Shoaib Ahmed

Founder: Yello Hippo | Host: REBELS Podcast 🎙️ | Building Profitable Personal Brands for Founders & CEOs | 185M+ Organic Views | Winner: Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 | Advisor: Limelight

Hi 👋🏽 I'm the personal brand manager behind top 1% LinkedIn accounts. I've delivered:

300M+ organic impressions → VIRAL content marketing 
2.1M profile views → MILLIONS of eyes on offers
£11.2 revenue → TANGIBLE business growth

Thanks to my:

• 5 years experience (built 195+ Founder-led brands)
• First-party data (I've produced 18,750 LI posts)
• PROVEN LinkedIn growth strategies & models

I work with Founders, Coaches, C-Suite teams, Business Execs, Creatives & Freelancers like you to:

a) Scale your LinkedIn growth & presence
b) Carve out a HIGH-VALUE personal brand
c) Win trust, seriously grow pipeline & make ££

So you can:

Stop wasting ££ on bad lead-gen tactics
Build + scale the business of your dreams
Earn life freedom + attract new opportunities

HOW I HELP:

1:1 & Company LinkedIn Coaching:

- Dominate the algorithm & create viral posts
- Scale your following, traffic & engagement
- Turn LinkedIn into an inbound lead channel

LinkedIn Content Ghostwriting:

- Get 'done for you' LinkedIn posts 
- Turn expertise into monetisable assets
- Earn trust as a thought leader & drive leads

CLIENT RESULTS ↓

✅️ Julius got inbound PR invites (Insider, WebSummit, Harvard)
✅️ Maria landed speaking gigs, earning multi-6-figure revenue
✅️ Alex and Katie sold out 96% of their coaching (400% ROI)
✅️ M and A got 55,700 new followers and 200+ quality leads
✅️ David signed brands 625+ tech brand clients in 9 months
✅️ Drew featured in Washington Post & Wall Street Journal
✅️ Harry hit 6.3 million views & got a 733% ROI in 60 days
✅️ Ryan got 14.3 million views and a 6-figure BBC deal.
✅️ Lauren gained 12.7 million views and an £80K client

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ↓

"I got more value, clarity and practical strategy from a 1-to-1 hour with Shoaib than all 4 of the LinkedIn courses I've purchased elsewhere" - Joey

"Shoaib is a genius at crisp content and a true strategist who always has our KPIs in mind to maximise impact." - Katie

"Shoaib is definitely the go-to person for anything related LinkedIn content. I've paid for coaching sessions with other creators and none have been as insightful as this one." - Mat 

"Working with Shoaib was one of the best investments I’ve ever made." - James

"Shoaib grew my LinkedIn 0-100, securing me global media gigs and attracting a ton of business." - Julius

WORK WITH ME ↓

Book my 1:1 LinkedIn coaching (for individuals)
Book my Company LinkedIn Training (for teams)
Book my Ghostwriting Services (for individuals)

Available for media bookings, keynote speaking and brand partnerships.

DM me :)

Founder & Podcast Host

A brand new podcast where you get to hear from rebellious industry disruptors.

In season one, Shoaib is joined by a curated selection of groundbreaking entrepreneurs, creators and business leaders as he delves into their 'against the grain' stories of success. 

This is a podcast where no topic is off-limits. Each episode is packed with raw, emotional and inspiring stories with guests including Lea Turner, Sophie Miller and Lara Acosta.

Watch & listen to S1 now on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Proudly sponsored by Fabric Academy.

For S2 bookings & sponsorship enquiries visit: www.rebelsbyshoaibahmed.co.uk

Mum, dad...I only went and WON!!! 🏆 🪩  

Lil old me getting a UK BUSINESS AWARD

And this one is extra special 🫶🏽

"Lone Wolf Business Consultancy of the Year"

An award specifically chosen to go to an exceptional ONE-PERSON BUSINESS!!

I am that business.

Hey, hi, hello 👋🏾

It's funny 'cos when I decided to quit agency life and pursue solopreneurship...

So many people saw it as a "step back"

I got sent screenshots from a business WhatsApp ‘community’ full of negative comments about me.

A bizarre way for grown adults to behave tbh.

The reality?

