Co-Founder @ Stan | building a $BN company 🚀

Hi, I’m Vitalii 👋🏻

Over the past 3 years, I’ve built a $30M ARR business with 30 people.

A $1M/employee company.

Now, we’re building a category-defining brand—with $100M ARR in sight.

To do that, I focus on Culture, People, and Product.

Everything that got me here is self-taught.

Born and raised in Russia, I started working at 13—packing parachutes and skydiving. 🪂
By 18, I had 800+ jumps and enough saved to pay for my first year of college.

Jumping out of planes redefined my relationship with fear.
Once you commit, you act. Without hesitation.

I learned English in one year to study abroad—still the hardest thing I’ve done.
That brought me to Canada, where I earned a degree in Chemical Engineering.

I never used it.

My side projects opened doors for me—first to Deloitte, then to eBay.
But the real work happened outside the job.

I made time to build:
9–5 for the paycheck,
5–9 (both morning and night) for what I actually cared about.

That’s where I proved to myself—nothing is impossible.

In 2021, I met my cofounder. We went all-in and started building Stan.

On my LinkedIn, I write about:

→ Founder war stories (unfiltered)
→ Building a $1M/employee startup
→ Creating top 1% culture

🎧 Follow me here if you're building—or want to build—something great.

People I work with would describe me as:

→ I make things happen
→ Zero tolerance for mediocrity
→ I build and run top 1% talent-density teams

🫂 DM me on LinkedIn if you'd like to work at Stan.

But know—it’s likely to be the hardest thing you’ve ever done.
And worth it. For the right person.

—

On LinkedIn, I share stories for founders building what’s next—
The ones who care about People, Culture, and Redefining what's possible.

If that’s you,
Follow me. Drop a comment. Or just say hi 👋🏻

Vitalii Dodonov

I've just hired Emily Talas to make Stan the #1 place to work in Toronto 🇨🇦

A day later: "You're so lucky to have her."

I got 7 texts like this following the announcement ^^. Must be doing something right 😅

Here's a stat I feel vulnerable to share:

50% of our candidates from traditional channels don't work out by month 3.

At the same time, 
90% of employee referrals stay indefinitely and create disproportionate value.

There's signal in that.

And we're acting on it ✅

Starting now, we’re going 90% community-based hiring.

When I met Emily, I knew almost instantly she'd be the one:

Born to a family of entrepreneurs. Working since 14. Found her ikigai in Community x Tech (how rare is that!?). People I respect texted me about her.

I bet on Emily because the talent I'm after doesn't talk to recruiters: 
"The best people are never unemployed."

But on occasion, they hang out with other cool people. 
Emily's mission is to create the occasion.

In 2026, Emily's likely to drive 90% of our hiring in Toronto.

Think hackathons, hacker houses, private dinners, collaborations, and special events giving unknown talent a chance to meet us.

🇨🇦 Toronto — what's one event you wish existed here? We're painting a blank canvas, share some ideas!

My first bet of 2026: $20,000 on builders in Canada 🇨🇦

Build with AI? On Jan 23 👇

I’m inviting 60 builders to embark on a weekend-long sprint to create something new at the edge of AI.

Details:
🛠 Participants: 60 builders
⏰ Duration: 2 days 
🎯 Theme: AI × Voice × Video
👥 Team: Solo, with friends, or AI teammates

Each participant/team gets a $200 tech credit and competes for:

$20,000 cash
30-min 1:1 with me (ask anything you want)

To help spread the word, please repost this and tag anyone who should see it!

This is an invite-only event.

📩 To apply, leave a comment describing the most impressive thing you’ve built in one line.

Traditional recruiting is dead. That's why I'm paying $20,000 to a stranger in January.

I've hired 40+ people.

Together, we've built a $30M ARR startup. Profitably.

One thing in common among my best hires:

I wouldn't call them if all I saw was their resume. Take a look:

Esther, now my EA, has a fashion management degree. She got the job by walking into a machine shop and producing a mechanical drawing — before we even met 💅🛠️

Jason (JSON) won a hackathon last year he couldn't legally join because he was 17. I hired him on the spot (with his parents' approval) and he's built a $1.4M product with me in 9 months 🧑🏻‍💻

Ricky, now Head of Engineering, came from a company I'd never heard of. Did fine in the interview (on his birthday! 🎂). Then called me at 10 PM with a better solution he couldn't stop thinking about. 

Resumes can only tell you so much — unreliable signal.

So instead of reading resumes, I host hackathons. Give builders a reason to come. 

Then watch.

So here we are 👇

January 23. Toronto. 2-day hackathon on the edge of AI.

Win $20,000 — and (or!) a job building a $1B company. Invite-only. 

📩 To apply: tell me a story of what you've built that you're most proud of in the comments.

CRA paid me $750K for building in Canada 🇨🇦

And now I'm giving it back - starting with $20K on Jan 23. 

In 2021, we established our office in Canada.

3 years later: $30M ARR. 30 people. One of the fastest-growing startups in the country.

My vision was to build a $1B company with 10 engineers - I'm evolving that now.

Since then, our Toronto office expanded far beyond engineering and has become HQ for 20+ brilliant people building at the edge of technology and entrepreneurship.

There are 2 major tech hubs in the world — SF and Toronto.

