Resume Writer & Remote Career Coach + I’m “That Remote Guy” 🙋🏻‍♂️ Helping people find the remote career they’ve dreamed of in less time + Join 30K+ on the Escape the Cubicle Newsletter👇

You can work from anywhere. I’ll show you how. 👇

A Google search back in 2015 changed the course of my career, “How do you make money online?”

I was at a crossroads in my career and ready to make a change. I knew it was time to start building my own thing, a thing that someone couldn’t take away overnight. 

After discovering the world of freelancing, I replaced my income and never looked back. By the second year, I was able to triple that income (more than I ever thought possible) because of one platform: LinkedIn

LinkedIn allowed me to connect with clients all over the world, right at my fingertips. The opportunities that LinkedIn has opened up have been life-changing.

Now, I get to help others use LinkedIn to build a remote career as a Career Coach & Resume Writer and their own profitable brand as a Growth Strategist. I’ll help coach you on growing an online income through LinkedIn, a newsletter (like Substack), and a digital product.

…oh, and I still write amazing, interview-winning resumes if you need that. Just send a DM, and I’ll provide a free review for you. Or email it to me at (JohnHancockResumes@gmail.com).

---
Here’s what I've built:

✅ 125,000+ engaged LinkedIn followers
✅ 50,000+ LinkedIn newsletter subscribers
✅ 5,000+ Escape the Cubicle Substack subscribers
✅ 500+ transformed through my masterclasses
✅ 3000+ resumes written for every industry 

“Press Start” Here 👇

📌 Subscribe to my Substack at: www.EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.Com

📌 Join my Free 5-Day Email Class on “How to Grow & Monetize on LinkedIn” at the link top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Connect for a 1on1 Coaching Call (by sending me a DM); I’ll help you build an actionable 30-day strategy to grow your brand on LinkedIn & Substack

📌 Grab my Six-Figure LinkedIn Growth Masterclass (& Playbook) with 500+ of my other students; click the link at top of my profile (or Featured Section)

📌 Get a newly polished resume at www.JohnHancockResumes.com

There's a better way to work. Let me show you how to find it.

Wes Pearce

Leaving a job because of a toxic boss isn’t weakness. It’s called self-preservation and being brave. 


I spent two years trying to "make it work" with a boss who constantly undermined me.

I watched my confidence erode. My Sunday nights became anxiety-filled. My health suffered.

Then I finally left.

Within two months at my new company, I realized something profound: I wasn't the problem. I never was.

Here's the truth: 

✅ 57% of people have quit specifically because of their boss, with another 37% considering it. (from DDI Development Dimensions International)

You're not alone if you're thinking about making that move.

What we tolerate becomes our standard. Every day you stay in a toxic work environment, you're telling yourself that's what you deserve.

The most courageous career move isn't always climbing higher. Sometimes it's walking away.

Watch for these warning signs that it's time to go:

📌 Your boss takes credit for your wins but blames you for their mistakes

📌 You receive unclear expectations then face criticism for not meeting them

📌 Your physical wellbeing or your mental health is declining

📌 You're constantly questioning your own competence at work 

📌 You can't remember the last time you were recognized for your work

A staggering 82% of American workers say they would quit their job because of a bad manager. The problem is, many don't, believing it reflects poorly on them.

Let me be clear: Leaving a toxic boss isn't failure. It's an act of self-respect.

—-
Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

Here’s the exact strategy & blueprint I teach all my 1on1 clients: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Resume Writer & Career Coach helping you “work from anywhere” 👨🏻‍💻 Follow for Career, Remote Job Search, and Creator Tips | Writing daily on EscapeTheCubicle.Substack.com Join 10,000+ Subscribers

I'll never forget the dream job I thought I had locked down. And then ghosted. 


Four rounds of interviews. Met with the hiring manager twice. Presented to the team. 

Even had a final conversation with the VP where he said, "We're really excited about bringing you on board. You'll hear from us this week."