Because my consultancy is just me:

- The bar is high AF and never drops
- Every client gets my full attention
- I maintain 10/10 quality all the time

And the results I get for my clients are so f*cking insane because they work DIRECTLY with me!!

And this award recognises that.

Yipppeeeeee 🕺🕺

The judges reviewed my client work, client references, case studies (loads of indisputable evidence I've not shared on LinkedIn)...

And out of 1000s of business owners...

They chose me to win!!!

Pretty f*cking cool.

Thanks Business Awards UK.

Off to celebrate in true Shoaib style...

By devouring an açaí bowl 🤣

📅 FREE WEBINAR: How to write viral LinkedIn Posts | Register now | Grown 195+ personal brands for founders, coaches & creators | Brain behind 300M+ impressions | LinkedIn coach, strategist, speaker

Fun announcement 🎉
I'm the Head of Content at Limelight.

I've been advising David Walsh on all things personal branding, content & LinkedIn since he launched his company.

Over two years ago.

We make an excellent team.

Dave gave me full autonomy from the start and we've scaled his brand hard.

______

FYI: I'm still FULLY running my own company. It just means I go deeper (1-2 days a week) with one of my favourite founder partnerships.
______

What started as LinkedIn coaching for Dave quickly became:

→ Brand strategy
→ Lead magnets
→ Social selling funnels
→ Content engines
→ Founder positioning
→ Big-picture growth stuff

And that led to this:

25M+ organic impressions.
Tons of viral LinkedIn posts.
40K+ new LinkedIn followers.
Landing 30 speaking/podcast gigs.
Writing foreword to Amazon bestseller.
Features in major media publications.
Named "Top 50 CEO to watch" 2025.

So when he said: "Shoaib, you're practically my Head of Content"

I replied: "yeah, I kinda am."

So we made it official.

Head of Content (part-time).

I'll be doing more of the same, but on a bigger scale.

When you hear me say things like:

"Instead of chasing new clients all the time, do great work for your existing ones."

This is why!!

From a small freelancer contract in Feb 2024.
To being the fractional Head of Content.

Pretty darn cool.

The LinkedIn Growth Expert with receipts 📝 | Grown 205+ personal brands for founders, coaches & creators | Brain behind 300M organic impressions + £11.2M revenue | Multi-award winning LinkedIn coach, strategist, speaker

As a 27 year old, here's what I'm optimising my life for:

1. Getting lost in nature (forests, waterfalls, beaches)

2.  Seeing more wildlife (jungle treks, birdwatching, hikes)

3. More time with friends (casually dropping by for a cuppa)

4. Reading more fiction (getting lost in great stories)

5. Using money smartly (pension, investments, health)

6. Looking after my body (mobility, joints, muscle growth)

7. A calm nervous system (culling access to cheap dopamine)

8. Using my 1-person business to enhance life freedom

9. Travelling (seeing new people, cultures, ways of life)


In this mad world we live in, where "success" is defined by your job title, the digits in your bank account and what car you drive, it's so freeing to prioritise a life that FEELS good over one that "looks good".

What are your priorities in this season of life??

You don't need to 'earn' your rest or your joy.

Just checking you know that???

In the UK, we do this batsh*t crazy thing of putting our happiness behind a paywall and locking it away.

"I must work for 50 years before resting."
"I must hit $10K per month before I do X."
"I must work 12-hour days to justify X."

I think that's dumb.

You have no idea what will happen tomorrow.

Yet, you put off everything that makes you happy.

You're not on rations.
We're not at war 
(yet!!! 🙃)

You have free will.

I used to tell myself...

I'll do that thing I really want to do, but only...

- "When I've ticked off this 17 step to-do list"
- "When I've hit 0 emails in my inbox"
- "When I hit XX revenue in business."

But there is no “done”

Honey, you've been LIIIIIIEEEED to.

There isn't a mythical day when...

Your to-do list is complete
Your inbox is fully empty
Your goals are all hit 

The second you finish one thing, five more appear. 

Your goalposts shift.

So this year?

I stopped chasing “done.”

And instead?

I'm choosing to enjoy life.

All whilst the work still exists.

Guilt-fucking freeeeeee!!!

Even though:

I could earn more
Launch more products
Sign more clients
Post more often
Reply to more emails

I'm happy saying: "Actually... I'm good."