And while SF has access to capital and a developed VC ecosystem, California seems to be working against its own interest.

I mean… who wants to become a billionaire in California now? 👎

Anyway — Canada paid me $750K last year for building here.

And I'm paying it back to Canadian builders.

January 23. Hackathon in Toronto. 60 builders. $20,000 grand prize.

Come join us — and let the prize be the seed funding for your company (or use the opportunity to interview at Stan — whatever your ambition is).

Invite-only (curating a high calibre room!)

📩 To apply, drop your proudest project in one sentence in the comments. I'll reach out with an invite if it resonates.

I'm paying $20,000 for 2 days of someone's work on Jan 23.

Early in my career, 

I was making $8,000/mo writing code for a big company, while hacking away on side projects. I always wanted to work for myself.

One day, I was in a room with an entrepreneur who was upset about fees he was paying for software. So I asked:

V: How much are you paying?
M: 10%.

V: And how much money is that?
M: $50K/year.

My mind goes: no wonder he's upset. I bet I could do a simple Stripe integration with 3.4% fees. I already did something similar for my side project.

V: If I could get your fees down to 5%, how much would that be worth to you?
M: I'd pay $10K without even thinking.

V: I'm gonna do it for you for $10K.

It took me a weekend — 3 days (nights included), mostly repackaging code I already had across other projects.

I gave him a demo on Monday, and by Friday, $10,000 landed in my PayPal.

That weekend I learned: the right room + the right skills = life-changing opportunity. 

And now, I want to put you in that room 👇

January 23. Hackathon in Toronto. 60 builders. $20,000 grand prize. 
Invite-only. 

📩 To apply, drop your most impactful build story in the comments — I'll personally reach out to the builders I want in the room.

I hired my Executive Assistant because of her napkin drawing 📜

Her name is Esther.

A year ago, I was looking for an Executive Assistant. 

Looking for the top 1%, I needed a way to test problem-solving and initiative.

So I gave candidates a creative test:

I was building a frame for a flying car as a passion project at the time.

How many ppl know anything about flying cars anyway? 🤷‍♂️

I wrote down an abstract description of a few parts I needed.

The assignment was to research machine shops and find a way to manufacture them 

When I reviewed Esther's submission, she had a picture of this drawing inside (see the image).

I invited her to my office:

V: "Do you know anything about manufacturing?"
E: "No… I study business and fashion"
V: "How did you get this image?"
E: "They drew it for me at the machine shop"
V: "You went to the machine shop?"

(I reviewed a few dozen submissions by then. All candidates just called).

E: "I called first but what they were saying didn't quite fit what you were looking for"

E: "I figured it'd be easier if I just go there to figure it out. "
E: "So I just walked over." 

V: "That must've taken hours. Why invest that time?"

E: "Umm... I didn't really think about it. I wasn't getting what I needed. So I did what I had to do."

Having heard this I knew the interview was over.

Anyone who thinks like that will succeed in anything they do.

She got the job.

And since then, Esther was behind a number of very unique experiences we created at Stan:

Like making the big $750K CRA cheques, organizing Hacker Houses in SF and hosting AI Hackathons on Toronto. 

Congratulations on your 1 year at Stan, Esther!

undefined undefined

Executive Assistant @ Stan

Stan

HackAI 2.0 starting tonight. It’s time to build 😤

New Show: Emily in 𝙿̶𝚊̶𝚛̶𝚒̶𝚜̶ Stan (or "How to get a Founder to hire you")

A story in screenshots 👇

Hiring - Emily in Stan

I'm paying $20,000 in January to the winner of my hackathon. But the real prize isn't the $20K.

The room matters more than the prize.

When I was 13, my dad gave me a gift — working alongside him.

He's a professional skydiver. Extreme sport, expensive hobby. His clients are top-tier business people (natural selection — the sport isn't cheap) 🪂

So in between sessions when we went out for saunas and dinners, I got to sit in and listen to them. War stories, betrayals, deals, schemes, mental models, what made them successful.

I absorbed it all, without even realizing it.

Looking back, I realize — those were the building blocks that led me to a $30M ARR startup, running at $1M/employee before AI.

And that's the opportunity I'm giving you.

Join Stan on January 23 to build for 2 days alongside my team and 59 other builders competing for a grand prize of $20,000.

→ Meet me, my team, and Toronto's best builders.
→ Maybe your future co-founder — or I offer you a job. (It happened last year.)

The $20K is nice. The room might change your life.

January 23. Toronto. Invite-only.

Grab your spot with the link in comments!

I asked a seasoned exec about his worst business decision.

He didn't miss a beat: "Cancelling the 9am."

For 10 years, he ran it daily.
The 2 years he stopped were his worst.

Without that anchor, people drifted in at 9:30.
Add coffee and "how was your weekend" — real work started at 11.

Half the day, gone.

The meetings weren't about updates.
They set the rhythm.

Remove that, and people rebuild discipline from scratch.
Exhausting.

At Stan, when we skip our morning sync, everything drags.

We don't miss the information.
We miss the rhythm.

Humans need structure.
It gives them permission to just start.

What’s your version of the 9am?

Someone asked me what I hope never changes about Stan in 5 years.

Me in 5 seconds: 

"Our commitment to talent density."

