Sam Szuchan

Founder @ Soleo. LinkedIn strategy for industry leaders. Clients work w/ Apple, Amazon, Google + published in FT, Bloomberg, etc.

Creator of influence. Nice things folks have said about me:

"Recently, a lot of Sam's posts have been taking off. Last week, he helped me reach 400K+ enterprise professionals with a single post. A third of them from companies with 10,000+ employees. When recruiting teams start sharing your content internally, you know you're doing something right."
—Very major recruiting tech CEO

"Each time that I post [a post Sam made], 100+ people enroll in a course that changes their lives, and my business does twelve or thirteen grand in revenue in that day. A total win-win."
—B2B educator you 100% definitely follow

"Sam helped me clarify my goals and think strategically to reach 150K people in my target demographic – largely founders, CEOs, and senior execs. Prospects frequently mention my LinkedIn content."
—CEO of very cool agency working with Google and many other big tech co's!

"Sam's ability to understand who you are and become an extension of you online is second to none. He provides strategic direction, insightful research, and a relentless desire to bring your strengths and knowledge to light."
—Forbes 30u30 founder who basically invented consumer-facing recruiting tech

You have probably read a few dozen posts I've written without realizing it. Thanks for stopping by :)

Founder

Formerly Saga. Leveraging the world's largest B2B platform to create overwhelming lead pipelines for B2B firms.

"As long as the history books get it right, take some pride in letting the newspapers get it wrong."

Sam Altman wrote that in 2020. A year earlier, he walked away from Y Combinator's presidency to bet everything on OpenAI. 

Everyone thought he was insane.

YC was the most powerful platform in startup land. Direct access to hundreds of founders per year. The ability to shape how an entire generation thinks about building companies. A reputation machine that had already minted Airbnb, Dropbox, and Stripe.

Remember, this was 2019 - way before OpenAI’s rise. He left YC for (what was then) a nonprofit-controlled AI lab that still looked more like a research shop than a product company.

Looking back, EVERY move he made throughout his career was the maximum leverage option available to build influence, way before anyone realized:

- Chose computer science at Stanford in the early 2000s when finance was the prestige path
- Dropped out to do YC and build Loopt when he could have gone straight to Google or Facebook
- After Loopt, launched Hydrazine Capital to invest in YC companies, making himself essential infrastructure for the next generation of founders
- Became YC president at 28 and turned it into a distribution network across hundreds of startups
- Left YC to become CEO of OpenAI's new "capped-profit" structure

Throughout his entire career, he's been 5-10 years early on the most influential position possible. It's happened too many times to be a coincidence.

His pattern works because he understands how influence compounds. Every YC batch, he met dozens of founders at their most malleable stage.

He saw the raw decks, the dysfunctional teams, the early flashes of product-market fit. Some became Instacart, DoorDash, and Coinbase.

Each founder he helped became a future allocator of equity, attention, and introductions.

Their founders remembered who took them seriously when they were pitching half-finished slides.

"The question isn't 'How do I stop caring what people think?'" Altman wrote. "It's 'Whose opinions should I care about and on what timescale?'"

November 2023 proved the pattern works. When OpenAI's board tried to oust him, hundreds of employees threatened to walk. Microsoft made it clear the partnership was with Altman, not the corporate shell.

He didn’t survive through maneuvering.

He survived because of the protective layer of influence he built.

Because influence isn't a cooler job title—

It's pure leverage.

It's a 15-year bet on who and what matters later, and how you can own it before anyone realizes it’s the next big thing.

“The newspapers will get it wrong. The history books will get it right.”

That's the bet he's made his entire career - and he's making it again.

What could you build by choosing history books over newspapers?

P.S. Full breakdown of Altman's 15-year playbook in the comments

Sam Altman Chose Influence Over Billions (And Got Both)

🔹Are you tired of scrolling through LinkedIn without getting any traction for your business or professional profile? Look no further! 🔹

I'm Ophir Tal - The Linkedin Content Writer and marketing strategist you've been searching for.

With over 5 years of experience in creating engaging content, I know what it takes to get your target audience hooked, lined up, and tinkered with. 