And sometimes even: "Thanks, but not thanks"

Because who the hell would be happy looking back at life and saying:

"I didn't do all things I wanted to in life but hey... AT LEAST I WAS PRODUCTIVE."

I love my job, my clients and my business.

But it's not my entire life.

So yes, this year I will be:

Going on more holidays 
Ticking off more bucket list stuff
Reading fiction books over self-help stuff
Putting social things into my work diary first
Taking slow morning walks in the sun
Spending hours painting pretty pictures
Eating food without my laptop open
Seeing my friends every single week

Without thinking:

"I'm not being productive enough."

Because rest is also productive. 

Because hobbies are also productive.

Because time with loved ones is also productive.

Because exercise is also productive.

Because nourishing the soul is also productive.

Because regulating your nervous system is also productive.

Because caring for other people is also productive.

Because going on side quests is also productive.

Because seeing the world is also productive.

Because sitting in the sun is also productive.

I refuse to measure my life by how many things I can get done in X number of minutes.

Or to define my 'value' as a human being by how much GBP I can charge per hour of my time.

Zoom out for a sec.

We are tiny dots on a floating rock.

And one day, the dot disappears.

(aka you die)

So don’t spend your time being a stressed, beige dot.

Be a sparkly, glittery, fun, dancing dot.

I'm at Manchester Airport on my way to Bali ✈️

To spend 30 days chasing sunsets, exploring nature and scaling my 1-person business - on my terms!

All because 4 years ago I decided:

I want more from life.

I don’t want to spend 50 years climbing a corporate ladder or work 48 weeks to ‘earn’ 4 weeks off from work a year.

I want to prioritise time, location and financial freedom in my 20s.

Sometimes it just takes one decision.

Followed by ruthless daily action.

To change your life forever.

I'm constantly pinching myself that I can do this 🙏🏽

I'm insanely grateful that I've built a personal brand that fuels my business and allows me to travel the world at the same time.

So ready to live my best island life 🌴 🥥 

Bali friends, drop your best recs! 

Things to do, places to eat, trails to hike...

P.S. Who else thinks Karla McNeilage should greet me at the airport with a huge bunch of flowers?? 💐

I won at the Business Awards UK! 🎉 

This definitely beats the "Star of the Week" accolade I got in year 4 for "helping tidy up Mrs Drury's classroom."

Pretty dope.

Read my interview here: https://lnkd.in/ePwTbv3E

Thanks for the write-up Dan Marsh.

I passed my driving test 9 years ago but I've never owned a car in my life.

But if I did buy a car...

I'd get a little used one for < £500.

Ideally, a tiny 2 seater.

So I never have to worry about:

1. Parking (I'm terrible!)
2. Someone stealing it
3. Someone crashing into it
4. Reversing into a lampost (likely!)
5. Having to give lifts to people 😂

A crappy old banger will do. 

The only thing that matters is that it gets me from A to B.

But right now, I choose not to have one.

I work from home.
I live in the city centre.
I travel abroad 10-12x a year.

I could buy a car. It's the thing to do. Right?

But the money I would spend on a fancy car, fuel, maintenance, parking, insurance, etc.

I'd rather put into:

- Flights abroad
- Health investments
- Spoiling my friends
- Bucket list experiences
- Investing in my business

Cars are weird.

If you're into cars as a hobby, go you!
(Seriously, no judgment).

I personally am not.

But I find 3 things bizarre:

1. How OFTEN I get asked about what car I'd buy

2. How OFTEN I get asked why I don't own a car (usually they say stuff like "but your business is doing well!!!")

3. The look of HORROR on people's faces when I tell them what my dream car actually is (+ how much it would cost)

It's a metal box on wheels.

I grew up in a community where cars were the ultimate sign of wealth.

Well then, consider me poor AF 😂

For some people cars are a necessity.

But for many people they can be a status purchase DISGUISED as a necessity.

I’ve watched so many people:

- Hit their first decent revenue month
- Immediately finance a “nice” car
- Lock themselves into 3–5 years of payments

These same people say:

"We can't go on a holiday this year."
"We need to stop getting takeaways."
"Don't put the heating on. Put on a jumper."

Meanwhile...

They've got a Range Rover and an Audi parked on their drive.

Make it make sense.