I'm building a company where having worked here is the ultimate badge of honor on a resume.

Where any other employer would be fighting to get our alumni on board. 
(If they ever want to work for another company, that is.)

I fundamentally believe the reason we win is this: We attract top 1% talent.

And we put them in an environment where their ability can be utilized to its absolute maximum potential.

With ownership, autonomy, and a set of large, cutting-edge problems they can tackle.

Everything else can change. 
The market, the product, our size.

But for me, it will always be about the talent.

Founders Q: What's the one thing you hope never changes about your company?

One of my favourite Years in Review on LinkedIn. Keep going Alexia - it's okay not to know what's coming. The path unfolds as you start walking.

Putting Humans Back at the Heart of Business | Certified L&D Professional | Soft Skills Expert | Heedership® & Bring Your Asha! Founder | ICF Coach

"It is never too late to be what you might have been." 💜
George Eliot wrote these words centuries ago. I understood them at 43.

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.
Merci pour les rencontres qui sont devenues des amitiés.
Merci pour les doutes qui sont devenus des certitudes.
Merci pour chaque "oui" qui m'a rapprochée de qui je suis vraiment.

This year, I finally found where I belong. Coaching. Delivering Trainings. Learning & Development. Toastmasters: Human Connection.

And as I look at this visual, thank you for the idea Stanley (Your Content Coach) and Vitalii Dodonov, I see my entire "purple" year captured in one image. Learn. Grow. Repeat. The infinity loop between Heedership and Leadership. The three pillars. The magic.

𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐰? 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
I don't know exactly what's coming. And that's the most exciting part.

What I do know: I'm ready. Curious. Open.

It is never too late to become who you might have been.
And it's never too early to dream about who you're still becoming.

Pure magic. 💜

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤-𝐢𝐧: What are you curious about for 2026?

ChatGPT says “Do NOT click the link below”.

Brand Partnerships / Speaking: charlie@linked-agency.com

Are you struggling to stand out on LinkedIn?

Tired of spending hours crafting content with little return?

It's time to harness the power of AI and skyrocket your LinkedIn presence.

Look, here's the deal:

1. Content creation is the key to LinkedIn success.
2. AI tools can dramatically accelerate your content production.
3. Only a fraction of LinkedIn users are leveraging AI effectively.

Mastering AI-powered content creation is your ticket to dominating LinkedIn in 2025.

The question is, how do you generate enough attention to grow your following and drive results?

Here's what to know.

To start seeing real growth on LinkedIn. You need:

☑︎ A consistent content strategy
☑︎ Engaging, value-driven posts
☑︎ Strategic use of engagement
☑︎ Continuous optimisation
☑︎ Scroll-stopping visuals

This all takes time and expertise.

So you have two options, really:

1. Invest countless hours figuring it out yourself.
2. Learn from someone who's cracked the code.

Either way, I can help you.

I've used AI-powered strategies to grow my own LinkedIn following.

- 50k+ followers in under one year (2024)
- 185k+ followers in under two years (2025)

Now I help others do the same through:

1:1 Power Hours (DM me “Power”)
↳ Focused strategy sessions

LinkedIn AI Community (DM me “Community”)
↳ Learn + network with peers

Linked Agency DFY (DM me “DFY”)
↳ Done-for-you growth systems

Don't let your content get lost in the LinkedIn void.

Let's leverage AI to create content that converts.

Website: www.linked-agency.com
Email: charlie@linked-agency.com

Charlie Hills

Stop asking AI to write LinkedIn posts.

Do this instead:

1. Extract Your Voice First

"Analyse my last 10 posts. Extract my tone, sentence patterns, and recurring themes. Create a voice profile I can reuse."

AI becomes your writing analyst.

2. Build a Content Bank

"Turn these 5 experiences into a content bank. For each, identify the lesson, the emotion, and 3 angles I could write from."

AI becomes your content strategist.

3. Generate Hooks, Not Posts

"Give me 10 scroll-stopping hooks for [topic]. Make them specific, curiosity-driven, and under 10 words."

AI becomes your headline writer.

4. Map the Structure

"Create a post outline for [idea]. Include the hook, 3 key points, a transition, and a closing that drives action."

AI becomes your content architect.

5. Add Your Proof Points

"I want to make this point: [X]. Find 3 ways to back it up - a stat, a personal story angle, and a contrarian take."

AI becomes your research assistant.

6. Refine for Platform

"Reformat this draft for LinkedIn. Add line breaks, tighten sentences, remove fluff, and make it scannable."

AI becomes your editor.

7. Humanize the Output

"Review this for AI tells. Remove clichés, rhetorical questions, and robotic phrasing. Make it sound like me."

AI becomes your authenticity filter.

8. Create a Reusable System

"Turn this process into a custom GPT or prompt template I can reuse for every post."

AI becomes your systems builder.

Most people type "write me a post about X."
Then wonder why it sounds like everyone else.

These prompts keep your ideas.
AI just helps to shape them.

This post gives you the prompts.

But prompts alone won't master AI content.

You need:
↳ A system that learns your voice
↳ Tools that generate ideas from your past content
↳ AI that writes like you, not a robot

That's what Stanley (Your Content Coach) does.

Try it here → https://lnkd.in/eqGtRi54

Stanley can do much more than this.

