping for agencies, SAAS, and b2b businesses
→ TrioSEO: Helping SaaS and B2B brands drive high-intent organic traffic and revenue growth
→ HG Media: Growing Connor and my brand online + helping sponsors reach our audience
→ CFO Expertise: Reach financial clarity, optimize growth, and scale profits with an Ecommerce CFO that’s seen it all. Built for brands on Shopify & Amazon.

I’ve had the chance to be a guest on 900+ podcasts over the years — including shows like Perpetual Traffic, Mixergy, BiggerPockets, and Leveling Up.

Outside of building businesses, I'm a proud dad to Carter and husband to Quynh. I get in a daily hour of HIIT, run marathons, and play way too much softball. Always learning, always investing — whether it’s stocks, real estate, or new business ideas.

Want to learn more? Check out NathanHirsch.com, follow me here on LinkedIn or subscribe to https://nathanhirsch.com/newsletter for daily tips on entrepreneurship and growth.

For LinkedIn Sponsorship queries, please reach out to me at media@hirschgillivan.com

Co-Founder

🔥🔥Big News 🔥🔥

Really Excited to launch our new venture TrioSEO October 17th

TrioSEO(dot)com

For years we have ben putting out high quality blog SEO optimized articles for our different businesses leading to highly ranked websites

After years of getting asked if we can offer this for other businesses we now will be

Here's how it will work 👇

1. SEO Audit
We'll conduct a free audit on your site, share results, and let you know if we think its a good fit to work together. 

2. Keyword Research & Planning
We'll get to work finding the best possible keywords for you to be targeting where you have a good chance of driving traffic and leads. We'll put together a full strategy that we'll present to you.

3. Content Creation & Optimization
We'll start creating content for your site. We'll publish it directly on your site as we finish it. If there's pages or articles you already have that we think could move up in search rankings, we'll propose those as well and improve them.

4. Analytics & Reporting
We'll provide you with a monthtly report showing all key SEO data so you can track progress and stay involved in the process.

Interested in being one of our first clients (we have already landed a few)?  Lets chat

There’s a difference people like to confuse.

Hard is effort.
Hard is learning.
Hard is staying present when things are uncomfortable.

Disrespect is something else.

Disrespect is a signal.
It shows how power is exercised.
How conflict is handled.
How much of yourself you’re expected to compress to stay.

Staying through difficulty can be resilience.
Staying through disrespect is usually conditioning.

This isn’t quitting.
It’s pattern recognition.

Boundaries aren’t about avoiding hard things.
They’re about refusing environments where erosion is normalised.

Know the difference.

Image credit: Dearme2_ on Twitter/X

Shoutout to Chase Dimond for this awesome post!

Building A 10-Business Portfolio (5 Down, 5 To Go) | FreeUp Founder (Exited 2019) | Family First, No Work Travel

Everyone says they want top talent around them. 

Until top talent disagrees.
Moves fast.
Challenges weak thinking.
And sees things they don’t.

That’s when insecurity gets exposed.

Because working with people smarter than you sounds good in theory.

But in practice, it demands humility.

Real leaders don’t hire to protect their ego.
They hire to raise the standard.

They know that being the most capable person in every conversation is not a flex.

It’s a bottleneck.

A few truths about building around smart people:

1 • It makes your blind spots obvious.
↳ And that’s a gift, because what you can’t see is usually what slows you down most.

2 • It forces you to lead, not control.
↳ You stop trying to have all the answers and start creating space for better ones.

3 • It sharpens your thinking.
↳ Strong people challenge weak ideas fast, which makes the work better.

4 • It multiplies your output.
↳ One great mind adds value. A team of great minds compounds it.

5 • It requires security.
↳ If someone else’s brilliance feels like a threat, the issue is not them. It’s ego.

Having access to people smarter than you is a blessing.

Because proximity changes you.

It makes you think bigger.
Move better.
And grow faster than you would on your own.

The goal was never to be the smartest person in the room.

The goal was to build a room that makes everyone smarter.

Repost ♻ to educate your network.
And follow me Nathan Hirsch and Tom Pestridge for more posts like this.

Credit: Igor Buinevici

Most founders think storytelling is for marketers.

It is not.

Storytelling is how you get people to care.

Care is how you get people to act.

A great story does three things:

It builds connection.
It inspires action.
It makes your message memorable.

If you want to get better at it, keep it simple.

Start by knowing who you are talking to.

Then open with a hook that creates curiosity.

Then build emotional depth with one real detail.

Then follow a clear arc.

Beginning, middle, end.

And do not overcomplicate it.

The best business stories are not polished.

They are specific.