Nobody is driving past you thinking: “Wow. What an extraordinary human. Look at that Audi.”

They're thinking:

"Look at that Audi."

They're romanticising the car. 

Not you.

Buy stuff that makes you feel good by all means.

But don't buy stuff because you think it will make you "look" good in the eyes of other people.

Focus on pleasing your inner self.

Not your neighbour.

I've cut out people who "talk" non-stop about their goals BUT never take action to achieve them.

I don't judge them.

I just refuse to sit in their delusion 😅

I'm tired of:

The same conversations
The same advice they'd ask for
The same excuses they'd make

I'm au-ADHD, so this also might come into it.

I'm a literal person.

If I say I'm going to create a digital product in 5 days.

By day 3 I'll have the product, the email funnel, the launch material, the graphics, the copy, the social media posts ... all done!

Day 4: I launch it
Day 5: I move to the next thing

I've trained a bias for action.

Otherwise, you get stuck in the "talking stage"

When we talk about doing something, the brain releases dopamine, just as it would if we'd actually done the thing.

So it "rewards" you for doing nothing.

Which is toxic af. Brain, do better 😂


Here are 4 things I do to PREVENT this:


1. I make an upfront investment.

Money creates commitment and the pain of losing it is a great motivator.

Invest in whatever you need ASAP.
(Even better if there's a time limit)

E.g. I paid for 6 passes for a yoga class. But the passes had to be used within 4 weeks.

I booked them all and went.

See?? It works.


2. I bake accountability into it.

Hire a PT if you wanna get built
Hire a biz coach if you want ££
Go to the gym with a friend.

The pain of letting people down is often worse than the pain of doing the thing you said you would.

Which is great for taking action.

This is especially helpful on days when you're feeling lazy.

Or whipping up excuses to not do it.


3. I single-task (not multi task).

Long to-do lists are the enemy of progress.

Subtraction is the secret weapon.

So I cull everything from my to-do list and pick 1-2 priorities.

I clear my diary for that thing.
Assign a limited amount of time for it.
Then go all in until it's done.

Only then do I move on to the next thing.

Multi-tasking = multi-failing.


4. I schedule it into the diary.

If it's not in your diary, you'll allow it to be swallowed up.

Don't lie to yourself.

You'll never make time for it.

So choose a date, time and location to start. (Knocking down the first domino is the hardest part).

Put it in your calendar. Time-block.

Anything else you want to do has to fit around it.

It's basic priority-setting.


All these are pretty basic things that helped me.

Maybe they might help you.

And you can FINALLY get *that thing* done you keep talking about.


P.S. What helps you TAKE ACTION?

Share any tips below and let's not gatekeep.

We can all win together!

2022: Worked every weekend 8am-8pm (said “no” to social invites, locked myself in a box room and went into monk mode). 

2026: Spending weekends hopping between tiny islands in the Indian Ocean with swimming shorts, a book and a water bottle.

In those 4 years, I built a multi 6-figure business from scratch.

And no…

I’m not a trust fund kid.
I don’t have a business degree.
Nobody in my family is an entrepreneur to learn from.

In the first 2-3 years, 90 hour weeks were normal.

I love the idea of “work-life balance.”

But practically, it doesn't work. 

(Especially early on).

To get something off the ground, you have to sacrifice in ways most people simply won’t.

You must be obsessive.

It takes time, graft and commitment to:

Hone your craft (until you’re very good)
Test offers that flop + create good ones
Find your ICP and what niche to target
Set up contracts/ invoicing/ decks
Figure out how to market yourself
Learn how to conduct sales calls
Build standard operating procedures
Make mistakes (hopefully only once!)
Learn the fundamentals of business

These photos are real.

But they’re the reward, not the starting point.

And ALSO a reward that I have to maintain.

I work incredibly hard when I'm in 'business season' so I can indulge in this time off, guilt-free. (And I do it all solo - my marketing, my sales, my newsletter, my content, my client delivery, my operations).

Early self-employed life is stressful, lonely, confusing and financially inconsistent.

Fullstop.

And for context:

I don’t have kids or dependents.
I don’t have a debilitating disability.
I don’t have a pet tying me to one place.

That makes digital nomad life easier.

(There are elements of privilege here for sure!!!)

But it doesn’t remove the work.

