How A Near-Death Experience At 35,000 Feet Turned Eric Partaker Into LinkedIn's Top Leadership Voice
Learn How Founders Build Their Brand, Content Strategy and Create Viral Moments.
Introduction
"Success costs everything." That's what Eric Partaker believed until his heart nearly gave out at 35,000 feet. Today, this former McKinsey consultant has flipped the script, teaching 915,000+ LinkedIn followers how to crush their goals without crushing themselves.
For 20+ years, Eric climbed through every imaginable role in business. He was living his best life - advising Fortune 50 CEOs at McKinsey, helping build Skype's multi-billion dollar exit, and running his own restaurant chain, Chilango, in London. Then something nobody saw coming changed everything…
He almost died at 35,000 feet, in a plane.
But here's what makes Eric's story fascinating - that near-death experience didn't slow him down. Instead, it completely transformed how he thought about success, performance, and life balance. The guy who worked himself to the edge of a heart attack now teaches others how to achieve more by doing less.
Today, Eric isn't just posting on LinkedIn. He's totally crushing it:
- 915,000+ followers who actually engage
- 235,000+ newsletter subscribers
- 100+ companies scaled through his coaching
- Named "CEO of the Year" at the 2019 Business Excellence Forum
- Featured in The Wall Street Journal and The Economist… and more.
His journey from selling chocolate bars to coaching CEOs taught him something powerful about peak performance - and it all started with three simple phone alarms.
Each role taught him something about leadership and performance, but his biggest lesson came from that flight emergency. You see... working yourself to death isn't really working.
So when life gave him a second chance, Eric picked a new path. He turned his hard-earned lessons about peak performance into a system so simple that anyone could follow it. He got so good at it that other leaders started asking him to teach them his methods.
By 2020, he took the biggest jump of his life - starting EP Ventures and launching his newsletter "Peak Performance Insights." His game plan was simple:
- Share real, practical advice online.
- Focus on actionable frameworks.
- Give away his best stuff for free.
- Make success simple, not easy.
- Keep it consistent.
Eric shows it's really not complicated to perform at your peak. Just be intentional. Set specific goals. Live a balanced life. And most importantly - don't wait for a near-death experience to start.
In today's newsletter, I’m going to share everything about…
- How he built a 915,000+ LinkedIn following by challenging conventional wisdom
- The exact content strategy behind his most viral posts (103,000+ reactions)
- His approach to building multiple revenue streams through content
- Why he gives away his best content for free (including his book)
- The simple frameworks he uses to teach complex ideas
Think about it: From a kid hustling chocolate bars to advising Fortune 500 CEOs, Eric's story isn't just about success - it's about redefining what success means. And soon, you'll learn exactly how he did it.
The Founder Story
Long before Eric Partaker became the go-to voice for peak performance and leadership on LinkedIn, he was just a kid with a dream and a box of chocolate bars.
You know those stories about kids hustling candy to make money? That was Eric - selling chocolate bars. But he wasn't just selling World's finest chocolate bars outside a grocery store. He was learning his first lesson about peak performance - when you want something bad enough (in his case, a BMX bike), you'll figure out how to get it.
This hustle mindset stuck. After getting his Bachelor's in Finance from the University of Illinois, Eric landed at McKinsey. Three years of advising Fortune 50 CEOs taught him something powerful - success leaves clues. But what he didn't learn was how to succeed without sacrificing everything else.
At McKinsey, he saw how the biggest companies operated. What worked, what didn't. But I was also picking up some dangerous habits about what 'success' should look like.
Then came Skype. As Head of Business Development from 2005-2007, Eric helped build the foundation for their multi-billion dollar exit to eBay. He was living the startup dream - fast growth, big impact, insane hours.
But here's where it gets interesting…
2018 started like any other year. Eric was running Chilango, the successful Mexican restaurant chain he'd co-founded in London. Revenue was up. They were expanding. Everything looked perfect on paper.
Then came the flight that changed everything…
"I almost died while on a return flight to London from a near heart attack thirty-five thousand feet up in the air. At the time I was obsessed about “peak performance”, but I was approaching it in all the wrong ways, and my health paid for it."
Lying in that hospital bed, Eric realized something that would change his entire approach to success: Working yourself to death isn't really working at all.
From a young age, we're all taught that achieving success in life requires sacrifice. He believed that. Lived that. Nearly died because of that.
The transformation wasn't instant. It wasn't easy. But it was necessary. Eric started questioning everything:
- Why do we think success requires suffering?