Four weeks later, No call. No email. Not even a generic rejection.

I followed up once. Then twice. Then realized I was chasing people who clearly didn't respect my time enough to send a two-sentence email.

Here's what made it worse: I'd turned down other interviews because I thought this was a done deal.

That experience taught me something I'll never forget: How a company treats you during the hiring process is exactly how they'll treat you as an employee.

And companies wonder why they can't attract top talent.

Here's the reality: Every person you ghost tells 10 other people about the experience.

If you're hiring: Send the email. Even if it's a template. Even if it's bad news.

Candidates deserve basic human decency, not radio silence.

And if you're job searching: Remember that ghosting tells you everything you need to know about that company.

You didn't dodge a bullet. You dodged a whole firing squad. 

Has this ever happened to you?

—
📌 PS - Need more help with your job search? This is why I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass.

I’ll teach you the exact strategy I give my 1on1 clients to start generating remote job interviews without applying on job boards.

Or you can sign-up here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

The most inspiring story I've been part of this year wasn't about a 25-year-old founder.


It was about Margaret, my client who started her coaching business at 68.

After spending 40 years as a nurse, raising three kids, and surviving a divorce that wiped out her savings, she came to me ready to build something of her own.

No business degree, No email list, No idea how to start a Substack or sell coaching.

Just decades of experience helping people and a refusal to let age define what she could build.

We started from scratch. Built her Substack and then launched her pilot coaching program. Figured it out step by step.

Today? She's at 1,000+ subscribers and her coaching program is slowing booking out. She's making more than she ever did as a nurse doing work that finally feels like hers.

But you won't see Margaret on any "30 Under 30" list. You won't read her story in business magazines celebrating "young disruptors."

Because we're obsessed with early success. With people who "made it" by 25. With the idea that if you haven't figured it out by 40, you've somehow missed your window.

But some of the best work happens after 50. After 60. After life has given you the wisdom that only comes from actually living.

The 55-year-old who finally published their book after years of rejection.

The 62-year-old who started a business after being laid off and told they were "too senior."

The 70-year-old still learning, still growing, still proving that ambition doesn't retire.

Those are the stories we should be celebrating.

Age isn't a deadline. It's just more experience to build from.

——
📌 if you’re ready to building something of your own in 2026? 

I created a “LinkedIn Growth Guide” breaking down how I grew to 150K followers here and built a business around it.

If you’d like a copy, just comment “GUIDE” I’ll send it over to you.

The worst career advice I’ve ever heard: "Just give it more time. It'll get better."


I've watched too many people torture themselves staying in places that are slowly wearing them down.

Their mental health is suffering, confidence is shot, skills are stagnating.

All because someone convinced them that leaving "looks bad" or that they need to "stick it out."

Here's what actually happens when you stay too long in a toxic place:

-You normalize behavior you'd never accept anywhere else…

-You start believing the problem is you, not the environment…

-You waste years trying to prove yourself to people who've already decided not to see your value…

I've had clients stay in toxic jobs for three, four, five years because they were scared of what leaving would look like on their resume.

Every single one? Wished they'd left sooner.

Your resume doesn't need to show endurance or blind “loyalty.” It needs to show growth.

And sometimes growth means knowing when to leave.

Stop sacrificing your mental health to avoid an awkward conversation in an interview.

Staying in the wrong place doesn't make you loyal. It makes you unavailable for the opportunities you actually deserve.

Leave. Recover. Find better.

That's not quitting. That's self-preservation.

—
📌 Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

& a newly updated DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit.

Here’s the exact strategy & blueprint I teach all my 1on1 clients: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Six years in the same role. Zero promotions. Zero growth opportunities.


Jessica had been at the same company for six years.

Same role. Same salary range. Same empty promises about "future opportunities."

She was good at her job. Actually, she was great at it. But there was nowhere to go. 