⭐I have a rich background in journalism and bilingual content creation in both English and Hebrew, which is essential in creating compelling messages that resonate with your audience and get you the results you need.

⭐Whether you're a big or small business, a solopreneur, or just an individual looking to get ahead, I'm your guy!  

⭐My Content writing services have helped an array of clients boost their brand awareness, attract quality leads and create content that have their audience begging for more and unlocking new opportunities.

I'm here to help you crush it on LinkedIn! 


👉So, if you're ready to boost your brand awareness and get new opportunities on LinkedIn, let's chat!

Ophir Tal

Ophirwriter

Linkedin ghostwriting & personal branding for B2B Founders & CEOs to make their LinkedIn profile a beacon of business relationships.

Want to grow your linkedin? Book a call with me here:

ophir-tal.com

Founder | LinkedIn Consultant & Ghostwriter

Wikimedia Israel

Managed Wikimedia Israel's social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram) and wrote newsletters about Wikimedia's activism in sharing free knowledge

Marketing and Events Manager

Combat Anti-Semitism Movement

Promoted brand awareness by writing youtube scripts, tweets and posts on Facebook and Instagram.

Social Media Intern

The Jewish Agency for Israel

Initiated, facilitated, and hosted Israel-themed arts, culture events, and lecture series for a Jewish community of 26,000 people and wrote a blog aimed at that community.

Community Specialist

Eloops

Created Blogposts and newsletters aimed towards raising the topic of Employee Experience and brand awareness for a Saas Startup.

Content Management Intern

ynet

Wrote articles and conducted interviews for Xnet Magazine of The Ynet network

Freelance Journalist

Build a LinkedIn personal brand you’re proud of.

If you’re a founder who’s active on LinkedIn and doesn’t get results, it’s either because of these 2 reasons:


→ You’re not reaching the right people.

→ You’re not saying the right things to get their attention.

You’ve put in hours writing posts, but most of the engagement comes from colleagues, friends, and family, not decision-makers.

You hesitate to post because you don’t want to sound “salesy.”

You keep giving away free value, hoping something will happen.

Meanwhile, the right audience still doesn’t know you exist.

When I partner with you, we fix both problems so your LinkedIn starts working for you:

→ Your profile positions you as a trusted authority.

→ Your posts spark interest from the people you actually want to talk to.

→ Your network fills with the right connections who open doors to opportunities.

Here’s what other founders have achieved working with me:

→ Grew their following 10x in 6 months, attracting the right investors and partners.

→ Started conversations with relevant prospects through content aligned to their values.

→ Built credibility in front of people who could hire them, invest, or refer them.

If you want to make LinkedIn work for your business goals, book a discovery call: ophir-tal.com

I’ll partner with you to manage your content strategy, execution, and delivery in full, while you stay focused on running your company.

All under a fixed monthly retainer with clear pricing and set conditions.

Book your 1:1 call with me (link in bio) to make it all happen, so you can attract the right people, start the right conversations, and open the right doors.

Because I’m a LinkedIn ghostwriter and coach, I work remotely.

Because I help my clients get leads and followers there, and built my personal brand around that, I get paid.

Because of that, I can live as a digital nomad.

And because of that, I’m spending this long weekend in Pai, northern Thailand.

This is freedom through branding :)

LinkedIn content strategy built for clarity and results

No alternative text description for this image

Black Friday Special: LinkedIn Content Strategy that will help you generate leads 🤘


If you're tired of posting without getting any results keep reading.

I'm offering a 1-hour intensive content strategy session that will transform how you approach LinkedIn.

The goal is to build your systematic approach to convert your audience to whatever goal you have in mind (leads, job applicants, podcast interview-you name it).

Here's exactly what you'll walk away with after our session:

THE STRATEGY

↳ Content calendar structure you can follow week after week.

↳ DM conversation starters that actually get responses and book calls.

↳ Engagement tactics that build genuine relationships, not just vanity metrics.

↳ Positioning framework that differentiates you from every other person in your space.

↳ Content pillars tailored to your audience so you know exactly what to write about.

THE PROCESS

We'll spend one focused hour together where I analyze your current approach, identify the gaps, and build your custom strategy from scratch.