- What if peak performance came from balance, not burnout?
- How could he help others avoid his mistakes?
That's when the 3 Alarms system was born.
The 3 Alarms
You'd think a book called "The Three Alarms" would just be about setting reminders on your phone. But Eric went deeper. Way deeper.
The book isn't just about alarms. It's 373 pages of everything I learned about peak performance the hard way. And I give it away for free because I don't want anyone else to learn these lessons in a hospital bed.
The Three Alarms system breaks life into what really matters:
- Health alarm - Be your healthiest self.
- Wealth alarm - Create lasting success.
- Relationships alarm - Build deeper connections.
But here's what makes it different - each alarm isn't just a reminder. It's a trigger for identity-level change. Eric learned that trying to change your actions without changing your identity is like trying to paddle upstream.
You might make progress, but you'll exhaust yourself doing it.
Inside the book, he shares game-changing insights:
Health Alarm
- Add 13 extra weeks to your year
- Double your natural melatonin production
- Turn stress into physical strength
- Build sustainable energy systems
Wealth Alarm
- Use the 80/20 rule for 5x productivity
- Implement Special Forces success techniques
- Design your day for peak performance
- Create sustainable success systems
Relationships Alarm
- Build deeper connections
- Balance ambition with love
- Create lasting bonds
- Make time for what matters
Eric wrote this book because he needed it 20 years ago, and understands others need it now. So instead of selling it, it makes it available for FREE.
Eric knew from his McKinsey days that data matters. That's why he created two powerful assessment tools - Scale Up and Peak Performance Score.
The Scale Up Assessment
In just 5 minutes, it measures three crucial areas:
Your Company Score
"Less than 1% of companies hit the scale-up stage…”
It's not about working harder. It's about having the right systems, people, and cash to grow. The assessment looks at everything from your strategy to your team alignment.
The assessment checks:
- Strategic clarity
- Team alignment
- Cash position
- Systems maturity
- Growth potential
Your Leadership Score
This one's personal. "70% of senior executives fail in their roles”.
Being a founder doesn't automatically make you a great CEO. The tool measures everything from vision-setting to team development…
- Vision-setting ability
- Communication skills
- Decision-making power
- Team development
- Performance management
Your Self Score
Here's the kicker - only 2% of people operate at their full potential. Most CEOs think they can scale their company without scaling themselves. That's like trying to pour from an empty cup.
Here’s what this section analyzes…
- Current performance levels
- Growth opportunities
- Development needs
- Hidden potential
- Limiting factors
But Eric wasn't done. He created something even deeper…
Peak Performance Assessment
He built this because most performance tools focus on what you do. He wanted to measure who you're becoming.
It breaks down into four game-changing areas:
Identity Mastery
"We all need to become our best selves in health, work, and relationships”. But first, you need to know what 'best' looks like. The assessment helps you define your peak performance identity.
Most people try to change their actions without changing who they are. That's like trying to outrun your shadow. The tool measures:
- Self-image clarity
- Goal alignment
- Purpose definition
- Value congruence
- Identity gaps
Productivity Potential
No fluff here. Just real metrics about your focus, habits, and ability to get things done. Elite productivity isn't about doing more. It's about controlling your day instead of letting it control you.
- Focus capacity
- Energy management
- Priority clarity
- Time optimization
- Habit strength
Antifragility Score
This one's special. Being antifragile means getting stronger from stress, not breaking under it. The tool measures your ability to bounce back and grow from challenges….
- Stress response
- Recovery ability
- Growth mindset
- Adaptation speed
- Resilience factors
Self-fulfillment
Success without fulfillment is failure. This section checks if you're just achieving goals or actually building a life worth living.
- Life satisfaction
- Goal progress
- Relationship quality
- Work-life integration
- Personal growth
Eric had a choice. Keep the insights to himself or build something bigger. He chose bigger.
EP Ventures started with a simple mission: Help ambitious CEOs scale their companies, their leadership, and themselves. But Eric knew another coaching company wasn't enough. He needed to build something different.
That's when he created the four pillars:
1. The CEO Accelerator
This 12-week transformation program is Eric's masterpiece. It's where everything he learned from McKinsey, Skype, and his own journey comes together.
- Perform at their absolute best
- Build sustainable growth systems
- Scale their company systematically
- Develop world-class leadership skills
Most CEO programs focus on either business or personal growth. Never both. That's like trying to win a race with only one shoe.