When we first talked, she knew she needed to leave. But she was paralyzed.

"What if I can't find anything better? What if I'm not as marketable as I think? What if this is as good as it gets?"

So she stayed. Watching her skills plateau while her frustration grew.

Here's what I told her: You're not going to grow in a place that's already decided you're done growing.

So, we built a 90-day exit plan. Targeted roles that actually matched what she wanted. Got her resume in front of the right people.

She put the work in. By the end of summer, she had an offer. 

Fully remote. Higher pay. And actual growth opportunities, not just vague promises in performance reviews.

Here’s the truth: You can't outgrow a space that's designed to keep you small.

You can work harder. Stay later. Prove yourself over and over. 

But if the ceiling is low, you're just going to keep hitting your head on it.

If you've been in the same place too long with nothing to show for it, the problem isn't you.

It's the environment you're trying to grow in.
Change it. And watch what happens.

(Image: Travis Bradberry)

—
📌 Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created my Remote Dream Job Masterclass to help. 

The Masterclass gives you the exact strategy I teach my 1on1 clients to attract recruiters and find your next work-anywhere role. 

You can join here: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

No alternative text description for this image

Rachel stayed at her company for four years waiting to be seen.


Four years of coming in early. Staying late. Taking on projects nobody else wanted.

Her manager kept saying she "wasn't ready yet" for a promotion. 

Meanwhile, less experienced people kept moving up around her…

When she finally quit, her manager seemed shocked. "We were going to promote you next quarter."

Sure they were.

Here's where Rachel went: She found a company that saw her value immediately.

Within six months at her new company, she got the promotion her old job said she wasn't ready for. 

Within a year, she was leading projects her old manager said were "above her level."

Her old team reached out last month asking if she'd consider coming back as a senior manager.

She declined. She didn't need validation from people who spent four years overlooking her.

The thing about toxic workplaces is they convince you your value is tied to their opinion. 

That if they don't see what you bring, maybe you don't bring much.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop waiting for people to see your worth and go somewhere that already does.

You don't need their table. Build your own. 

Or find one that's been waiting for exactly what you bring.

—
📌 Ready to make your next move in 2026? I created Remote Dream Job Masterclass for you. 

& a newly updated DIY Resume & Cover Letter Kit.

Here’s the exact blueprint I teach all my 1on1 clients, to land interviews in weeks: https://lnkd.in/eExXfKCX

Wife & Mother of 7 | Venture Capital | Scientist | TOP 30 Patent Drafters | United States Patent Examiner | Violinist | Polyglot | STEM Children's Author | #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law

Kathryn Vatt is a scientist, former USPTO Examiner, and devoted wife and mother of seven, with over 25 years shaping the future of innovation. Recognized as one of the Top 30 Patent Drafters and Prosecutors and the #1 LinkedIn Global Influencer in Innovation/IP Law, Kathryn has built a career at the intersection of science, law, and business—helping inventors, startups, and global companies turn creativity into competitive advantage.

A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.S. Biology) and Johns Hopkins University (M.S. Biotechnology), Kathryn is currently pursuing her Juris Doctor in Patent Law at the Franklin Pierce School of Law, one of the world’s leading IP programs. Her rare cross-disciplinary background gives her both the scientific insight and the legal strategy to protect ideas at the highest level.

At the USPTO, Kathryn examined thousands of patent applications, conducted exhaustive prior art searches, and made determinations that shaped industries and influenced global innovation. After leaving the Patent Office, she founded Vatt IP Management, where she develops bulletproof IP strategies, drafts airtight applications, and supports litigation teams in defending patents. She also mentors engineering and life science students through Arizona State University’s Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute and judges international startup competitions, nurturing the next generation of innovators.