After our call, I'll write everything down for you in a comprehensive strategy document. You'll have your roadmap ready to execute the moment we hang up.

THE RESULTS

My clients typically see engagement increases within the first week and start booking discovery calls within 90 days. One founder I worked with recently booked 9 calls in 1 week.

Is it guaranteed? Nope. 

Will you have a strategy to get you there in 30, 60, 90, 120, or 180 days? 

Yes. 

It’s up to YOU how to implement it.

THE DEAL

Normal investment: $150
Black Friday price: $100 (30% off)

This offer expires Sunday night. 

After that, I’m back to regular pricing.

YOU

↳ Ready to invest one hour to transform your entire LinkedIn strategy.

↳ Solopreneur or founder ready to take LinkedIn seriously.

↳ Looking for a systematic approach, not random tactics.

↳ Willing to post consistently and engage authentically.

This is your opportunity to stop guessing what works on LinkedIn and start following a proven system that generates real business results.

Want in?

Send me a DM and I'll send you the link to book and pay for our 1:1 LinkedIn content strategy call.

P.S. Only taking 10 clients at this price. When they're gone, they're gone.

If you don’t piss people off, 

Then you’re off. 

If you’re always so agreeable,

Then I disagree with your attitude. 

If you’re always appealing to the masses,

You are not appealing to me. 

If you don’t stand for something,

Then you bend on your knees. 

If your offer feels too safe, it’s unsafe!

And so does your LinkedIn. 

Disrupt yourself and your writing,

Deliver your punches like Mike Tyson did.

Then and only then,  

You could disrupt an industry.

LinkedIn strategy built for clarity and results

Favikon ranked me as the number 1 LinkedIn creator in Israel in the content marketing & copywriting niche! 

This is insane. 

Not only that I’m in the top 200…

Or top 50…

But number 1! 

If I said it about myself…

Then it would be bragging. 

But when Favikon says that about me…

That’s something else. 

It means I have made a difference. 

And frankly, beyond the likes or recommendations from clients, this is the ultimate proof I literally stood out. 

Humbled (yes, humbled) to provide value in the content marketing & copywriting niche, 

Knowing that in 2025 I’ve improved lives and helped founders become better off on LinkedIn.

This remarkable place is Boracay in The Philippines, it’s the first island we explore here!

Like I told you last week:

Weekdays are for ghostwriting & coaching 

Weekends are for island relaxation.

That’s what I call work-life harmony,

That’s the essence of being a digital nomad :)

"I'm here for connection not business" is the biggest lie on LinkedIn.


Every single person saying this still pays for Netflix, buys coffee at Starbucks, and orders from Amazon.

They're literally supporting businesses every day while pretending they're above commerce.

They’re the ultimate hypocrites.

They can’t deny there's nothing wrong with 
doing business on a business platform. 

LinkedIn was literally created for professional networking and business development! 

No one is a mother Theresa who's above making money. 

We all have bills to pay and goals to achieve.

If you want to get clients be honest about it.

People respect it way more than fake altruism.

I forgot to tell you that Anna Pitner and I are now in our 10th country as digital nomads: The Philippines! 🇵🇭

From Makati in Manila, during weekdays:

Build LinkedIn content strategies for people who want to get results & clarity 

Coach clients who want to master content & social selling skills for life 

Ghostwrite on LinkedIn for the founders who want to scale their personal brand 

And in the weekends, explore the beautiful islands of the Philippines.

I'll keep you posted about my experiences here!

This post isn’t about business and it is about business at the same time.

Why? 


In every conversation I have with prospects, 

My digital nomadism is the ultimate ice breaker.

It kills all objection even before we talk about LinkedIn. 

The founders want to know:

Where I travel
How do I do it
How do I fund my travels 

And many of them are truly jealous…

And beyond all of that, 
my nomadism is proof,
A cornerstone of my LinkedIn strategy. 

Proof one can use LinkedIn to make money. 
Proof one can use LinkedIn to design their life.
Proof that I stand for something, not blend in. 

So now, as I explore The Philippines, 

I’m sharing social proof:

Not being a guy who’s always behind the laptop,

But living an interesting life,
And then writing about it. 

