Ed Latimore is a writer with over 10 years of experience in creating engaging and insightful content for various platforms and audiences. He has a B.A. in Physics from Duquesne University, a MOS certification as a Land Combat Electrical Missile Systems Repairer, and a Secret Clearance issued by the US Army.

As a self-employed writer, Ed shares his unique perspective and wisdom from his diverse background as a former heavyweight professional boxer, a veteran of the United States Army National Guard, and a physics graduate. He teaches the lessons he has learned through his blog, his newsletter, and his Twitter account, reaching millions of people who benefit from his advice and stories. Ed's mission is to help others overcome their challenges, improve their lives, and achieve their goals.

Ed Latimore

Don't let stupid people gaslight you into thinking you're the dumb one.

Professional boxer (14-1-1) | Stuck at 1800-ish chess rating | Keynote Speaker | Author of “Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life

"Saying 'my bad' went a long way in keeping an accidental brush on a crowded bus from turning into an all-out brawl.

Even if the other person was wrong, swallowing my pride prevented countless unnecessary fights that could have ended badly.

People respond better to humility and respect, even amid chaos. Good manners and emotional control never make a situation worse.

Staying disciplined with my emotions granted me inner resilience and social capital that have paid dividends throughout my life."

From my book Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life—>https://amzn.to/45Prvnx

Sometimes the best way to help someone is not only let them fail but also to offer no assistance in their recovery.

Compassion has robbed many people of valuable lessons that can only be learned the hard way.

And when that happens, it's not a matter of if, but when they will make the same mistake. And you may not be able to help them, but now they're in a genuinely bad spot.

Much worse than if they hadn't been robbed of the opportunity to learn the first time.

I took all the SEO skills I've gained over the past 13 years and started working in a retainer/freelancer role at a startup.

Here is the week-to-week progress of the organic traffic from their analytics.

I'm happy, and this week is already on pace to be a bit higher than last week.

"You can waste a lot of time and energy trying to change things that aren’t yours to change, no matter how much you work at it. 

While you’re engaged in those pointless battles, you’re depleting resources that could impact those aspects of your life that would yield to your efforts if you could only see them."

From my book "Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life"–>https://amzn.to/3LVfkyV

In 2011, I had a fight that changed my life and saved me from being homeless in 2 weeks.

It was an amateur fight, so I didn't get paid for it either. But I was hurting for cash and 2 weeks away from my apartment lease being up.

The fight was against Dominic Breazeale in the 2011 National Golden Glove tournament. I won a decision and impressed his sponsors so much that they recruited me.

I couldn't control who I drew in the pairings. I could only control how I trained and how I fought, despite the distraction.

Learn more about the fight and what came of it in Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life–>amzn.to/4pRCBQi

"Among the many reasons to be kind to people is that you never know when you’ll need to rely on the kindness of others.

This doesn’t mean you’re only helpful because you expect others to help you. That approach will set you up for bitterness and disappointment.

Karma is a sloppy art that doesn’t always get it right, but you gain nothing by not helping when it would be easy for you.

You should be kind because it genuinely makes you feel better and makes the world a better place to live.

However, when karma does occasionally get things right, and you desperately need assistance, it’s amazing how it can turn a bad situation into something good or take a good situation and make it something great."

From Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life

https://amzn.to/4qBcUnS

Teaching my son how to read has taught me an important distinction between the childish and mature mind.

When he isn't in the mood, no bribe works. He just won't focus.

But when he wants to, I can't get him to stop.

Kids rely on motivation.
Adults thrive on discipline.

The opposite of love is not hate.

It's indifference.

And it's only in rhat indifference that freedom to choose exist.

"And of course you can't become
If you only say
What you woulda done"

The best way to keep from falling off the edge is to stay as far away from it as possible.

Unfortunately, this is also the best way to lose it.

Crackheads are a relatively peaceful bunch, unless there's a full moon and they haven't fed in 72+ hours.