Her entrepreneurial vision extends to her ventures:

My Startup Shield™, a founder-focused program that helps startups secure their innovations before they pitch. It protects ideas at the earliest, most vulnerable stage and positions founders to raise capital with confidence

My AI Examiner™, the world’s first proprietary patent search platform that combines examiner-trained AI Patent Examiners with Kathryn’s own human review. Unlike conventional tools, it doesn’t just search faster—it “thinks like an examiner,” offering inventors and startups clarity, precision, and strategy.

MyKidVentors™, a STEM-inspired children’s book series born from her seven children’s real “What if?” questions. Through these imaginative stories, she nurtures curiosity in the next generation, showing that every big invention begins with a single question.

For Kathryn, the same motherly instinct that guides her family fuels her professional mission: to protect, guide, and nurture startups with care, strategy, foresight, and integrity. She believes innovation doesn’t just start in labs or boardrooms—it starts in the curious minds of those brave enough to ask, “What if?”

Kathryn V.

FOR THE GOOD OF DUCK-KIND

I love when innovation is born from love.
From compassion.
From someone seeing a life struggle and thinking,
How can I help?

In this story, it’s simply a 3D printer,
a man with a caring heart,
and a duck who deserved the chance to move freely.
And because someone cared enough to try,
a life changed.

Step by step.
Wobble by wobble.
Toward confidence.
Toward joy.

This is innovation at its most beautiful.
When technology becomes an extension of empathy.
When skill meets heart.
When progress is measured not in output,
but in dignity and relief.

Sometimes all it takes to change a life
is a willing heart,
an open mind,
and the courage to build something with care.

A 3D printer.
A man.
A duck.

And a whole lot of kindness and compassion. 💛 🦆

FALL IN LOVE...

with the process.

If you’re building something right now,
here’s the shift that changes everything:
Fall in love with the process, not the results.

Results are unpredictable.
They’re delayed.
They show up on their own timeline.

The process is what you live in every day.
Consistency isn’t about intensity.
It’s about showing up when it’s boring.
When it’s quiet.
When no one is watching or applauding.

Founders don’t burn out because they’re doing too much.
They burn out when all their hope is tied to an outcome
instead of the work itself.

When you love the process,
progress stops feeling fragile.
Missing a day doesn’t feel like failure...
it feels like life.
And you simply come back the next day.

Consistency compounds.
Small steps add up.
And over time, the work begins to shape you
as much as you shape it.

So if today feels slow,
if momentum feels distant,
if the results aren’t there yet...
stay.

Keep building.
Keep learning.
Keep becoming.

Fall in love with the process.
The results will meet you there. 💛

Founder Friday 💫

Some founders build with brilliance.
Some build with courage.
And every once in a while, you meet someone who builds with both brilliance and heart.

Rachel Buchanan is one of those people.

Rachel has been working in blockchain since 2017...long before trust, verification, and integrity became buzzwords or regulatory requirements. 

She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t chase what was fashionable. She stayed true to what she knew mattered.

That clarity is why she’s now building IntegraLayer, focused on certificate integrity, verification, and trust. Not because it’s trendy. But because it’s necessary.

But here’s what I want people to really know about Rachel.
She is not just thoughtful and brilliant...she is kind.
She is steady.
She leads with integrity in how she builds and how she shows up for others.

That’s why it meant so much that she entrusted the protection of her intellectual property to me. That kind of trust is never taken lightly. 

I’m truly honored and so happy to welcome her as part of the moatly Crew™ 😊 .

And this moment is also a reminder of how meaningful real connections are.
Thank you to my beautiful friend, Bettina Briz, for introducing us, and to founders Kevin Jurovich and Timo Gehrke of Hubble, for introducing Bettina to me in the first place. 

The ripple effect Hubble creates through authentic human connection is genuinely life-changing. One introduction can change the entire trajectory of a founder’s journey.

Rachel, I’m cheering you on!! Not just as a founder, but as a human.
The world needs more builders like you.

#founderfriday #womenfounders #kindnessinleadership #trustbydesign #moatlycrew™ #moatly™ #hubble #buildingwithheart

One of the things I respect most about thoughtful investors
is when they’re honest about what they’re really looking for.
David Y.’s post is spot on.