Want to see the full system?
↳ 4-min video walkthrough
↳ 9 additional power prompts

Repost ♻️ + DM me "Stanley".

I'll send you everything

#StanleyPartner

Charlie Hills 🦩

I help you (actually) use AI for content.

This is the best AI humaniser prompt I've ever used.

I've tested dozens (this one actually works).

Credit to Sabrina Ramonov 🍄 for creating it.

I added two tweaks:

1. "AVOID rhetorical questions."
2. "AVOID staccato stop start sentences."

AI loves both:

- Rhetorical questions feel like filler.
- Choppy sentences sound robotic.

Both are instant tells that AI wrote your content.

This prompt now lives in my Claude and ChatGPT.
(You can add it to your custom instructions.)

This makes AI content sound like you wrote it.

I wrote a full breakdown on AI slop and how to avoid it.

Click here to access it → https://lnkd.in/en9zQWFY

Save this. Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

I just broke up with ChatGPT (for everything).

And no, this isn't clickbait. Let me explain.

For 3 years, ChatGPT was my everything:

- Writing assistant
- Research buddy
- Strategy partner
- Image creator
- Therapist

Look, I still respect ChatGPT.

It's like that ex who introduced me to great restaurants.

I'm grateful, but I've moved on.

I break down the 4 tools that replaced it (and why) here → https://lnkd.in/eUVutcuN

Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

I replaced ChatGPT with Claude 4.5.

Here's exactly how to get the most out of it:

Full breakdown here: https://lnkd.in/eUVutcuN

THE MODELS

1 - Claude Opus 4.5
↳ What: Most capable model for complex reasoning
↳ Use: Advanced code, research, strategic analysis
↳ Best for: Hardest problems requiring deep thinking

2 - Claude Sonnet 4.5
↳ What: Balanced model for everyday tasks
↳ Use: Writing, editing, summarising, Q&A
↳ Best for: Fast performance with strong output

3 - Claude Haiku 4.5
↳ What: Fastest model for simple tasks
↳ Use: Quick answers, high-volume work
↳ Best for: Speed and saving credits

THE TOOLS

4 - Artifacts
↳ What: Interactive editor inside chat
↳ Use: Build apps, dashboards, documents live
↳ Best for: Real-time collaboration and iteration

5 - Web Search
↳ What: Live internet search with citations
↳ Use: News, pricing, trends, fact-checking
↳ Best for: Current events and real-time info

6 - Analysis Tool
↳ What: JavaScript code execution for data
↳ Use: Process CSVs, create charts, run calculations
↳ Best for: Complex data analysis

7 - File Upload
↳ What: Accepts PDFs, CSVs, images, docs
↳ Use: Review, extract, summarise, analyse
↳ Best for: Multi-format document support

8 - Google Drive
↳ What: Direct access to your Drive files
↳ Use: Search, cite, and pull context
↳ Best for: Connected Google Drive workflows

9 - Projects
↳ What: Organise multiple chats and files
↳ Use: Manage long-term projects, track context
↳ Best for: Multi-session goal tracking

10 - Research
↳ What: Deep web research with synthesis
↳ Use: Market research, competitor analysis
↳ Best for: Research-heavy topics

11 - Claude Code
↳ What: Terminal agent for coding
↳ Use: Build, debug, refactor entire repos
↳ Best for: Developers (Max plan only)

12 - Claude Cowork
↳ What: Agentic assistant for non-coders
↳ Use: Organise files, browse web, automate tasks
↳ Best for: Everyone else (Max plan only)

13 - Long Context
↳ What: Handles 200k+ tokens
↳ Use: Full transcripts, audits, manuals
↳ Best for: Large document analysis

14 - Multimodal
↳ What: Understands text, images, code, audio
↳ Use: Blend visuals with explanations
↳ Best for: Mixed input tasks

PROMPT PATTERNS

☑︎ Research: "Research [topic] comprehensively"
☑︎ Content: "Write a [proposal] for [audience]"
☑︎ Artifacts: "Create a [budget tracker app]"
☑︎ Projects: "I'm working on [new strategy]"
☑︎ Cowork: "Organise [folder] by [file type]"
☑︎ Be Specific: Add details and constraints
☑︎ Analysis: "Analyze this [CSV]" + upload
☑︎ Code: "Help me [task] in [Python]"
☑︎ Search: "Latest on [Tesla stock]?"
☑︎ Files: Upload + "Summarise this"
☑︎ Iterate: "Make it more [concise]"

I'm using Claude 4.5 for all written tasks.
I'm using Gemini 3 for all visual tasks.

That's the new power duo in 2026.

Want the high-res PDF?

1. Repost ♻️ this to your network
2. DM me the word "Claude"

I'll personally send it to you.

Marketing? Just run some ads and get leads.
It’s about building trust which scale.

Madhav Mistry and I have heard it all before.
Follow him (he made this excellent post).

But this innocent line hides 3 deeper issues:

- It oversimplifies a complex system
- It disconnects execution from strategy
- It devalues the real work marketers do

When people say:
“Can we go viral and get leads?”
Here’s what they miss 👇

Marketing in 2026 = an ecosystem.
And it looks like this:
Strategy
Psychology
Storytelling
SEO
Funnels
Content
Testing
Attribution
Automation
Branding
20+ tools: Semrush, Canva, Adobe, Brandwatch, Cision, Pictory, Hootsuite, Lately AI, Zapier, Meta Ads, many more....