A customer moment.
A hard lesson.
A mistake you fixed.
A decision you almost avoided.

That is what people remember.

Quick checklist I use:

1/ One main message only
2/ One character the reader can relate to
3/ One conflict that creates tension
4/ One takeaway that changes how they think

Edit ruthlessly until it is clean

If you are building a business, you are sitting on stories already.

You just need to start telling them.

What is one business story you have not shared yet, but should?

♻️ Repost this if you want more founders to write with clarity

P.S. I share my business stories weekly in my newsletter (link in comments).

Most new managers fail for one reason 

they keep thinking like employees.

They focus on doing, not enabling.

On tasks, not systems.

On effort, not outcomes.

The best managers don’t work harder.

They think differently.

Here are 10 frameworks that’ll help you think like a manager:

1️⃣ The 80/20 Rule

→ Focus on the 20% that drives 80% of results.
→ Identify high-leverage tasks and delegate the rest.

2️⃣ The Leverage Lens

→ Ask: “Can this scale without me?”
→ Build systems, templates, and people that replace repetition.

3️⃣ The Decision Filter

→ Reversible: decide fast.
→ Irreversible: think deeply.
→ Delegatable: empower your team.

4️⃣ The Clarity Triangle

→ Every project needs clear ownership, goals, and timelines.
→ Ambiguity kills accountability.

5️⃣ The Feedback Loop

→ Give → Act → Review → Adjust → Repeat.
→ Great managers close loops, not just start them.

6️⃣ The Trust Battery

→ Every action either charges or drains trust.
→ Protect credibility like it’s your currency.

7️⃣ The Zoom-Out Principle

→ Don’t react — step back first.
→ Fix patterns, not moments.

8️⃣ The Outcome Mindset

→ Stop asking “What do I need to do?”
→ Start asking “What outcome do we need?”

9️⃣ The Coaching Model

→ Ask before advising.
→ Build thinkers, not task-doers.

🔟 The One-Level-Up Test

→ Before deciding, ask: “How would my leader think?”
→ Elevate from doing to designing.

Managers don’t just move work forward 

they move people forward.

Save this for your next leadership leap.

♻️ Repost if you’re building better managers.

Zapier just released 75+ free AI Agents.

These are the 20 best ones for automating your business

I've spent years hiring people and writing SOPs to handle this kind of work. 

It works. But it takes time to build.

That's where AI agents are starting to change things.

Zapier Copilot is where this clicks for me. Here's why:

1. Pick a template that matches a recurring task in your business.
2. Open Copilot and tell it what to change in plain English. 
3. Deploy it and move on to the work that actually needs you.

It removes the technical barrier entirely. 

Start with your own AI Agent here: https://bit.ly/4040l9v

Here are my top 20 picks (links below):

➤ AI Agents for Email & Delegation

1/ Inbox Categorizer 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gy-_kaX6

2/ Inbox Summarizer 
➥ https://lnkd.in/g_rEJC6e

3/ Gmail Auto-Replier 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gYmRFSkW

4/ Email Reply Drafts Agent
➥ https://lnkd.in/g9nq2qB3

5/ Call Follow-Up Email Assistant 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gjzBaKxx

➤ AI Agents for Sales & Leads Management

6/ ABM Email Personalizer 
➥ https://lnkd.in/g6mkm5bE 

7/ Lead Capture & Follow-Up 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gxJsutJC 

8/ Lead Enrichment Agent 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gPGVzt_e 

9/ Lead Background Research 
➥ https://lnkd.in/g6Tnyj_q 

10/ Biz Dev Call Briefer 
➥ https://lnkd.in/g5xi8dHr

➤ AI Agents for Content & SEO 

11/ SEO Analysis Agent 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gHRjFQNr 

12/ SEO Optimized Article Generator  
➥ https://lnkd.in/ggzs-Jpg 

13/ Industry Newsletter Generator 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gwrANp8n 

14/ Brand Voice Analyzer 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gM8xudnG 

15/ LinkedIn Post Scheduler 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gEdpANVK

➤ Operations & Hiring 

16/ New Expense Classifier 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gd7hB4_e 

17/ Daily Expense Summary Email 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gdmcu_6i 

18/ Candidate Ranking System 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gSSS_jXG 

19/ Resume Screening Agent 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gV-QNiQu 

20. Enterprise Lead Qualifier 
➥ https://lnkd.in/gZjrpUAs

The best systems aren't the ones you build from scratch. 

They're the ones you deploy fast, hand off, and never think about again.

♻️ Repost for founders still buried in busywork.