At the very earliest stages, investors aren’t betting on a polished product.
They’re not betting on traction, revenue, or perfect data.
They’re betting on the person.

Because at pre-seed, almost everything is unfinished.
The product will change.
The strategy will evolve.
The plan will break...more than once.

What doesn’t change as easily is the founder’s ability to keep going
when nothing is guaranteed.

And here’s the part I love most:
The kind of “swagger” that actually matters isn’t loud.
It isn’t hype.
It isn’t performative confidence.

It’s quieter than that.
It’s the steadiness of someone who is aligned with a purpose bigger than their pitch deck.

Someone who, “treats the company as a vehicle, not an identity.”
Someone who keeps building when no one is clapping yet.

As a former patent examiner and now someone who works closely with founders, I see this same pattern over and over again.

The founders who endure aren’t the ones chasing validation.
They’re the ones making progress in silence.
Learning.
Adapting.
Following up with substance.
Showing up again after the fifth setback.

So if you’re a founder feeling discouraged by a slow response, a long diligence cycle, or a quiet room...
this may not be rejection.
It may be observation.

And sometimes, the most important thing you can do
is exactly what you’re already doing:
keep going.

That kind of inevitability?
It can’t be faked.
And the right people notice.

I’m a VC who hates most VCs. I live to help people identify and scale their gifts.

A pre-seed truth most founders miss:
Investors aren’t betting on your product or idea.

Our firm spoke with 10,000+ founders over the last 3 years.
We invested in 25 of them.

That’s <0.2%.

We’re not unique.
That ratio is normal at the pre-seed stage.

At pre-seed:
- The product is usually incomplete
- Revenue is often $0
- Data is thin or non-existent

So what are investors actually evaluating?
The founder.

More specifically?
Swagger.

Not pitch polish.
Not hype.
Not “founder energy.”

Pre-seed swagger is quieter.

It’s the strength that shows up when a founder is aligned with something bigger than the company...and treats the company as a vehicle, not an identity. 

At pre-seed, investors aren’t really asking:
- “Is this the best idea?”

They’re asking:
- “Is this person inevitable?”

Inevitable doesn’t mean certain.
It means disciplined enough to survive uncertainty.

BUT swagger doesn’t replace execution.
It signals who will still be executing after the first five failures.

And that's why good pre-seed investors take their time.

The delay isn’t always disinterest.
It’s often a test.

At pre-seed, we’re watching:
- Do you keep building without validation?
- Do you follow up with substance, not pressure?
- Do you show progress when no one is watching?
- Do you adapt… or just re-pitch?

What founders experience as “foot-dragging” is often pre-seed diligence in motion.

Early investing isn’t about moving fast.
It’s about identifying who keeps moving when nothing is guaranteed.

That’s who gets funded at pre-seed.
And that’s where real swagger comes from. 

---

If this resonates, Founder Chapel is where we unpack this kind of founder formation.

Link in the comments.

SKATEBOARDING THE WEEKEND AWAY

I hope you’re finding a little time this weekend to do something you love…
something that makes you smile, laugh, or feel a bit more you.

This video made me smile. 
Pure joy. Zero fear. Just going for it. 

And today, I’m dedicating it to Bettina Briz,
who has officially started learning how to skateboard.
New wheels. New courage. New joy.
And the most stylish fits, thanks to her personal stylist and amazing husband, Peter Himes.

There’s something really beautiful about trying something new...
not to be perfect at it,
not to impress anyone,
but simply because it feels fun and alive.

May this weekend bring you that same energy:
a little play, a little courage,
and the freedom to roll forward just because it makes your heart happy.

Happy Saturday, friends. Enjoy every moment. 💛

31-27 🐻 

"Good, better, best!
Never let it rest!
Till your good gets better,
And your better gets best!"