Learn more about crackheads and my experiences with them in Hard Lessons From The Hurt Business: Boxing And The Art of Life–>amzn.to/45LXiWy

The biggest lesson from 2025 that is already paying dividends in 2026:

You win creative work when you figure out your *own* personal, repeatable, profitable process.

You can't buy someone else's tactics, and you can't copy their strategy.

By all means, learn from it, take what works, and discard the rest...

But your biggest wins will come when you build what works for *you* and ONLY you.

Because in creative work, the process is simultaneously separate AND indistinguishable from the outcome.

Looking at what AI has become—along with the rest of the internet, in general—I have a serious question.

Well, two, actually:

1) How long before colleges actually collapse? I have said several times that I can't see the university system failing, but something will have to give for 95% of majors.

The cost to reward ratio is already lop-sided, and it's only going to get worse.

2) How long before compulsory schooling is just not a thing? This one might take a little longer, since school functions as de facto, state-funded childcare.

But, at the very least, the old models of teaching and assessing skills are dead men walking.

Which also means that in about 20 years, people are almost certainly going to be living in an Idiocracy.

If you think critical thinking is bad now, wait until the first group of job seekers who were raised on AI "graduate."

AI writing is how I really learned what "voice" is.

Because AI all sounds the same.

The structure is so predictable and the lack of creativity so obvious that it's painful to read—even if it's free of errors.

You don't make your writing seem human by adding mistakes. That's stupid.

You do it by being unpredictable, asymmetrical, and making references that are personal yet presented universally

You make new connections between ideas that people haven't heard before.

In other words, stop being lazy, learn something, and— just for flavor—maybe stop watching or reading anything created after the year 2010 for a while.

It's easy to have faith in the future when you take responsibility for the present and learn from the past.

Many times, the best way to help someone is to force them to do what they don’t want to do and tell them what they don’t want to hear.

I learn just as much by the end of a debate as I thought I knew at the start of it.

Experiences gives you stories to tell.

Craft gives you the ability to tell them.

"Alonso Quixano’s goal of helping people is a noble one but his method is all too common among people who are trying to be good:

They do easy things that they think should help rather than hard things that actually will help.

What this amounts to is that they want to be good on their own terms. 

But being good is something that we cannot do on our own terms, because being good means conforming ourselves to reality."

https://
https://lnkd.in/eRXayrh2
-quixote-easy-virtue/

Rob Dance

CEO & Founder of ROCK.

I started my business with just £1,000
 
(I bought a cheap van, a laptop, and a desk)
 
Today, we operate internationally
Today, we hire over 100 of the brightest minds
Today, we're an 8-figure business, on our way to 9
Today, we're launching several new start ups
Today, I work with some of the most gifted people in the world
 
But what you don't know is:
 
20 years ago, I failed my exams and dropped out of school
17 years ago, I really struggled to write a full sentence
15 years ago, I was too scared to make phone calls

So now I'm sharing my journey with you.
Daily insights to help anyone.
Let's goooooooo 🚀

CEO & Founder

After 15 years of growing my business, I realised something FUNDAMENTAL was missing.

Our unique culture and innovative ways of managing our people has always been a TOP priority for me.

So much so, I have never found the perfect software platform to manage our people operations and help my team remove the day-to-day noise so they can focus on our mission.

Then, one day, it struck me: I NEED to create this myself to help other businesses!!

And so, Ware was born.

Launching in 2025, Ware promises to transform how you build your culture and genuinely empower your team.

Ware. Everything is.

I used to think people left jobs for more money

(I was wrong)

They’re not chasing bigger paychecks.
They’re chasing peace of mind.

They leave when:

- Effort is never enough.
- Silence feels safer than honesty.
- Burnout is expected and vulnerability is a liability.

So here’s a reminder from Dan:
Retention starts with culture.

If you want to retain your best people?

Start with respect.

That means:

→ Managers who support, not shame
→ A culture where it’s safe to be honest
→ Teams that value rest as much as results

The paycheck is important, sure.
But it’s not the reason they stay.