#ZapierPartner #sponsored

Brand partnership • Building A 10-Business Portfolio (5 Down, 5 To Go) | FreeUp Founder (Exited 2019) | Family First, No Work Travel

Most people confuse authority with loudness.

That is just ego with a microphone.

Real authority is quieter.

It shows up in how you decide, how you communicate, and how you hold standards.

The best leaders I have worked with did not try to look important.

They tried to be useful.

Here is how you build authority without ego.

9 ways to build authority without ego

1. Be consistent
→ Do what you say you will do
→ Let patterns earn trust
    
2. Make decisions calmly
→ Remove emotion from the process
→ Explain the reasoning, not the drama
    
3. Hold standards without attacking people
→ Separate behavior from identity
→ Correct early, not harshly
    
4. Ask better questions than you answer
→ Get to root causes fast
→ Help others think clearly
    
5. Be the most prepared person in the room
→ Bring context and options
→ Respect time with clarity
    
6. Give credit quickly
→ Share wins without hesitation
→ Make others feel seen
    
7. Admit mistakes fast
→ Own the miss without excuses
→ Fix it and move forward
    
8. Teach systems, not superiority
→ Document how decisions get made
→ Make knowledge transferable
    
9. Stay close to the work
→ Understand reality, not politics
→ Lead from truth, not titles    

Authority that needs to announce itself is fragile.

Authority that is earned is hard to shake.

Which one are you focusing on this year?

♻️ Repost this if you believe respect is built through behavior

P.S. I share calm, systems-first leadership like this weekly here: nathanhirsch(.)com/newsletter

11 red flags you're not leadership material.  

(Number 7 hurts the most).  

True leaders are made, not born.  

Bad habits destroy team potential.

You might be the problem.

Confront these signs now.

Your team's success depends on you.

Their growth reflects your leadership.

Here's a candid mirror for aspiring leaders:

1. You avoid accountability  
→ You shift blame to others  
→ Fix: Own mistakes publicly and fix them  

2. You micromanage
→ You obsess over minor tasks  
→ Fix: Delegate outcomes, not processes  

3. You can't listen
→ You interrupt and dismiss ideas  
→ Fix: Practice listening first, speaking last  

4. You play favorites 
→ You reward loyalty over merit  
→ Fix: Use objective criteria for rewards  

5. You prioritize tasks over people
→ You treat employees as tools  
→ Fix: Schedule weekly 1:1s for their goals  

6. You lack empathy  
→ You dismiss emotions as weakness  
→ Fix: Ask "How are you really doing?"  

7. You're indecisive  
→ You delay decisions to avoid risk  
→ Fix: Set deadlines for all choices  

8. You can't inspire 
→ You frame work as a grind  
→ Fix: Connect tasks to a larger purpose  

9. You fear developing others  
→ You block growth opportunities  
→ Fix: Mentor openly and build plans  

10. You're emotionally volatile  
→ You snap under pressure  
→ Fix: Pause before reacting to stress  

11. You prioritize self-preservation 
→ You protect your reputation first  
→ Fix: Advocate for your team publicly  

---  
 
Leadership is a skill, not a title.

Build your team up with you.

Start with one fix this week.

Watch morale and productivity rise.

The best leaders are always learning.

Your team deserves your best self.

Commit to growing every day.

♻️ Repost this and help others.

P.S. Follow me at Nathan Hirsch for more such posts.

11 Signs You Are Not Leadership Material.pdf

Most cold email problems aren’t copy problems.

They’re deliverability problems.

If you’re landing in spam,

Your offer doesn’t matter.
Your subject line doesn’t matter.
Your follow-up doesn’t matter.

So I like to keep it simple.

Before you scale outbound, run a deliverability system.

Warmy helps you do that.

It’s built to improve inbox placement through:

Warm-up 
Authentication checks
Engagement simulation
Deliverability monitoring

Here’s the exact checklist I’d run:

1. Start with inbox placement data
→ you need a baseline before changing anything
→ measure inbox vs spam across providers

2. Validate authentication
→ SPF, DKIM, DMARC should all be green
→ fix this before sending volume

3. Track deliverability trends
→ monitor changes over time, not just one test
→ consistency matters more than spikes

4. Review provider-level proof
→ Yahoo and Outlook behave differently
→ confirm you’re landing where you think you are

This is what sustainable outbound looks like.

Less guessing.
More control.

You can try Warmy without a credit card here: https://lnkd.in/gvE2d75G

♻️ Repost this if you want systems, not duct tape.

P.S. What provider gives you the most trouble right now?

taplio

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taplio

The Battle

Adam Biddlecombe

Nathan Hirsch

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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);}Adam Biddlecombe's LinkedIn Performance

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