Not as pressure.
Not as perfection.
But as a reminder.

This isn’t just a post-game locker room chant. 
It’s something all of us can carry…whether we’re riding a wave of success or sitting quietly in a lull.

Because becoming doesn’t stop when things are going well.
And it doesn’t end when momentum slows.

Good means you’re here.
Better means you’re willing to grow.
Best isn’t a finish line…it’s a direction.

Some seasons are loud with wins.
Others are quiet with reflection.
Both matter.

And in both, the invitation is the same:
keep becoming.

Not by rushing.
Not by burning yourself out.
But by staying open.
By learning.
By choosing to show up again, exactly as you are…still caring, still trying.

Wherever you are right now…
celebrating or recalibrating…
this motto holds true.

Good. Better. Best.
A reminder that growth is ongoing,
and that we are never done becoming. 💛

“BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.”
 Said no founder ever, who got served a cease and desist.

In intellectual property, waiting to protect or rushing to market without diligence can permanently cost you ownership and the right to sell.

Imagine if, before you ever posted about your product…
Before you shared your deck…
Before you demoed your MVP…
Before you went to market…
Someone had said:
“Wait. What you are about to share could cost you ownership. And how you launch could determine whether you are even allowed to sell it.”

Most founders are doing exactly what they are encouraged to do.
Build in public.
Pitch early.
Move fast.

What they are not told is that public disclosures can quietly work against them and that a go to market strategy without proper due diligence can expose them to infringement risk before their first customer ever appears.

As a former United States Patent Examiner, I spent years deciding which inventions received patents and which did not. Today, I see founders lose leverage, ownership, and years of work simply because no one gave them this information at the right moment.

This spring, I am excited to mentor the inaugural Founder Institute Seattle cohort on all things IP. And ahead of the program I will be presenting a session for founders on:

 What actually counts as a public disclosure...
 When protection truly matters...
 How to go to market without infringing on others...
 What patent pending really means...
 What you can still do if you have already shared too much...

This is not about slowing founders down.
It is about keeping doors open.
Ownership intact.
And futures protected.

If you are building something that matters, you deserve to know this before it costs you everything.

Wednesday, February 25 at 11:00 AM PT
📍Virtual
Link to save your spot is in the comments.
Presented by Founder Institute Seattle 
Led by Nicole Doyle, Aniket Naravanekar, and Jewel Atuel. 

Founder Institute Seattle’s Spring 2026 Cohort launches April 22nd. 
📅 Applications are open now at fi.co/seattle 



✨ A special shout out to the incredible investors and founders who selflessly give their time, pour into others, and mentor with integrity, wisdom and last but not least, a kind heart: Bettina Briz Peter Himes David Y. Jason Butcher Kevin Jurovich Alexia Krispin ✨

DON'T WALK THE DESERT ALONE

I am resharing my friend Kevin Jurovich’s post because what he is building is truly invaluable for founders.

What he shares about those early days, learning on the go and wondering whether the struggle meant failure or growth, is a season so many founders live through quietly. It takes courage to speak about that part of the journey with honesty.

What stands out most to me is how he turned that experience into something generous. Instead of keeping those lessons to himself, he is creating space for founders to hear the truth behind building a company. The uncertainty. The doubt. The moments where continuing feels hard.

Founders Uncovered feels like an offering to the people still in it. A reminder that difficulty does not mean you are doing it wrong. Often it means you are doing something that matters.

By sharing real stories from people who have built before us, Kevin is helping founders feel less alone and more capable of staying in the work. That kind of encouragement can change everything.

So proud of you, Kevin. This is going to help a lot of people. Cannot wait for Season 1.

👉 Join the list for Episode 1. https://lnkd.in/gi2NaDMf

Co-founder, CEO at Hubble | Lifelong optimist

Back in 2019, I used to walk around SoMa in San Francisco listening to founder podcasts, trying to figure out if what I was feeling was failure…or just the process.