(Maybe that’s why Favikon ranked me as the number 1 creator from Israel in the content marketing & copywriting niche). 

Now, what can you learn from it? 

Analyze your hobbies. 
Find 1 angle that makes them unusual.
Write about them with passion.

Tie them to your personality, 
And tie your personality to your business. 

That’s how you live an interesting life,

That’s how you you’re being professional by being personal.

P.S. What hobby or a field of interest you have that you could write about on LinkedIn?

I'm sick and tired of generic LinkedIn content. And I bet you are too.

"Failure is the stepping stone to success" 🙄
"Here are 5 tips to boost productivity"
"Agree? Thoughts?"

It's content pollution.

The problem isn't that people don't have interesting stories.

It's that they default to sanitized, soul-crushing content that sounds like everyone else.

But your mess is your message!

That time you got fired after calling your boss a narcissistic jerk? 

POST IT.

The product launch that flopped because your audience lied in the market survey? 

POST IT.

The investor who ghosted you but then you saw them at the Starbucks line and hit it off?

POST IT.

I've stopped telling my LinkedIn coaching clients to write  "inspirational" posts.

Now I hunt for their uncomfortable truths. 
The moments that made them sweat.
The decisions that kept them up at night.

Stories people can’t copy,
But can deeply relate to. 

Generic content brings generic results.
Specific content warms potential clients.

They both work.
One against you and the other for you.

P.S. Are you team generic or specific?

Too many founders on LinkedIn obsess over “high ticket” clients, but all they should focus on is providing wonderful services to wonderful people.

Some even give marine animal nicknames to clients…whale client, fish, shark. How degrading! These are people. Treat them with respect and give them what they’ve paid for. 

Someone who pays is always more valueable than someone who doesn’t pay and seemingly has more money. 

Like Dumbledore said: 

Help those who deserve it. 

Clients aren’t high or low ticket. 

They are people goddamit.

Before working with me: 
No calls from LinkedIn. 

After working with me on his branding: 
9 calls booked from linkedin. 

1 hour call, 1 strategy, optimized for results. 
Now, as it’s Black Friday, 

I offer the same kind of session, 30% off. 

If you’re interested in linkedin content strategy that converts, DM me “strategy”

I’ll send you the link to book our 1:1 linkedin strategy session at the discounted price of $100.

The old LinkedIn playbook is dead. 


Buying signals? 

→ Aren't as obvious as they used to be.

Virality? 

→ Isn’t encouraged by LinkedIn anymore.

Inbound leads? 

→ Still possible, yet unpredictable.

Yet too many “gurus” preach the old playbook as if LinkedIn didn’t change in 3 years.

But linkedin has changed, we all feel it. 

To make LinkedIn work for us, 

We must shed the old playbook, 

And adhere to a new one, 
In which linkedin growth isn’t the goal, 

It’s the tool dor something more profound: 

Business growth and self-growth. 


This is my alternative LinkedIn playbook for 2026:


1. Talk to people who feel the problem

Do not worry too much about titles or filters.
Your best buyers already want help.
Some of them never saw your content. 

They only need to feel the problem you solve.


2. Use content to show depth,

Most buyers don’t comment.
Many don’t like or follow.

Some only see your content after you DM them.

But when they do see it, 
They should feel you are real, sharp and clear.
Depth builds trust. Views do not.


3. Have a simple point of view

Say what you believe.
Say what the market gets wrong.
Say how you work.
A few strong ideas beat a long list of tricks.


4. Let DMs do the real work

Content warms people up.
DMs move them forward.
Keep your messages short and human.
Ask simple questions.
Your goal is to see if they want help now.


5. Don’t chase likes or profile views

These signals can be nice, 
but they don’t tell you who wants to buy.
Sometimes they mean nothing.
Sometimes they mean something.
You can check them, 
but don’t depend on them.


6. Use content and DMs together

Content alone is slow.
DMs alone feel weak.
Together they create trust fast.
People who discover you through a DM and then read your posts usually move quicker.


7. Give people one clear next step

This can be:

- A call
- An entry offer
- A landing page 

One path keeps things clean and easy.