You can't shortcut that.

So if you’re seeing posts with pictures like these, but without the context I've given in this post and thinking:

“How do I get there???”

The answer is simple:

Mute the people selling you a false dream.

And focus on the work.

Put in the hours.
Cut out your distractions.
Invest in real experts to help.
Work on needle-moving tasks.
Start building your personal brand.

Do the boring stuff.

Now, 4 years in, I don’t chase “balance.”

I practice work-life integration.

I work in seasons.

Some months I go all in - by choice.

Other months I slow down. Travel more. Live life fully.

Freedom isn’t constant relaxation.

It’s optional intensity.

And this freedom is only obtained once you’ve set up the foundations.

Most people chase this freedom with no foundations.

They never make it.

Build and strengthen your foundations first.

When I started posting on LinkedIn I never expected to be body-shamed by strangers 🙃

Last month, it happened 5 times.
(and all from different people)

Why is this a thing???


"You've got chubbier in the face.”

"Stop skipping leg day bro"

"Your back is like a woman's" (body-shaming and misogyny ... double whammy!)

"Someone give this man some food.”

"You'd look a lot better if you lifted.”


For context, I'm self-employed and building in public. So often, my posts have pictures of me travelling and working from cool spots.

I try to visually show the behind the scenes of running a business as a 27 year old digital nomad.

But one thing I'll NEVER understand?...

How someone wakes up and decides “you know what, I’m going to make THEIR body MY business” 

Feel free to challenge my thoughts about business.

But commenting on a body?

Not cool.

Last year, I went through 6 months of therapy for an eating disorder.

I was also diagnosed with au-ADHD - which comes with a higher risk of addictive and compulsive behaviours.

All this can affect body-image, eating, substance abuse, etc - and I relate to a lot of this stuff!!

So there’s that.

In the last 12 months, I’ve done a lot of work on myself (therapy, PT, nutritionist, etc) and I’m so proud of that.

So silly comments don't harm me.

That's not the point.

You never know what someone is carrying when you fire off a “joke” or a flippant remark about their body.

You never know who ELSE might see your comment and what effect it might have on them.

I choose to post content online.

What I am not consenting to is commentary on my weight, shape, or appearance.

So if you’re ever tempted to comment on someone’s body...

Please think twice.

1. Is this kind?

2. Is this necessary?

3. Is this actually about them or about me needing a moment of superiority?

We can do better than this.


P.S. Sharing this post after just leaving the gym and thinking to myself... I fcking love this body and what it allows me to do. Negative nellies will always find *something* to be negative about.

I sat in a rooftop cafe, spent 4 hours painting some pretty flowers and listening to my fave albums 🌸

Morning well spent!

I'm a 27 year old, multi-award-winning business owner.

For 4+ years,
I've been building a "successful business"

This year I'm taking seriously another goal:
To build a "SUCCESSFUL LIFE"


So I operate in modes:

1. WORK MODE - spent part of my day locked in, delivering client work, smashing KPIs, delivering 1:1 coaching, running my 1-man business. 

• I'm caffeinated
• All my supplies are with me
• I get into an ADHD flow state.

2. LIFE MODE - do something that genuinely fills my cup and has nothing to do with making money, saving time or being 'productive'.

• My laptop stays at home.
• All notifications are off.
• I don't give myself "time" limits.


Some of those things include:

⛰️ Going on long walks with hiking boots, waterbottle, binoculars and no Google Maps!

🎨 Painting, knitting, building lil wooden ornaments - doing any form of 'creation' with my hands (screen-free!)

🏋️ Spending hours in the gym (rotating between working out, sitting in the sauna, facetiming friends on a treadmill or lying by a pool)

📖 Reading fiction books and getting lost in stories with a hot drink (usually peppermint tea, tropical mango tea or decaf coffee).

🥯 Planning a mid-week daytrip - where I go out for brunch, do an activity (galleries, zoos, museums) and see friends IRL.

🌅 Sitting on a beach, a cliff or in your garden and watching the sunset, appreciating nature


Remember: "productivity" isn't just measurable by money or time.

Being productive can also mean:

- resting and recovering
- observing the world around you
- having quality time with loved ones
- doing something purely for joy
- learning a new skill (with no intention to monetise it)
- reading, writing, composing
- listening to your body
- trying new things (even if you fail)
- having fun

ps. how do you "fill your cup?"


