Joe Patchell

Curated Marketer

Founder, Writer

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Currently building curatedmarketer.com to 10K newsletter subscribers.

Writer

Building my personal brand before I need it.

Smriti Maan

“LinkedIn writing isn’t as glamorous as it looks.”

(Coming from someone who’s never written online before)

It’s not just about:

- Writing a post and hitting publish
- Replying to a few comments
- Optimizing your profile

Please don’t stay trapped in that blurry little cage.

Because here’s what it looks like for real:

1. Spend time finding inspiration for an idea
2. Note your own ideas that come to mind
3. Spend time learning from others daily
4. Extract mini-stories from your life 
5. Make a habit of sending DMs. 
6. Raise the bar with every post
7. Block time for commenting 
8. Consume to create daily
9. Tons of experimentation
10. Messy, but fun too
11. Networking calls

And honestly?

Sometimes my career break feels like...
I’ve been doing a part-time job for the past 100+ days. 😂

So if you've just started writing online, this will happen.
But make sure... Don't quit until you make it.

Because you'll like it at the end.

I've written this post, so I won't quit either.

P.S. If not LinkedIn, where do you like to write?

I got hired by Charlie Hills during my "career break"

He didn't ask for a "CV"
He didn't ask for a "cover letter"
He didn't ask for a "fancy experience"

Because I’m doing 1 (single) thing in public:
I started writing on LinkedIn before I needed it.

It sounds sexy, but for a lil 2024 backstory...

I started posting, but I felt weird and quit. 
I had a "silent" presence on LinkedIn.
I was using it just to send CVs

But in Feb 2025, I decided to try it again...

1. I practice writing every single day. 
2. I network without desperation.
3. I show up from the trenches.
4. I try to raise the bar weekly.
6. I stack skills, not resumes
5. I hack my mini stories
7. I stack confidence

That's how I improve → grow → got hired

My first 90 days were horrible AF
But my current 90 days are fun AF

If you're also fed up with no progress:

Quit relying on resumes - stack 1 skill publicly
Learn how to write on LinkedIn every day
Grow your network without desperation

100+ days of LinkedIn writing → build your skills/yourself

Write on LinkedIn before you need it. 

→ And create your CV publicly.

P.S. Are you trying something new right now? Me? Yes - basic designing.

P.S.S. The funny thing is, I don't have a CV or cover letter lol because I'm showing up publicly.

I used to spend 2 hours writing 1 LinkedIn post in my first 30 days.

Then it was 60 minutes → now it’s just 30 minutes.

Here’s what I changed to fix this, so you can too:

1. I chose 3 main topics and write about them daily. It saves me from random/generic content.

- LinkedIn writing
- Personal Storytelling
- LinkedIn growth in my way

2. I batch-create my content every weekend. No pressure to write a post on the same day as posting.

- I sit down and open my notes app
- I check my collected ideas 
- And write about it 

3. I write every single idea in my notes app daily. Be it while scrolling or staring at a fan. Easy to find ideas/write.

- If I disagree with something, I spot an idea
- I find ideas from my career and skills
- I just collect it and post about it

4. I just started using MagicPost to speed up the process. I write more than 1 post to practice.

- I search for new small/big creators
- I find "new" inspiration
- It's a fun process now

5. I chose 3 - 5 creators whom I like. I follow/learn from them. No more drowning in information

- I follow Matt Barker
- I read Dickie Bush's newsletter
- I follow creators with different niches

Just a simple plan, nothing fancy...

Don't waste your time/energy as I did- save it
I'm dumb, but you aren't...

Do simple writing.
Do stress-free writing.

Try this → you'll stack skills → your online presence → grow

And you'll enjoy it over time :)

P.S. My next goal is to write a post in 20 minutes.

P.S.S. This was my comment under Matt Barker's post, and I turned it into a post.

Making LinkedIn writing ''simple'' for YOU

Last year, I used LinkedIn to get a cool job.

Today, I’m using it to stack cool skills, network, and grow my online presence (before I need it).