And don’t forget the essentials:
☕ Coffee
🚇 Metro Walks
🌤️ (Rare) sunlight

We juggle ideas, data, tools, tactics, and expectations
With 27 tabs open and 3 deadlines breathing down our neck.

All of this… for someone to say:
“Just post on Instagram.”

Marketing isn’t a “department.”
It’s not “just ads.”
It’s a growth engine.

It blends psychology, tech, and timing.
It takes real skill, depth, and systems to scale.

Want real growth?
Stop saying:
“Can we go viral?”
Start asking:
“What’s our narrative, funnel, and GTM plan?”

Thanks to All tools for the Support...✨ 

♻️ Repost if you’ve ever smiled through “Can you make it viral?”

I built a board of advisors from 500+ hours of content.

Here's the exact workflow (it's free):

Step 1: Find YouTubers you want to learn from.
↳ Find your business moguls or niche experts.
↳ Anyone with a playbook worth stealing.

Step 2: Download Instant Data Scraper. 
↳ It's a free Chrome extension.
↳ Takes 30 seconds to install.

Step 3: Go to their YouTube channel.
↳ Click the Chrome extension.
↳ Copy all their video URLs.

Step 4: Paste the URLs into NotebookLM.
↳ It pulls insights from every video automatically.
↳ You also get recommended questions to ask.

Step 5: Ask specific questions.
↳ "How do you structure a sales call?"
↳ "What's your content strategy?"

You'll get answers from their own words.

Bonus: Use Audio Overview.
↳ Speak to NotebookLM in real time.
↳ Like having a conversation with your advisors.

Now you have a personalised knowledge base.

Save this. Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

How to Build an AI Board of Advisors

How I generated 480k impressions with 3 posts.

(And how to create your own in under 10 mins).

These aren't flukes.

They're now my 19th, 31st, and 63rd best-performing posts out of thousands I've published.

I generate around 500k impressions per week.
These results are exceptional even for me.

Today I'm giving you the entire system:
↳ The exact prompt (copy and paste it)
↳ 3 methods I use to create these visuals
↳ The workflow that makes it repeatable

These graphics are outperforming everything else I post.

Why? Because every LinkedIn post feels the same.

This style breaks the pattern.

The window to be early is closing.

Full breakdown here → https://lnkd.in/e9_J5vYu

Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

I tested every major AI on one simple prompt.

One scored 47% higher than ChatGPT.

The test: "Write a LinkedIn post about burnout." 

Stanley (28/30) - Vulnerable story + actionable advice
Gemini (23/30) - Creative but lacked personal touch
Copilot (22/30) - Practical steps with zero emotion
Grok (21/30) - Simple 1-2-3 list, but forgettable
ChatGPT (19/30) - Blog-like corporate fluff
Claude (19/30) - Too polished to feel real
Perplexity (12/30) - Literally wrote HR policy

Stanley (Your Content Coach):

☑ Used specifics (The 3am wake-ups)
☑ Opened with a scene, not a statement
☑ Created visual moments readers could feel

Want to judge for yourself? 

I shared all 8 outputs side-by-side.  

See the full comparison → https://lnkd.in/eVaQmvfd

My posts using Stanley vs others:

Before: 50K impressions average
After: 150K impressions average

That's not a typo. 3x improvement.

Want to 3x your LinkedIn reach too?

Try Stanley → https://lnkd.in/eqGtRi54

Save this. Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

P.S. I've tested 50+ AI tools. Stanley's the only one where readers can't tell it's AI.

#StanleyPartner

I run multi 6-figure creator business.

These 16 tools run my entire operation:

Step 1: Command Centre

Everything lives in Notion.
Every idea, draft, and project.

My team's single source of truth.

Step 2: Visual Creation

Canva does double duty:
↳ Team creates from my briefs
↳ I build carousels when flying solo

Nano Banana creates graphics like this one.

Want to learn how? I'll show you exactly.
Click here → https://lnkd.in/eNyT6Jwq

Step 3: Content Creation

☑︎ Stanley writes my LinkedIn posts.
☑︎ Claude Max writes my newsletter.
☑︎ VEED handles video when I need it.

Step 4: Distribution

This is the most powerful combo for creators.

- LinkedIn for daily visibility.
- Substack for weekly depth.

Substack is a social network in itself.
I've gained 11,000+ subscribers just from discovery.

Step 5: Inbound & Conversions

Content brings people to you.
Now you need to capture them.

☑︎ Stan captures emails for personal brand.
☑︎ Kit nurtures leads for business launches.
☑︎ Kondo manages 100+ DMs weekly.
☑︎ ChatGPT helps with Q&A.

My goal: de-platform from LinkedIn.
Get their email. Own the relationship.

Step 6: Business Operations

Conversations turn into customers.

☑︎ TidyCal books calls without back-and-forth.
☑︎ Supernormal captures meeting notes.
☑︎ Zapier automates the loose ends.
☑︎ Circle runs my paid community.

Step 7: Finance

☑︎ Stripe processes every transaction.
☑︎ Xero tracks every pound.