How I Built This, Masters of Scale, then later Lenny’s Podcast and My First Million. That was my founder education.

I was obsessed with learning from people who came before me.

Because when you’re in the desert as a founder...trying everything, hitting dead end after dead end, it helps to hear that the people you admire went through the exact same thing.

Behind every “overnight success” are years of doubt, false starts, and almost quitting.

That’s why I’m excited to announce the launch of Founders Uncovered.

I’ve teamed up with Drew Glover and Nick Madrid, CFA at Uncovered Media to host a podcast focused on the real stories behind building companies...the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable parts we usually skip.

There are so many incredible founders out there quietly changing the world. Their stories deserve to be told.

Season 1 drops next month. Our hope is that you walk away feeling educated, inspired, and a little more optimistic that you can get it done too.

One conversation can change everything.

👉 Join the list for Episode 1. I’ll send it the moment it drops.
https://lnkd.in/gi2NaDMf

Can’t wait to see more founders win. 🚀

#startups #entrepreneurship

THE DATE THAT GOT AWAY

Founders: if Teva can invalidate a patent over timing, so can anyone else.

One of the most important GTM/IP cases of the last decade came from a dispute between Teva Pharmaceuticals and Helsinn Healthcare...and it went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case is Helsinn v. Teva.  
Here’s why every founder heading into GTM should know it:
Helsinn had a promising drug.
Before filing its patent application, it entered into a confidential commercial deal related to that product.
 
Years later, when Helsinn tried to enforce its patent against Teva…
The Supreme Court said the patent was invalid.
Why?

Because commercial activity happened before the filing date.
It didn’t matter that:
the deal was confidential,
the invention wasn’t publicly explained, or
they acted in good faith.

What mattered was this:
👉 They went to market before they filed.

The founder lesson:
In the U.S., we are a first-to-file country.

That means:
talking about your innovation before filing can cost you ownership,
waiting to “see if it works” before filing is a legal risk, and
once rights are lost, you don’t get them back later.

This is why I tell founders heading into GTM:
File first.
Then pitch.
Then sell.

Because the fastest way to lose ownership of what you’re building…
…is to talk about it before you protect it.

Amazing initiative by David Y. to highlight founders and their stories...not just exits and milestones.

Real work. Real people. Real journeys.

If you’re building honestly, please apply and share your story!

Dear founders,

Quick proposition!

I’m curating 20 founders to feature in LinkedIn Legendaries, a newsletter read by 9000+ subscribers. We highlight entrepreneurs whose stories matter, not just their outcomes.

No hype.
No manufactured success narratives.

Just real founders doing meaningful work, navigating uncertainty, and learning in public (or quietly, but deeply).

If you’re building something honest and think your journey could help other founders, I’d love to hear from you.

👉 Apply to be featured here (20 spots for 2026):
https://lnkd.in/gRdBhBB7 

Great stories deserve daylight. 

Yours truly,
David

David Y.’s post is spot on.

Stay tuned for deep dives on B2B sales and other essential founder topics in the amazing seminars Founder Chapel will be launching very soon.

Come join us: https://lnkd.in/eeaefgbD

B2B sales is where most founders flounder.
Not because they’re bad,
but because they’re new.

They’ve never sold to:
- committees
- political buyers
- people protecting their careers

So they default to:
- building more
- tweaking product
- waiting for “traction”

But B2B doesn’t reward patience.
It rewards understanding how buyers manage risk.

Founders should learn B2B sales.
Not to chase deals,
but to command bigger ones.

We’re launching seminars on this (and more!) at Founder Chapel. 
Come join us: https://lnkd.in/eeaefgbD

taplio

The Battle

Wes Pearce

Kathryn V.

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Performance ScoreWes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKathryn V.'s LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Wes Pearce

Kathryn V.

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);}Wes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKathryn V.'s LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreWes Pearce's LinkedIn Performance