- Improving my broken writing skills
- Learning how to write a story 
- How to write hooks

And most importantly? Going beyond a CV and cover letter

But for a lil context…

I started on LinkedIn in 2024, too. Barely posted. Wrote & sent endless CVs every day.

I had a silent online presence with zero growth.

But I was commenting on others’ posts. I made friends along the way.

That’s when I realised it’s a cool platform...

To stack skills and grow your online presence publicly before you need it.

And both situations helped me.

Now I’m growing my online presence publicly.
I write what I know or what I learn
I share my career moves

Because it's time to go beyond CVs

And you don't need to rely on either.
Write online. Start a business if you want.
Stack skills and share your journey along the way.

Your skills + Your online presence (real MVP)

P.S. Are you building publicly or privately?

I dropped my (scrolling) habit on LinkedIn in Feb 2025

And started (writing) publicly before I needed it.

I had 1k (dead) followers. 0 writing skills.
No idea how to comment/network
I was just using it to send CVs

But I had just THIS one thing…

Curious to learn how to write publicly/network with others
(During my career break)

• I started learning how to write & post about it
• I shared my career moves/my perspective
• I failed a lot in the process/it still happens

I wasn’t qualified for this, but I started.

And you know what?

• I improved my trash writing skills. 
• I built my confidence post by post.
• 4 months in, I got hired by Charlie Hills 
• I learnt how to comment under others' posts
• And how to network with others on the internet.

(All before I needed it.) I did nothing fancy.

I just focus on 1 skill, observe and study it.
Practice it and show up from the trenches.

So here’s my soft reminder to you…

→ Use/show your unique perspective

1. Pick one platform. 
2. Just find what you want from it
3. Write what you learn/what you know
4. Comment under posts and network with them
5. It’s draining - not easy, but it's worth your time

You’re not late
Your current timing is perfect. 
(You’re just delaying the process.)

Now, the digital world looks for people with skills
and an online presence. 

It doesn’t matter if you have a degree or not
Your skill stacking in public is your unique angle.

So yeah - stack writing skills publicly before you need them.

P.S. Did you start building your online presence with any intention?

In 2024, I didn’t know how to write on LinkedIn
In 2025, I went from 18 likes to nearly 100

In 2024, I had (dead) connections on LinkedIn
In 2025, I've got (active) connections in 100+ days

In 2024, I vomited at the idea of writing online
In 2025, I started liking writing

(All in 100+ days of putting in the reps)

And only 3 things are helping me:

1. Being okay with looking stupid while I figure out
2. A simple plan over fancy tools every day
3. And a f*cking boring consistency

→ I just keep moving on….

I write posts when my ideas/posts flop.
I write posts when my engagement is sh*t
I write posts when I feel it’s all f*cking pointless

It’s weird, but I realised that’s how growth happens.

→ Weird - Boring - pointless

But this pointlessness is getting me:

- Online presence before I need it.
- Writing skills stacked before I need them.
- Cool people in my network before I need them.
- Confidence that I can go beyond CVs and cover letters.

And I just want to say one thing to you..

If you are feeling weird right now
Feels like nothing is moving on

It’s completely alright - that's human.

But don't change your MAIN goal.
Change your game plan - do it with "focus" again

→ You and I will win in 2025. Cheers.

P.S. Do you also feel like nothing's moving right now? Yes or no. Me? both 😂

Hack the writing game. Not the LinkedIn algorithm game.

When I started writing 100+ days ago...

First 60 days, I made the same STUPID mistake.
→ Trying to hack the algorithm. 

And it only led to:

1. Exhaustion
2. Everything feels impossible
3. Wants to quit forever and never try

But everything started working when I focused on writing.

Here’s how:

1. Fix your mindset game

- Just think nobody is watching you
- Everybody is focusing on themselves
- It's just in your head, you need to move on

→ Quick execution hack: write what you know/post
Tell your brain to shut up by posting 

2. Write trash posts and look stupid

- Your first 100 posts would be scrappy
- You practice writing and learn in real time
- They will flop, but it will build momentum

→ Quick execution hack: post while feeling fear
Nobody hates you if your 100 posts flop

4. Don’t try to become someone else.

- Because you get to be YOU.
- Your “YOU” effect is what makes readers:

Like you. Trust you. Remember you. 