Four revenue streams flow through:

1. Sponsored posts (biggest driver)
2. Linked Agency (growing steadily)
3. AI Creators Club (short bursts)
4. Paid newsletter (recurring revenue)

Total cost: ~$750/month
Total revenue: Multiple six figures

This took me 2 years to build.
Steal it. Skip the trial and error.

Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

I generated 480k impressions with 3 "ugly" posts.

I'm giving you the exact system.

Every LinkedIn feed looks the same:
↳ Polished carousels
↳ Corporate templates
↳ Forgettable graphics

The handwritten whiteboard style breaks the pattern.

It feels authentic, educational and different.

I use Google Gemini 3 Pro for all of these.

Full breakdown + prompts → https://lnkd.in/eNyT6Jwq

Save this. Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

The LinkedIn Whiteboard Graphic

How to (finally) connect NotebookLM to Gemini:

1. Go to NotebookLM
2. Create a notebook with your sources
3. Click the (+) icon in the Gemini chat box
4. Select NotebookLM → choose your notebook

Gemini now pulls from your NotebookLM notebooks.

That means contextualised answers based on the exact sources you add - YouTube videos, PDFs, your own notes.

Two ways I'm using it to grow my business:

---

✦ Workflow 1: AI Board of Advisors

You'll get strategic advice from experts who've never met you - grounded in their actual words, not AI hallucinations.

Step 1: Find YouTubers to learn from

- Business moguls, niche experts
- Anyone with a playbook worth stealing

Step 2: Install Instant Data Scraper

- It's a free Chrome extension
- Extracts all video URLs from a channel

Step 3: Go to their YouTube channel

- Click the extension icon
- Export all video URLs

Step 4: Load into NotebookLM

- Go to NotebookLM
- Create a new notebook
- Add YouTube URLs as sources

Step 5: Activate in Gemini

- Open Google Gemini
- Click the (+) icon in the chat box
- Select NotebookLM → choose your notebook

Step 6: Add your business context

- Paste your company URL into the chat
- This grounds advice in your situation

Step 7: Ask specific questions

- "How should I price my new offer?"
- "What would [expert] recommend for X?"

Answers grounded in their actual words.

---

✦ Workflow 2: Expert Content Generation

You'll turn your scattered expertise into polished content - without starting from scratch every time.

Step 1: Gather your expertise

- PDFs, notes, past content, SOPs
- Anything that captures your knowledge

Step 2: Create your notebook

- Open NotebookLM
- Upload all files as sources

Step 3: Activate in Gemini
↳ Click (+) → NotebookLM → your notebook

Step 4: Generate your brief

"Create an infographic brief on [topic]"
"Include visual suggestions"

Step 5: Generate the visual
↳ Ask Gemini to create the infographic
↳ Use a whiteboard or notebook style

Full prompt here: https://lnkd.in/eNyT6Jwq

Save this. Repost ♻️ to help your network.

I learned more from these 26 creators than any course.

Here's my actual follow list for 2026:

1. Chris Donnelly (1.1M+)
Shows you how to actually build businesses.

2. Will McTighe (425K+)
Engineers viral content better than anyone I know. 

3. Jasmin Alić (345K+)
The LinkedIn GOAT. No debate.

4. Lara Acosta (303K+)
Her vulnerability and storytelling inspire me every time.

5. Adam Biddlecombe (254K+)
Built an incredible newsletter and sold it to HubSpot.

6. Charlie Hills 🦩 (183K+)
That's me. It's my list.

7. Fatima Khan (91K+)
My co-founder. Her content is genuinely useful.

8. Audrey Chia (68.8K)
The absolute queen of AI copywriting.

9. John Hu (61K)
Runs Stan and builds a billion-dollar company in public.

10. Cory Blumenfeld (60K)
My co-founder who teaches leadership and operations.

11. MJ Jaindl (57K+)
Shares seriously valuable LinkedIn and AI content.

12. AJ Eckstein 🧩 (52.7K+)
Building and scaling Creator Match.

13. Jérémy Grandillon (50K+)
An absolute pro when it comes to AI sales.

14. Madhav Mistry (48K)
The best when it comes to marketing and SEO.

15 Mischa Collins (47.5K)
A rising star. Her story about getting made redundant and building her brand is inspiring.

16. Lindsay Rosenthal (40K+)
Always at the forefront of B2B and AI.

17. Vitalii Dodonov (25K)
Building something powerful and every post is authentic.

18. Tomas Loucky (22K+)
Runs an amazing podcast you should subscribe to.

19. Darren Gibb (20K)
The pro when it comes to AI, sales and LinkedIn.
Massively underrated.

20. Roisin Bennett (18.5K+)
Always at the forefront of what's happening in AI.

21. Sabahudin Murtic (17K+)
Powerful AI sales workflows you can steal. 

22. Jenny Gonzalez (14.6K)
The go-to for affiliate marketing. 

23. Joe M-C 🧙 (11.8K+)
The funnel wizard.

24. Adrien Thomas (11K+)
SEO content that's actually useful.

25. Tara Knight 🧩 (9K)
Some of the best content out there.
Seriously underrated.

26. Smriti Maan (9K)
Builds her personal brand in public before she needs one. Incredibly authentic.

27. Saima Chand (8.5K)
The queen of design. Watch her blow up this year.

Follower count ≠ value.