8. Show real wins, not hype

Share proof that others said about you, like:

- Client results
- Testimonials 
- Rankings

Not follower growth. 
Not big claims.
Others can say about you,
What you can’t say about yourself. 


9. Grow your small world, not the whole world

Start more conversations. 
Gather more newsletter subscribers.
Grow the people who see you often.
It works better than big random reach.


10. Improve your writing every month

Don’t look for high views.
Look at the posts that made people comment with deel emotions. 
Double down on them.


In 2026 you’ll face 2 choices: 

Chase a world of linkedin growth that barely exist anymore 

Or use linkedin as a tool that grows you, not it. 

I’m definitely choosing the latter, 

Because LinkedIn doesn’t exist. 
Only YOUR LinkedIn does, 

And the goals YOU want to achieve through it, not ON it.

P.S. What part of the playbook surprised you the most?

There are 5 types of people in your DMs:


(Get your strategy for booking meeting through LinkedIn here: https://lnkd.in/dkuyTP62 )

→ Type 1: The Valuable Prospect

Needs your help, 
Answers questions,
Cooperative. 
These are your next clients. 
True partners who make your job easy.


→ Type 2: The Self-Denier 

Clearly needs help but waves their "million years of experience" flag.

They're drowning but won't grab the life preserver.

Leave them to drown. 


→ Type 3: The "Best, Name" Guy

Still living in 1995, 
Treating DMs like formal work emails.
“At this time I’m not looking to explore this. Best, name) 

AVOID LIKE PLAGUE. 


→ Type 4: The Helper

Can't afford you now but happily refers others.
These people are networking gold mines.
They will build your pipeline long-term.


→ Type 5: The Ghoster

Silence is their only language.
They read, they see, they vanish.
Block them after 3 days of not answering. 


Knowing which type you're dealing with saves you hours of wasted effort.

Stop treating everyone the same.

The valueable prospect will convert, 
The helper is worth building a relationship with. 

The rest are not worth your time and energy,

If you want to generate leads via LinkedIn.

I've built my entire DM strategy around these 5 types.

And it's transformed my response rates.

Because once you know who you're talking to...

You know exactly what to say and to WHOM.

Found this post helpful? Repost it ♻️

P.S. How many DMs do you send daily?

If you're here for business, be honest about it.

There's nothing wrong with that!
Actually, there's everything right with it.

Hiding behind soft language,
Talking about “connection” and synergy,
Will ruin your journey towards getting results.

Too many founders dance around their goals.

They post about "networking",
when they mean "prospecting."
They talk about "sharing value" 
When they mean "getting leads.

When you're clear about your intentions:

- You stop wasting time
- Your messaging becomes direct
- Your content attracts the right people

The people who succeed online are the ones who own their business intentions.

They say: "I help X achieve Y through Z."

Not: "I'm passionate about connecting with like-minded individuals." 🤮

Your audience respects honesty.
They smell the fake humility from miles away.

So stop apologizing for building on LinkedIn.

Call it what it is: business.

You’ll grow your business faster.

Why LinkedIn has DMs in the first place?


It wants candidates to message employers.
It wants employers to message candidates.
It wants prospects to message businesses.
It was businesses to message prospects. 

Linkedin even created sales navigator,

To help people find specific prospects. 

SALES navigator. 
Not “synergy” navigator.
Not “connection” navigator. 

Sales, goddamit! 

When people write against sending DMs? 
They’re writing against LinkedIn. 

When people say that LinkedIn isn’t for sales? 
They’re denying LinkedIn their money. 

A platform like LinkedIn can’t say: 

“You’re allowed to message someone if you’re interested in their services, but you’re never allowed to message someone who you see as a potential client”.

If it would have been the case,

The platform would be called North KoreadIn,

Not LinkedIn. 

So get used to it:

The wheel is round. 

One day you buy, the other day you sell. 
One day you look for a job, 
The other you’re hiring.

People wouldn’t be here if LinkedIn wouldn’t make them money in the short or long term.

Those who fail to understand it?

Shouldn’t be on LinkedIn, period.

In 2026, I’ll share more of my lived experience on LinkedIn.


You see, the sea of sameness turned into an ocean of sameness, 

And because this is a competitive platform,

It’s now a red ocean. 