Oh and the albums I listened to were:

Stripped - Xtina
Waking up - One Republic
Wasteland Baby! - Hozier
My 21st Century Blues - RAYE

I'm 27. And last week on a work Zoom call I was rudely told off like a naughty schoolchild.

Never felt so humiliated 😅

I was accused of being "distracted" because I wasn’t making eye contact.

When I asked why he (business owner in his 50s) thought this...

He said I was "fidgety".

And "that's not making a good first impression."

Yeah...

I'm literally au-ADHD.

I struggle with eye contact and sitting still.

When I'm having a conversation, my eyes dart around the room rather than fixing on a camera.

This is because I'm processing what you're saying in real time.

Movement helps me do this.

So I often have a pen, a mug or a knitting needle in my hand (literally anything that I can find) to help anchor my thoughts.

It's called "stimming" 

And it's a form of self regulating behaviour which helps me focus and avoid sensory overload.

I once had someone ask me to repeat what they'd said - as a test - to catch me out.

The audacity!!!

The funny thing is that if I'm just stood still, staring at the camera and not fidgeting…

THEN I've 100% zoned out.

So it was actually the opposite of what this person thought.

I was super invested in the call!!!

In this case, I politely explained my situation.

The person rolled their eyes.

(Final strike ❌)

I said goodbye and ended the call.

I won’t be talked down to like a schoolchild at the age of 27.

Especially as this guy wanted MY HELP with his personal brand, yet went on to belittle and insult me.

What a world we live in.


P.S. Does ANYONE actually stare directly into the camera on a call? That’s psychopathic behaviour to me 😂

I wrote a LinkedIn post that got 74,802 likes.

It hit over 1.2 million impressions 🤯📈

- 5,186 comments.
- 1,192 reposts.

Fair to say, it BLEW UP!! 

Tomorrow, I'm showing the post to my mailing list.

And I'll break down:

1. How I sourced the idea for my client
2. Why I wrote that specific hook
3. What viral writing techniques I used

Sign up here if you want it in your inbox.

It's free: https://lnkd.in/eVKs-RrT

I think I just hired the best virtual assistant in my business.

And it’s not a real person 😂

Until recently, I was spending 3-4 hours a week doing the most boring admin imaginable:

– Client onboarding
– Sending links and folders
– Chasing forms / invoices
– Drafting the same emails
– Scheduling follow-ups

Now it takes me 15 minutes.

I stopped forcing clients into my internal tools and built one simple, client-facing portal instead.

Everything lives in one place:

Contracts + invoices
Onboarding docs
Forms + files + context
Automatic reminders
Clear next steps (for them and me)

And I’m no longer hunting through Slack, email, Drive, Notion and WhatsApp like a gremlin.

This is the kind of AI-enhanced software I love.

The “get this off my plate so I can do my actual job” type of AI.

I’m a one-man band.

So I quickly fall in love with any tool that:

a) saves me time
b) doesn't sacrifice quality
c) makes clients' lives easier

If you want to see what I’m using, comment "PORTAL" and I’ll send it over.

Brand partnership • The LinkedIn Growth Expert with receipts 📝 | Grown 205+ personal brands for founders, coaches & creators | Brain behind 300M organic impressions + £11.2M revenue | Multi-award winning LinkedIn coach, strategist, speaker

My client just fired me.

And left me this 3 minute voicenote.

I really have no other words.

Most people: advice you to send 50 cold DMs a day on LinkedIn, create a 17-step AI workflow and automate + outsource everything, including visiting your 87 year old gran. #efficiency 

Me: teach you how to write viral LinkedIn posts that boost visibility, get business results and all in less time - by using proven marketing psychology and LinkedIn growth techniques I've used with REAL PEOPLE. 


I think my method is better.

Why?

1. You learn key writing principles you can apply everywhere (landing pages, emails, ads, offers etc.)

2. You spend less time creating mediocre, bland posts that anyone could say.

3. You master how to tell great stories and build a standout, impactful and memorable personal brand.


⏰ In 4 hours, I'm hosting a live FREE webinar.

"How to Write Viral LinkedIn Posts"

Register + get the link: https://lnkd.in/eGvesmwM

It's open to anyone.