Do you agree?

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I used to think people left for better pay.

Now I know, they leave for peace of mind and basic respect.

Dan Murray and Rob Dance

If the leaders in the room aren’t saying your name when opportunities come up…

You might be in the wrong room.

Connections open doors.

But loyalty?

That’s what keeps you in the conversation when you're not there.

You want leaders who back you without needing a reminder.

The kind who:

→ Recommend you without hesitation 
→ Speak highly of you when you’re not around 
→ Say your name in rooms you haven’t entered yet

That kind of support is rare.

And you won’t notice it’s missing - until it matters most.

So, pay attention.

Watch who speaks up. 
Watch who stays quiet.

Silence from the top says more than applause from the crowd.

Do you agree?

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Career growth isn’t just about learning new things.

It’s about letting go of:

- Old habits
- Old beliefs
- Old ways of doing things that once kept you safe

And that part hurts.

Especially when it’s something you’ve carried for years.

Something that used to work.
Something that once made you feel competent or in control.

But here’s the shift:

Growth happens when you're willing to unlearn.

When you’re brave enough to admit, this doesn’t serve me anymore.

And then? You relearn.

→ With humility
→ With curiosity
→ With discomfort

That’s the real work.

That’s what separates the adaptable from the stuck.

Do you agree?

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Everyone talks about wanting to grow.

But setting resolutions and hoping for the best?

That won’t get you there.

Because when life pushes back, most people fold.

So think about it this way:

You said this time would be different. 
Now life’s testing whether you meant it.

That resistance? 
That discomfort you’re feeling? 
That stretch beyond what’s familiar?

That’s what growth actually looks like.

It’s not meant to be easy. 
It’s meant to break patterns.

Because real growth demands:

→ Grit 
→ Accountability 
→ Uncomfortable truth

There’s no room for excuses.

So if it’s hard right now, that’s a sign.

You’re moving. You’re changing.

You’re growing.

Do you agree?

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I’ve hired hundreds of people

And here’s the truth:

Your CV gets you through the door.

But it’s how you show up every day that keeps you there.

As Eric Partaker said, it’s not about:

- Fancy titles
- Certifications
- Qualifications

It’s about:

1) How you handle the tough days.
2) How you react to unexpected setbacks.
3) How you stay composed under pressure.
4) How you adapt when the plan changes last minute.
5) How you keep pushing forward when motivation runs thin.
6) How you support your teammates when they’re struggling.
7) How you take ownership of mistakes without pointing fingers.

That’s what sticks.
That’s what people remember.

So be the person who makes things easier, not harder.

Do you agree?

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Your greatest skill isn’t on your CV. It's in how you show up every day.

Be the person who makes things easier, not harder. Rob Dance and Eric Partaker.

We all say we’re too busy.

But the truth is…

Most of us just aren’t prioritising what matters.

If you took an honest look at your day last year, you’d probably find:

→ Endless scrolling 
→ Mindless procrastination 
→ Tasks that lead nowhere

The problem isn’t time.

It’s focus.

Growth doesn’t wait for perfect conditions.

It happens when you show up…

- Consistently
- Deliberately

Even when it’s inconvenient.

You do have the time.

You just have to take it back from the things stealing it.

Do you agree?

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No one is too busy. It's just a matter of priorities. Rob Dance.

Here’s a simple rule I live by:

If it doesn’t help you grow or feel good?

It’s not worth your time.

You don’t owe your energy to anything that drains you.

That’s not harsh.
That’s clarity.

Whether it’s:

→ A job 
→ A relationship 
→ A routine that no longer fits

You’re allowed to walk away from anything that holds you back.

Because protecting your peace isn’t a luxury.
It’s a necessity.

A quiet kind of strength that often goes unseen.

So if it’s not helping you move forward, ask yourself:

Why are you still holding on?

Do you agree?

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If it doesn't being peace, progress or purpose then don't give it your time energy, or attention. Rob Dance.

