My Favorite Posts of 2019

Welcome to a special EOY edition of the Weekly Content Rundown. I use this newsletter to shine a light on the best content from LinkedIn business influencers. These folks are creating content that's relevant, unique, and thought-provoking.

This week, I'm reflecting. Thinking about the year that's gone by. And in that spirit, I'm featuring my favorite Content Rundown posts from 2019. Repeats. Because who doesn't love a best of list this time of year? So I dug up some oldies but goodies that deserve an encore.

Also, I want to give a special shout out to everyone adding valuable content to Linkedin on a regular basis. I love watching people find their Linkedin voices and share knowledge here. The more quality content we all share, the better this platform gets. So cheers to all the content creators out there. Keep it up.

And if you're participating from the Linkedin sidelines so far, but want to start creating your own content here on Linkedin, it's time to dip your toe in the water. Check out my eBook The Daily Post: Build Your LinkedIn Audience

This week's Linkedin content comes from Quentin Allums, David Wee, Mila Komarova, Clay Steel, Bill Stinnett, Megan Bowen, Derek Jankowski, Tucker Hood, Sarah Brazier, Valentina Kordi and Lynn White.

And without further adieu, here are my favorite posts from the Content Rundown in 2019.

This is one of my favorites because Quentin is calling out something I think most people can relate to: going through the motions, even when it doesn't feel right. Not acknowledging #1.

We don't realize it until we stumble upon some kind of hindsight perspective. Putting ourselves in second place in order to blend in, people please, and to not disrupt the status quo. Quentin's message is simple but powerful. Wake up before it's too late.

David's closing line here is what makes this one of my favorite posts. Although he's talking about navigating company politics, the message is relevant for any kind of challenge we have to manage, yet have no control over. We spend a lot of energy being upset, outraged even, about things we can't control (particularly in today's political climate).

I love the idea of intentionally "choosing the right response for me" in whatever challenge I might be facing. While we may not have control of some situations, we always have control of our responses to them. We can always control our own behavior. I find that reactions to difficult situations reveal a lot about who a person is and how they really are.

BAM. I talk a lot about playing the long game and investing in your future with intention. Having a plan. In that spirit, I always encourage people to consider factors beyond the paycheck when mulling over a job hop or assessing an offer.

Mila's message is a frightening reminder that money SHOULD NOT be the top priority when navigating career decisions. There are so many other layers of life that contribute to happiness and satisfaction. If you hate your job, please print this post and tape in to your bathroom mirror.

This is one of my favorites because I wholeheartedly believe that traveling abroad is the best education one can get. Here's the proof! Clay's wisdom is the kind you can't get from a book or learn in a class. It comes from experience.

Experiencing other cultures has been my favorite way of learning, and I hope Clay's post will inspire you to finally book that trip you've been dreaming of. Do it now.

This is a top favorite because Bill reminds us of two critical things that we need to manage in tandem. It's important to have big life goals and inch towards them. Of course. But we have to stop and smell the flowers too. For me, it's been challenging to nurture both. To balance.

Starting small is the key. I talk a lot about the book Atomic Habits (a must read for all) and this post reminds me of the primary concept in that book - which is to pick a thing and start small. Just getting started can be the hardest part. So stop what you're doing right now, and pick your two small things you'll do today. One for your now and one for your later.

This is one of my favorite posts because I LOVE when people share authentic learnings after they've walked through a fire. It's the most inspirational kind of post.

Megan was a victim of the WeWork debacle and found herself unexpectedly unemployed. Her reflections can surely help people in a similar situation. And her recommendations are 100% on point for building a strong personal brand even when you're in a sh*+ situation.

Here's another one that shares learnings to help others. Literally the most valuable kind of post you can share.

I love how Derek shared hindsight perspective (with extreme ownership) and actionable tips for avoiding the mistakes he made. This kind of content helps people and adds tremendous value to the Linkedin platform.

What mistakes have you learned from that might help others? That's what we're here for. Please share.

What's not to love about this truth bomb? It's easy to get focused on the results we see instead of the backstory that led to the results. From a personal mission to improve, this is solid advice.

AND. Here's what else this post makes me think about today - There's a lot of social media shenanigans lately where people accuse others of "privilege"...when they don't even know the person they're slinging comments at. I call BS on (most) of those comments.

For a little perspective, HERE'S AN ARTICLE about celebrities that overcame great obstacles to achieve the success we "see." Tucker's post gives us a lot to think about.

This post gets me so amped. It's inspiring as hell, and it puts you in the driver's seat. It's about accountability - an underserved topic that I hope will start trending more on Linkedin in 2020.

Stop complaining about your situation. Stop being the victim. It's time to write your story. You're the author. What do you want the story to be? Let's go.

And on the topic of accountability, here's another great one.

Valentina's message is another one of my favorite kinds of posts because it drives the reader to look in the mirror and take accountability for your situation instead of blame-shifting.

Accountability and introspection are topics that I want to read more about in 2020!

This was one of my favorite posts because we all need a f*&king wake up call from social media. Our personal standards (in life and business) should be just that - personal. Our standards and definitions of "good" or success should never be driven by external factors or what other people are doing. Comparing ourselves to others is a recipe for disappointment.

So when you find yourself measuring your success against others, try to shift that energy toward incremental improvements you can make against your own situation. Only compare you to you. That's a recipe for encouragement and momentum.

Well, this concludes the Content Rundown for 2019. If you have any feedback about this project, drop me a note at [email protected] or shoot me a DM on LinkedIn.

You can also find me around the web at:

• The Official Justin Website
• The FREE Daily Post eBook
• The Linkedin Playbook
• LinkedIn
• Twitter

Happy New Year, and see ya in 2020!

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Justin