It'll be packed with ACTUALLY helpful advice.
Stuff that I use daily. (For me and clients).

See you there!

I woke up in Bali this morning.
Alarm went off at 5:56am.
Snoozed it. Slept for 2 more hours.
Walked 15 mins to the gym.
Spoke to some strangers in the street.
Met Karla McNeilage there.
Did 45 minutes of weight lifting.
Had a shower.
Jumped on a motorbike.
Arrived at a cafe.
Had a protein breakfast bowl.
Opened my laptop at 11:31.
Spent 3 hours working.
Phone away. Full deep mode.
Responded to 7 emails.
Wrote a few posts for clients.
Accepted a speaking invite.
Signed a brand deal.
Jumped on a bike (again).
Arrived at an overnight oats cafe.
Had lunch.
Facetimed a friend.
Whipped out my laptop.
Worked for another 2 hours.
Helped my client prep for a podcast.
Rewrote a LI profile for a Founder.
Delivered 1:1 LinkedIn coaching.
Closed my laptop.
Taking Karla for dinner now.

There's nothing exceptional here.

It took 4 years of self-work, therapy, au-ADHD coaching, scaling an agency, burning said agency down, dealing with addiction and finally understanding how my brain works and how I can thrive best.

Not just as a 'business owner'.

But as a real human being.

With flaws, a chaotic schedule and a neurodivergent brain in tow, that still surprises me every day! 😅

So to me, a day like this - which embodies the financial, time and location freedom I've prioritised - is a huge achievement.

I'm 27.

And I feel like I'm living my dream life.

Society tells us to chase:

More.
Bigger.
Faster.
Status.
Upgrades.

But I'm happy right where I am.

Prioritising:

Health.
Community.
Intentionality.
Purpose.
Freedom.

I dunno why I felt so emotional watching this clip.

But I did. 

It even took me by surprise haha.

Thanks James Lamb, for creating such a welcoming space for me to share my story.

(And ofc lots of LinkedIn tips and advice).

You can watch and listen here: https://lnkd.in/ewPzJkUK

I kinda ate February up ngl!!! 🥥🌊
Here's what I got upto...

🎂 Celebrated my 27th birthday with my bunch of school pals in Leeds. Had a Thai curry followed by cheesecake. In bed by 9:30pm. Perfect night.

🫡 Became Limelight’s Head of Content (to extend my current partnership with David). I’ll be leading strategy across personal branding, content marketing and LinkedIn. (The nerdy, data-backed, revenue-generating kind.)

✈️ Flew across the world for 30 days in Indonesia - to island hop, chase sunsets and go into “monk mode” in a few business areas. Escaped the dark, depressing 7am UK mornings. Sorry Britain. I love you. But respectfully, no.

🏆 Won the Lone Wolf Consultancy of the Year Award at the Business Awards UK - the judges recognised “exceptional client results” as the winning factor.

🏋️ Ate 17 smoothie bowls (so far!). Drank 14 protein shakes. Spent 40+ hours lifting weights in the gym and read 3 books (all of them were so good, so I'll pop them in the comments!)

🧠 Ran my 2nd LinkedIn masterclass of the year: “How to write viral LinkedIn posts”. 300+ people signed up to learn my proven, data-driven tactics to amplify the visibility of their content.

🤝 Signed a 3-month creator partnership deal with a brand (co-owned by Steven Bartlett). It’s one of the first AI tools I’ve seen that supports real copywriters without turning everyone into beige, robotic LinkedIn clones.

📈 Two clients upgraded their LinkedIn personal branding package size with me to amplify the scale and output of the work I’ve been doing. Always a good sign when clients say “Let’s do more together!”

🎙️ Took a daytrip to London to appear on James Lamb’s new podcast. Honoured to be his 2nd guest. I spoke all things freedom-building, lifestyle businesses, self-belief, unconventional careers and of course, LinkedIn.

😅 Jumped on my first and very chaotic LinkedIn live (+ overshared, iykyk) with my pals Hannah del Herrera, Karla McNeilage and Louis Butterfield.