Let’s be honest…

People at work will always have opinions.

– Some will question your choices. 
– Some will critique your performance. 
– Some will try to box you into a role you’ve outgrown.

But here’s the truth:

Their opinions don’t decide your value.

They never did. 
They never will.

Your competence, your potential, your worth - not up for debate.

So stop shrinking to fit someone else’s version of “professional.”

You set the standard. 
You define the path.

Not them.

Do you agree?

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Your worth is not determined by anyone else's opinion. Rob Dance

Letting go isn’t failure.

It’s clarity.

You can care about the mission.

- The people
- The bigger purpose

But when the culture stops caring back?

You’re in a battle you can’t win.

You can’t outwork a system that refuses to change.

Not if leadership won’t listen. 
Not if the values on the wall mean nothing in practice.

Eventually, you realise:

→ Your time matters 
→ Your energy is limited 
→ Your passion deserves better

Leaving isn’t giving up.

It’s recognising what no longer deserves you.

Do you agree?

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Sometimes you have to let go of the role. 

Not because you don't care, but because they don't. 

Rob Dance.

If peace only comes when work is perfect…

→ Your manager's happy
→ Projects go smoothly 
→ Your inbox is quiet

That’s not peace. 
That’s control.

And control never lasts.

Real growth?

It happens when you stay grounded while everything at work is in flux.

Because the truth is:

→ Deadlines shift 
→ Teams change 
→ Plans fall apart

So if you're waiting for calm to feel calm, you’ll be waiting a while.

The real challenge?

Staying grounded when nothing’s going to plan. 
That’s where growth happens.

Because peace isn’t about having a perfect week.

It’s about holding your centre when everything’s uncertain.

Do you agree?

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If your peace depends on everything going right, it's not peace, it's control. Learn to be steady in uncertainty. That's real growth. 

Rob Dance

Biggest lesson of my career?

Stop giving more than you’re getting…

Especially when people show you that they won't return the same energy.

I learnt this the hard way:

- Burnout
- Being overlooked
- Constant overthinking

But they were there, right from the start.

I just didn’t want to believe them.

So if you’re stepping into a new space, pay attention to the red flags:

1) Overwork with no recognition
2) No room for questions or feedback
3) More competition than collaboration
4) Leaders who preach empathy but don’t live it

Trust your gut.

It will protect you peace more than anything else.

Do you agree?

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Books teach you a lot.

But people?

They teach you how to lead.

→ The calm one when everything fell apart
→ The honest one when no one else would be
→ The one who made you feel like you mattered

They didn’t quote theory.
They just acted.

And that’s what stuck.

Because real leadership isn’t found in pages.

It’s found in people.

Empathy
Honesty
Presence

You learn that by watching, listening, and feeling.

So if you want to lead better?

Pay attention.

The best lessons are walking past you every day.

Do you agree?

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Fear isn’t about something being impossible…

(Despite what you may think)

It’s about stepping into the unknown.

- No clear map.
- No guarantees.

Just unfamiliar ground.

That’s uncomfortable.

But it’s not a sign you can’t do it.

Because fear doesn’t mean failure. 
It means growth is on the table.

That nervous energy?

It’s not a warning. 
It’s proof you care.

You don’t need to be 100% ready.

You just need to take the step.

Do you agree?

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It's scary because it's new, not because you're incapable. - Rob Dance

The old advice?

– Do more
– Hustle harder
– Say yes to everything

But that mindset?
It’s a fast track to burnout.

Because more isn’t always the answer.

Sometimes, it’s the problem.

So instead of another to-do list, try a stop doing list.

Ask:

→ What’s draining energy I don’t have?
→ What doesn’t align with who I’m becoming?
→ What am I only doing out of habit, guilt, or fear?

Protecting boundaries starts there.

With honest answers.
And hard cuts.

Because clarity doesn’t come from cramming in more.

It comes from clearing space.

Do you agree?

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Rob Dance

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The Battle

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Rob Dance

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

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