→ Quick execution hack:
Write from where you are. What you did/are doing.

5. F*ck the “on repeat” things

- Using someone else's angle
- Using others' perspectives

→ Quick execution hack:
Take inspiration. But BREAK it with your words.
Nothing is original, but everything can be uniquely you.

5. Show what you love. It shows your VIBE.

• Watermelon martinis. 
• Vodka shots. 
• Whiskey. 
• Wine.

→ Quick execution hack: Use it in your writing.
Make frameworks. Make rules and break them.

Ex: My 3-step Clear-Like-Vodka Writing Test.

6. Focus on what you know

- Spot what you know
- Spot what you're learning
- Hack your simple mini stories

→ Quick execution hack: Write about your career/skills/biz
Your lessons/mistakes/outcome/transformation/thinking

And observe:

- What do you like writing
- What you wanna write next
- What topics make writing simple

The best way to hack the writing game is?

Write - post - fail - improve - try again
Write - post - fail - improve - try again
Write - post - fail - improve - try again

That's how you grow and win :)

Writing game > Algorithm game

P.S. Did you also trap yourself in the LinkedIn algorithm?

100+ days ago, I (randomly) started writing on LinkedIn

I didn’t wait to read copywriting books first.
I didn’t wait to make a fancy plan first.
I didn’t wait for a perfect summer.

I just gathered the courage and randomly decided to start doing it to see what would happen...

And that one (random) decision leads to:

1. 100+ days of consistent writing → no burnout
2. Building my online presence before I need it.
3. I just learn and figure things out on the go. 
4. I got hired by a viral AI guy without a CV.
5. I went from underconfident → confident. 
6. I understood the power of writing.
7. I fail a lot, but I learn/improve.
8. Meeting cool people like you.
9. I started thinking clearly.
10. Stacking cool skills.

Because here's a cold truth:

You don't need fancy plans you see on the internet.
You just need courage/guts to start...

That's your entry ticket to get into the internet game.

Random decisions with courage > Endless plans

P.S. Have you ever tried something random in your career? Yes or no.

I don’t have a "writing" degree.

(Yet I’ve written 100+ LinkedIn posts - fail and improve.)

• Zero online writing experience.
• My 2 degrees are completely different.
• Nobody in my family knew how to write online.

And last year? I started but quit. I wasted my time finding the best writing course.

I was frustrated because I knew I didn't need more knowledge.

So, I did this - took my profile as a real project.

1. Learned from 2-3 people, I find it interesting
2. Ideas failed, but improved my trash writing. 
3. Dropped ideas faster than Superman.
4. Scrolled Twitter & read newsletters. 
5. Studied how others write online.
6. Analyse patterns in the writing.
7. I still fail a lot. But I repeat it.
8. I got hired and stack skills.
9. It's not easy, but worth it.

But I understood one thing NOW….

You don’t need knowledge. 
You need a "raw willingness" to learn and execute. 

Digital 2025 - Anything is learnable if you're obsessed enough.

Don’t say I don’t write because I don’t know how.
The "how" is free. It’s everywhere.

Everything will be solved if you let yourself do the reps.

P.S. Are you learning any new skills?

It’s *mental* how much stacks up in 100+ days

(when you focus on input, not just outcomes)

Last winter, I had a silent presence on LinkedIn...

- I was just lurking
- I was using it just to send CVs
- I hated writing on LinkedIn because it sucks

Then my college teacher convinced me to write on LinkedIn
I started writing, barely posted, and quit - I hated it.

But this winter, I randomly decided to write again and...