Some of the best insights come from creators under 20K.

Tag someone who should be on the list.

Repost ♻️ to help others find great creators.

P.S. Yes I know there's 27, I had to put myself on right?

How to create a stunning LinkedIn banner with AI:

1. Go to Gemini and copy-paste my prompt (below).
2. Answer the 6 quick questions provided.
3. Upload a reference image of you.
4. Make edits in the same chat.
5. Upload to your LinkedIn.

I teach systems like this inside The AI Creators Club.

Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/enTVYc3z

(Doors close Thursday, Jan 8th)

-- START OF PROMPT --

Act as a professional LinkedIn Banner Designer.

Your goal is to generate a high-converting, visually vibrant, and professional LinkedIn banner that fits the 1584 x 396 pixel dimension perfectly. The design should be dynamic and stand out.

Because you cannot generate this exact aspect ratio, you must generate a Wide (16:9) image, but you must concentrate the design into a thin horizontal strip in the absolute vertical center of the canvas.

To ensure the user can crop this correctly:
1. The top 35% of the image must be empty background color.
2. The bottom 35% of the image must be empty background color.
3. All content (Text, CTA, Face) must be squeezed into the middle 30% strip.

Before generating the image, please ask me for the following details so you can customize the design. Stop and wait for my response after asking:

1. What is the Primary Headline?
2. What is the Secondary Tagline?
3. What is the Call to Action (CTA) text?
4. What Social Proof, stats, or client logos should be included?
5. What are your Brand Colours (Hex codes)?
6. Please upload the realistic photo of yourself. Additionally, specify any REALISTIC professional changes you want made to your appearance (e.g., "Change my polo to a dark suit").

Once I provide these details, generate the banner adhering strictly to these layout rules within the central middle strip:

Layout Rules (Applied ONLY to the middle 30% of the image):

1. CTA Placement (Strict): The CTA button must be anchored precisely in the top-left corner of the central strip. It should be positioned high up, above the level of the subject's shoulder.

2. Subject Appearance (Realistic & Professional): Place the modified user photo in the center-left of the strip. Apply the requested changes but maintain a high-quality, realistic photographic style. Do NOT apply cartoon filters.

3. Headline and Tagline: Place the Headline on the right side of the strip, with the Tagline directly below it. Keep the text compact.

4. Social Proof: Place logos or stats in a small, clean row at the bottom-right of the strip.

5. Background (Vibrant & Geometric): Do not use a plain, flat background. Create a dynamic and modern background using your brand colors. Incorporate subtle geometric shapes, abstract lines, or a professional gradient pattern to add depth, energy, and a high-end feel. Ensure these background elements are subtle enough behind the text to maintain perfect legibility.

Please start by asking me the questions.

-- END OF PROMPT --

Save this. These workflows take me hours to create.

Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

I grew my LinkedIn to (almost) 200K.

This one AI framework made it happen:

I call it CHEF - because AI content is like cooking.

HubSpot asked me to explain this on camera.
Here's the full breakdown → https://lnkd.in/eizmkgbK

Think of AI content like running a kitchen.

AI can chop, mix, and prep at speed.
But the menu, the flavour, the final taste?

That depends on the chef.

Here's the system:

C - Curate Context

Gather your raw ingredients:
↳ Your best posts
↳ Your expertise
↳ Your stories
↳ Your voice

Run a deep research report on yourself.
Build a story bank of your entire life.

Mistake: Starting from scratch every time.

H - Heat with AI

Let AI cook with your ingredients:
↳ Use Projects for memory
↳ Load context before prompting
↳ Let it draft at scale

Create a Project called "Content Engine."

Mistake: Using AI without context = generic output.

E - Enhance with Flavour

Season with what AI can't know:
↳ Real conversations
↳ Specific moments
↳ Your lived experience

Generic: "Feedback is important."
Real: "My client said this on our call yesterday..."

Mistake: Publishing without your fingerprints on it.

F - Feed the Community

Serve and engage:
↳ Reply within 1 hour
↳ Ask follow-up questions
↳ Treat comments as content

Mistake: Writing posts but ignoring comments.

AI multiplies your voice.
You bring the flavour.

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AI + social influence are core skills to learn in 2026.

11 resources to master AI and LinkedIn (links below):

The AI Creators Club
↳ Private hub for AI-powered LinkedIn growth.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/enTVYc3z

MarTech AI: Substack Guide
↳ Weekly AI insights for operators.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/e-xxYUqk

Ask Us Anything LinkedIn & AI
↳ Live answers to LinkedIn and AI questions.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/ersfrADa

The Ultimate LinkedIn Lead Generation System
↳ How to turn LinkedIn into a lead engine.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/eNYdN8Mq

OpenAI Academy
↳ Official courses on OpenAI tools and models.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/ebkNxT_c

Stanford CME295
↳ Deep dive into LLM theory and transformers.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/eEKfDgQX

Microsoft Generative AI for Beginners
↳ Beginner guide to generative AI basics.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/eRxnmkDj

Amazon Learn About AI
↳ AI fundamentals for business leaders.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/eJY-UYFa

Google AI Boost Bites
↳ Short AI lessons for daily work.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/ezDAmMaD

NVIDIA Generative AI Explained
↳ Technical overview of generative AI.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/ekVnvvgn

Algorithm Insights 2025
↳ Explains how the LinkedIn algorithm works today.
↳ Access here: https://lnkd.in/eE2AS6g7

Most of these are free. A few are paid but worth it.