📧 Grew my email subs by 200+ founders, marketers and business leaders. Welcome!! I’m really focused on adding insane value. So if you want all my best LinkedIn personal branding insights & breakdowns, subscribe: https://lnkd.in/eVKs-RrT


Negatives:

- I got caught in a 3-day flood in Lombok (an island near Bali) and had to wade through muddy floodwater barefoot to get to the gym / cafes / coworking spots. (By day 3, it was just part of the daily routine 😂)

- I got 2 invites for speaking gigs this summer at big marketing events and BOTH were on the same day. Had to decline one. What are the chances?!?

- I had to end a potential client call because a founder (who wanted me to build his brand) said, "even though you're in Bali, I'd expect you to fully work on a UK timezone to accommodate my diary." Dude... you HAVING A LAUGH?? Bye.


PS. What’ve you been upto? Win of the month?

LMK and let’s celebrate 🎉

In < 48 hours, I'm going "live" 🎤

To over 250 wonderful people!!

I'm teaching business owners, coaches & creators...

"How to Write Viral LinkedIn Posts" 📈📈

In 30 minutes, they'll learn:

✔ 8 top copywriting principles
✔ What visuals/formats to use
✔ The anatomy of a viral post
✔ How to master post hooks

It's 100% free. 
Open to everyone.

It will be jam-packed with value.

You're welcome to join.

Register here + get the link: https://lnkd.in/eGvesmwM

Come hang out with us!! 🫶🏽

This will be a fun LinkedIn live between 4 friends.

Ask us anything and walk away with lots of insights for building an authentic, high-trust personal brand.

Without all the silly shenanigans.

I can't wait to see some of you there!

I love this lineup so much.

$2M generated from 1 video/week → 122/250 founders (and counting)

3 people who've built ~60,000 followers each.

Literally 100's of clients between them.

Going live with Shoaib Ahmed, Karla McNeilage and Hannah del Herrera to break down what actually makes strangers trust you online.

Not the stuff you've heard a thousand times on the feed.

Like what is the EXACT way they did it from 0-60,000?

So you walk away knowing exactly how to do it yourself.

Les do it.

The stupidly simple way to build a brand + win strangers’ trust

Niall Cleaver

Documenting the journey of crafting a timeless coffee cup brand | CEO & Founder of Cupsly

My story isn’t about a polished entrepreneur. My journey hasn’t been traditional. I left school without an English qualification, uncertain of what the future held. 

That failure shaped me, it forced me to think differently, fall into business, and ultimately embrace creativity, resilience, and the belief that change is possible, even when doubted. Fast forward to today, I’m growing and scaling businesses while sharing the real lessons that come from it.

Founder

Are you struggling to grow an engaging community for your business or personal brand.

Stop right there, I think I have you covered ⬇️

This is me (Niall), I'm a 22-year-old who is fascinated by growing communities in the online space. Actual communities that have meaning and purpose. 

The services we provide at Social Library 

➡️ Personal Branding (LinkedIn)

➡️ Guidance & support consulting


Drop me a message to discuss your social media strategy, review how well your current socials/posts are doing, and research how we can build your community and gain you more followers and leads.

or you can email us @

hello@sociallibrary.co.uk

Yesterday, we moved closer to finalising the next chapter of Thistle.

And it's actually getting proper real now...

I've been very lucky to work on this project from the beginning. From the first idea all the way through the execution, but this project is more than that to us. It's not just another project; it's the next chapter in how we support even more researchers around the world.

But for many businesses, change can feel uncomfortable. It brings uncertainty and a little risk, but this is what we should be looking for. As you grow and develop as a business you brand evolves with you.

You become clearer with two questions:

Who you serve as a business?
How can you better support them?

That’s why it’s so important to bring the right people into the room.

People who debate, people who aren't scared of having hard conversations and people who keep it real. For us, that’s been the case since day one with Jo and Harry.

Both have been part of this journey from the start, helping shape, question, and build where Thistle is heading next. And it's one we're all excited for...

Remember, change is a good thing. Sitting still never is.

Growing @thistlescientific and sharing the lessons while I do

taplio

The Battle

Shoaib Ahmed

Niall Cleaver

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreShoaib Ahmed's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNiall Cleaver's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Shoaib Ahmed

Niall Cleaver

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);}Shoaib Ahmed's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreNiall Cleaver's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreShoaib Ahmed's LinkedIn Performance