- I went from broken to improved writing skills
- I went from dead to active connections
- I started building my online presence
- My ideas and thinking get clearer 
- I stacked skills, not CVs anymore
- I literally get more creative now
- I got hired by Charlie Hills
- I talk to cool people too

(all before I need it)

Because I made one unsexy move:

I just started doing it without thinking about an outcome

I had 0 plan
I had 0 writing skills
I had 0 writing experience

So, I did this:

1. I started writing with broken writing skills
2. I picked one skill and learn it by doing
3. I share what and how I learn
4. I do the thing and write it
5. I spot what I know

Now LinkedIn is my skill-stacking ground.
Earlier, I thought LinkedIn was bullsh*t 🤣 

But now I realise it's actually a cool career choice.

So if you're thinking what I used to, then you're wrong.
Pick one skill/find what you know already → share it.

Use it and focus on your input.

You'll get what you want.
(I'm the real proof in front of you in real time)

You and I will dazzle in 2025 and 2026...

P.S. I got this post and hook idea from Mischa Collins. Because I got so stuck today while writing. I found the best hack - scroll and get fresh ideas lol if you feel stuck sometimes. Thenkew Mischa

My 2024 was full of (countless) job rejections

But everything blurred away - except one thing...

Not the job culture.
Not the company name.
Not even the interviewer's name

But 1 priceless feeling stays:

→ How they treated me.

I forget the process, but I remember the people.

The rude one. The kind/respectful one. The fun one.

Some interviewers were very direct and tough.
But some helped me understand the things.
Some made me feel worse than ever.

If I see it, it's the same on LinkedIn.

1. People forget whether you agree or disagree.
But how do you do it? They never forget.

2. They sense if you're a genuine person/faking it.
And fakeness has a strong scent. 

It all comes down to this:

"How you treat others."
Because it literally leaves a long-lasting impact...

1 conversation. 1 comment. 1 moment.

How you make them feel is what stays with people. 

P.S. Are you a sensitive person, a tough one, or both? Me? Sensitive AF

This ONE habit ate me up inside during my career

(It still sneaks in, but not often now.)

→ Constant comparison

I’m on a career break and...
Still figuring out what I like and what not.

Meanwhile, 80% of my friends are doing jobs they love. 
They already know what they want to do

I used to wish I had what they had.
(every single day, and this feeling is so weird)

But now?

I’ve stopped comparing myself to others.
(still happens, but not often now.)

I focus on my own career game. I started comparing myself yesterday vs today

Because here’s what I’ve finally accepted:

- Everyone’s timeline is different.
- Comparison destroys you internally.
- It restricts you from execution and experimentation.

Trust me, my mindset and execution game changed.

After I stopped comparing every single day, I execute more and think less.

And honestly, I see this on LinkedIn too:

- You compare your 90th post to someone’s 900th.
- You quit when you need more execution.
- You start feeling left behind.

But the REAL truth is:
As humans, it’s tough not to compare.

But it gets easier when you compare your yesterday with your today. It leads your focus to yourself and your growth.

And when you compare yourself less to others
→ You think less and move more.

Try this out once. You'll notice the healthy difference

P.S. Do you also have a constant comparison habit?

"I got on LinkedIn just to get a job reference."

Because I didn't have a perfect resume or cover letter

Sadly, I didn’t even get a "single" job reference and...

I got so upset that I quit LinkedIn. I just hated it. It literally felt like a time-wasting process.

(This was the end of 2024.)

But in 2025, I decided to give it a shot to see what happens (during my career break)

My first 100 days were horrible AF.
But instead of quitting again, I did this:

- I tried to understand how to write online
- I tried to improve my trash writing skills
- I tried not to give up no matter what

And this one shot led to:

1. Improvement in my trash writing skills
2. I actually started liking writing online
3. I have damn confidence in writing 
4. I forgot the fear of failing online
5. I started liking talking to people
6. I got hired because of my skills
7. I like creating content online
8. I stack skills and trust daily

And the best thing is? I'm doing it before I need it.

If you don't try, you'll know nothing

Try writing online, maybe you'll like it
Try writing online, maybe you'll get what you want

But at least try. Don't decide without trying.

Maybe you'll enjoy writing on LinkedIn like me...

P.S. Are you enjoying writing on LinkedIn right now? Me? f*ck yeah

I used to stress a lot about writing on LinkedIn.
(My first 90 days were brutal AF.)