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11 Resources to Master LinkedIn & AI in 2026

"I don't have time to post to LinkedIn" is a lie.

60 mins a day can change your visibility forever.

99% consume, only 1% create.
The top 1% of that 1% dominate.

They're not lucky. They're consistent.
They treat LinkedIn like a growth channel.

Not a distraction.

This platform is a goldmine for visibility and revenue.

The algorithm isn't ignoring you - you're ignoring it:

15 mins: Engage before posting
↳ Comment on 5–7 posts from peers, leaders, and ICPs.
↳ Share standout posts with your take to add value.
↳ Build a creator circle to boost early engagement.

15 mins: Create and publish
↳ Use a saved idea and run it through Stanley.
↳ It writes like you - not like generic AI slop.
↳ Keep it skimmable: hook → value → CTA.

15 mins: Engage after you post
↳ Reply to comments with speed and substance.
↳ Ask follow-ups, share insights, keep it flowing.
↳ Don't post and ghost - turn it into dialogue.

10 mins: DMs & relationship building
↳ Reply to every DM with warmth and purpose.
↳ Start 1–2 chats with recent connections or fans.
↳ Lead with value, not pitches - stay top of mind.

5 mins: Build your network
↳ Send 5–7 connection requests with intent.
↳ Prioritise engaged users and ICP matches.
↳ Grow your audience, not just your numbers.

LinkedIn rewards consistency, clarity, and connection.

This system is how top creators stay top of mind.

The secret to creating 7+ posts/week without burn out?

The AI Creators Club:

- I'll give you personalised feedback
- Copy what works for the top 1%
- Get my exact AI systems

Join here → https://lnkd.in/enTVYc3z

This post is only 5% of the full system.

I wrote a complete guide covering the rest

Want it?

1. Send me a connection request
2. Repost ♻️ this and message me.

I'll personally send you the full guide.

In 2025, I turned AI into my LinkedIn growth engine.

How I gained 45M+ impressions and 130k+ followers:

Copy-paste the prompts → https://lnkd.in/eJCnhhPf

Repost ♻️ to help someone who needs this.

7 Steps to Grow Your LinkedIn with AI

The 10 skills that will define 2026.

And how I accidentally built them all in 2025:

1 ✦ Leadership and social influence
2 ✦ Motivation and self-awareness
3 ✦ Curiosity and lifelong learning
4 ✦ Resilience and flexibility
5 ✦ Technological literacy
6 ✦ Talent management
7 ✦ Analytical thinking
8 ✦ Systems thinking
9 ✦ Creative thinking
10 ✦ AI and big data

I didn't read a single book on these.

I just built a personal brand.

In my newsletter, I break down:
↳ How building in public develops all 10
↳ The data behind what actually worked
↳ My 3 rules for 2026

Full breakdown → https://lnkd.in/e4SA_5Qs

Your personal brand is the best career insurance.

Save this. Repost ♻️ to help someone in your network.

Stop writing AI image prompts from scratch.

Create an "Infinite Brand Asset Loop" instead.

Your AI images look inconsistent:

- Different lighting.
- Different colours.
- Different mood.

This makes your brand look scattered.

Here's the fix:

--p code (your vibe)
--sref code (your look)

The 4-step Midjourney system:

1. Go to Pinterest

- Search keywords for your brand, e.g. "futuristic".
- Save 3-5 images that match your vibe.

2. Create a Midjourney Moodboard

- Go to Personalize → Moodboards.
- Upload your 3-5 images from Pinterest.

3. Find your Style

- Go to Explore page and select the Styles tab.
- Search brand keywords. Copy the --sref codes.

4. The Combo Prompt

- Select your Moodboard and your --sref codes.
- Generate your prompt followed by those codes.

Every image now stays on brand.

You set it up once and reuse it forever.

For example. Here's mine: --sref 3161647641 1025148368 --stylize 1000 --p bg2j7kt

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The Infinite Brand Asset Loop

Which LLM should you use?

Here's the breakdown (save this):

- Canvas → Gemini 3
- Search → Perplexity
- Voice Mode → ChatGPT
- Agent Mode → Perplexity
- Custom GPTs → Gemini 3
- Deep Research → Gemini 3
- Study and Learn → Gemini 3
- Scheduled Tasks → Perplexity
- File Uploads → Claude Opus 4.5
- Data Analysis → Claude Opus 4.5
- Camera Mode → Google AI Studio
- Vision (Image + Video) → Gemini 3
- Memory + Projects → Claude Opus 4.5

The era of one tool for everything is over.

Full breakdown with side-by-side screenshots showing exactly why each tool won → https://lnkd.in/eUVutcuN

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taplio

The Battle

Vitalii Dodonov

Charlie Hills

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance ScoreVitalii Dodonov's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCharlie Hills's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

taplio

The Battle

Vitalii Dodonov

Charlie Hills

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);}Vitalii Dodonov's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreCharlie Hills's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreVitalii Dodonov's LinkedIn Performance