But I’m not for that at all. 

I want to work with people who appericiate stories and not only think about problems and solutions, but also think about their passion. 

What contribution will I have if I’ll be another guy with a fancy carousel or an infographic? 

If I’ll say that I split the atom with AI and now everyone give me your email for access? 

No. 

In 2026, I’ll focusing on 3 kinds of stories:

-Stories from my life as a digital nomad 
-Stories from the journeys of my clients 
-Stories from my coaching/ghostwriting 

And I’ll use mostly pictures from my life. 

Yes, I’ll use AI as an assistant 

But you’ll get the raw version of me, 
And with 2 passions that I have in mind: 

Living a life of freedom,
Helping you become better off through Linkedin.

P.S. How will your writing on LinkedIn change in 2026?

I don’t work with people who hate AI.


As a LinkedIn coach, GPTs that I created are a major part of my work, 

Mixing profesionalism, nuance and effiency. 

I’m deeply excited about the new technology,

It helps my clients who are non-writers start writing themselves with my mentonrship. 

So when people attack AI…They attack me.

They attack my clients who love these tools. 

If you want AI in your toolkit, 

As an aid in your journey to freedom?

I’m the guy for you. 

If you think AI is inauthentic, 

You ain’t my person to work with.

Leads and reach are not rivals. They're allies.


I've been building LinkedIn strategies for years, 

And this rivalry is completely made up.

(Get each and leads on linkedin with a strong content strategy: https://lnkd.in/dkuyTP62 )

Reach without leads? 
You're building vanity metrics.
Leads without reach? 
You're limiting your growth potential.

You need both working together.

Reach AND leads = exponential results.

I'm not picking sides in this fake war.

The Iron Man vs Captain America rivalry made for great movies. Civil war if you recall. 

Eventually, they learned to work together.

If they wouldn’t have stopped treating each other as competitors,

And start treating one another as teammates,

They couldn’t have beaten Thanos.

Same thing happens on LinkedIn:

It’s a team sports between reach and leads. 

Reach the right people with posts 
Convert them with DMs
(Sometimes with posts)
Leave nothing to chance!

Stop the rivalry. Start the partnership✌️

P.S. What's your take? Team reach, team leads, or team both?

It’s only Tuesday and I already got 1 client this week and 2 inbound leads!

All thanks to my work, brand and LinkedIn profile.

If you are a founder who has been running your business for at least 2 years, 

Already has clients, existing demand, and a clear proof of concept, 

And you want 2026 to be the year you build a brand on LinkedIn and turn your LinkedIn presence into a predictable pipeline,

Send me a DM,

I’ll make LinkedIn work for you.

Some people want access to your time and experience but believe they shouldn't have to pay for any of it.


I had someone yesterday who embodied this perfectly.

"I have this problem that's holding me back in business."

They connected with me. 
They sent me a DM. 
They initiated the outreach.

But the moment I started asking simple questions to understand their situation, 

They got defensive.

Not because the questions were wrong, 

But because answering them required honesty and responsibility they weren't ready for.

Then came the classic line: "I don't want to go into this. Best, craphead”.

Haha, best? 

This is LinkedIn DMs, not email you weirdo!

They reached out for help, 
Then panicked the second it required depth.

They wanted clarity without commitment.

These are the type of people I block now.

Not remove as a connection, 

I block them entirely,
So they’ll lose access to me forever.

Only people who benefit my brand get access to my content:

- Clients
- Engagers 
- Past clients
- Mentors I’ve worked with 
- Service providers I’ve paid to 
- People who refer me to potential clients 

They all help me grow, 
They all get access to me.

If you can't invest financially, 
The minimum you can do is engage,
Or refer me to someone who needs help. 

If you do neither, then no:

You don't get to consume my content.

I'm here for people who are serious about LinkedIn,

Not those who drain my energy,

And make fool of themselves.

taplio

The Battle

Sam Szuchan

Ophir Tal

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreSam Szuchan's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreOphir Tal's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Sam Szuchan

Ophir Tal

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);}Sam Szuchan's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreOphir Tal's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreSam Szuchan's LinkedIn Performance