Because I didn’t have any experience 
I thought, how would I educate?
With no real skills...

I was just writing useless tips (alone). 

But after 90 days, I observed the things & realised…

Awesome creators do 2 things: educational + storytelling

And I just need to understand 1 thing
→ How do I want to write? 

(Storytelling. Educational. Motivational. Humour in writing.)

I had nothing except my career stories/perspective/learnings

I just sit down nicely at my dinner table. 
And extract stories from my career and learnings.

(Real examples)

Story - 1

In 2024, I made a massive career mistake.
(Still regret it to this day.)

Didn’t document my journey while doing degrees/jobs.

Story - 2

Last year, I used LinkedIn to get a cool job.
Today, I’m using it to stack cool skills.

Story - 3 

I don’t have a "writing" degree.
(Yet I’ve written 100+ LinkedIn posts - fail and improve.)

Story - 4

I logged onto LinkedIn for a job. Didn’t get one.
Started writing. But hated it and quit.

And no one...I mean, no one can find 
→ This context on Google/AI. That's my real experience.

(I'm not pro. I learn & execute. And this works.)

And I wanna say one thing to you:

If you’re stressed right now like I was before...

- Understand what you know
- Experiment and choose how you would like to write
- Hack your mini stories from your lived/current experiences 
- Don't make up the stories, write from YOU

Then, pick your one story. Write in a simple structure.
(best way to write online)

That's literally it. Nothing fancy.

After writing a few stories, you'll get the drill.

P.S. Are you also stressed in your first 90 days on LinkedIn? Or was it just me? Ngl, I still stress sometimes :(

After writing for 100+ days on LinkedIn during my career break...

I didn’t see this OUTCOME coming.

(not even in my wildest dreams)

In 2024, I was just writing CVs. Then, my college teacher convinced me to write online. "Just build your online presence."

Because I didn't have a perfect resume. Lol.

I started writing, hated it, and quit. But while scrolling, I realised it might be the coolest option if I tried it. 

I'd never written online before and was scared AF

Then in 2025, I randomly started writing just to see what'd happen...

And you won't even believe what happens next:

1. I went from underconfident to confident in writing
2. I built habits and momentum, not just posts
3. I fixed my broken writing skills from zero
4. I went from hating writing to liking it
5. I went from 19 likes to nearly 100
6. I learn hook-writing/storytelling.
7. I got hired by a viral AI guy.
8. I fail a lot but improve too.
9. I like writing stories now.
10. I show from the reps
11. (All before I need it)

Just because I keep stacking “writing” skills. 

Now I simply batch-create my content over the weekend.

But when I started, my first 90 days were hell. I got frustrated AF and wanted to quit again.

I didn't quit and slowly got the writing drill. Here’s how:

- Drop your ideas faster, don't wait for fancy ideas
- Give yourself a strict deadline to build habits
- Focus on 1 skill, improve, and raise the bar
- Hack your stories, learn how to write 
- Treat your profile as a real project
- Hit the gym consistently

I just wanna tell you one thing: 

Stack writing skills online before you need them. 
You never know the outcome, like me...

"Change" won’t happen magically, but it happens when you move.

I'm the real proof in front of you...

P.S. Do you like motivational quotes?

5 years ago, my ex-boss trashed my perspective in a meeting.

“Your unique perspective isn’t needed. Keep it to yourself,” he said

And he was dead wrong. Because...

100+ days ago, when I started writing on LinkedIn.

- My unique perspective improved my trash writing skills 
- My unique perspective made me start writing online
- My unique perspective made me like writing

And the awesome thing is? 
That same unique perspective becomes my MVP

- How funny, it’s not my boss
- Not his perspective on me
- Not even his mindset

Just the unique perspective I've been told to keep to myself.

Most times, what people tell you not to do becomes your unique edge.

Use yours. Write online. Just own it.

P.S. Do you own your perspective?

taplio

The Battle

Joe Patchell

Smriti Maan

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The Battle

Joe Patchell

Smriti Maan

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);}Smriti Maan's LinkedIn Performance

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