The program breaks down into three core pillars:
Scale Your Company
Drawing from his McKinsey and Skype days, Eric teaches:
- Proven growth strategies
- Sustainable scaling systems
- Team building frameworks
- Execution excellence
Become a Great CEO
Starting a company as a founder is one thing. Running it as a CEO is another game entirely.
This pillar covers:
- Strategic decision-making
- Leadership communication
- Team performance optimization
- Culture building
- Crisis management
Peak Performance Mastery
You can't pour from an empty cup. Most CEOs try anyway. Leaders learn:
- Energy management
- Productivity systems
- Stress optimization
- Work-life integration
- Sustainable success habits
2. The K2 Academy
Eric saw another problem - individual transformation wasn't enough. Companies needed comprehensive change.
Named after both the world's toughest mountain and the Japanese concept of 'Kaizen' (continuous improvement), K2 Academy is scheduled to transform entire organizations over 6 months:
Here's the structure:
- 12 interactive sessions
- 1.5 hours each
- Live coaching elements
- Breakout rooms
- Practical challenges
- Between-session quizzes
And here's the science behind it:
- Data from 100+ scaled companies
- Fortune 50 CEO insights
- 175,000+ performance data points
- Stanford University behavior design
- Evidence-based psychology
- Neuroscience-backed methods
Just like K2 is harder to climb than Everest, reaching your full potential is the toughest mountain any leader can climb. But with the right guide, anyone can reach the summit.
While K2 Academy handles company-wide change, Eric created something special for individual leaders who want rapid transformation - the Peak Performance Program.
3. The Peak Performance Program
Most programs tell you what to do. This one shows you who to become.
The program hits different because it's based on data, not opinion.
“The program draws from behavioral science from Stanford University, as well as the world’s largest ever study of peak performers, including over 30,000 people and over 100 different performance variables.”
"Opinion is great. Data is better."
Over 5 weeks, participants get:
- Deep-dive video lessons
- Live Q&A sessions
- Interactive exercises
- Community support
- Implementation tools
The program tackles four core areas:
- Crystal clear goals and purpose setting.
- Laser-focused productivity systems.
- Antifragile courage building.
- Evidence-based performance growth.
But here's what makes it special - you're not just learning theory. You're transforming who you are at your core.
4. 1-on-1 CEO Coaching
For leaders who want direct access to Eric's expertise, his 1-on-1 coaching delivers impressive results:
- 300% average return on investment
- 83% improvement in work-life balance
- 50+ transformed CEOs and counting
Most coaching focuses just on business growth. But here's what Eric learned the hard way - you can't scale a company without scaling yourself and your leadership first.
His coaching focuses on three parallel tracks:
- Become a peak performer
- Become a great CEO
- Scale your business
The Newsletter: Peak Performance Insights
235,000+ subscribers get weekly insights in 3 minutes or less. No fluff. No theory. Just practical tips they can use immediately.
He keeps it to 3 minutes because most CEOs don't have so much time to spare. But everyone has 3 minutes to become better.
Here’s how Eric’s doing today…
- 915,000+ LinkedIn followers
- 235,000+ newsletter subscribers
- 11,000+ YouTube subscribers
- 43,000+ Instagram followers
With over 100 companies scaled and counting, Eric could easily rest on his success. Instead, he's pushing harder toward an ambitious goal: helping 100 million people become their best selves by 2030.
Next up, let's break down exactly how he creates content that reaches millions...
Epic’s LinkedIn Content Strategy
Every time Eric posts on LinkedIn, it feels like you're getting a front-row seat to the CEO Whisperer in action. While others are busy shouting leadership advice and chasing viral moments, he's quietly transforming how industry leaders think about success, performance, and growth.
His posts read like private conversations between him and the leader you're trying to become. No hype. No fluff. Just battle-tested insights from someone who's helped scale 100+ companies and transformed countless leaders through near-death experiences and billion-dollar exits.
Here's the exact breakdown of how he makes it work...
# 1
Visual mastery that stops the scroll
Eric doesn't just post - he creates visual experiences. Every single post comes with a branded image. Not sometimes. Not most times. Every. Single. Time.
His visual strategy works because:
- Clean, minimalist design that's instantly recognizable
- Consistent branding across all posts
- High contrast colors in every design
- Text that's readable even on mobile
- Professional infographic style
Look at his most viral posts - they all follow this exact template. The visual hits you first, then the text explains why it matters.
# 2
Clean writing style
Eric writes like he's talking to one person, not broadcasting to thousands. His signature style:
Short, punchy paragraphs.
Usually one line each.
The magic happens because:
- Lots of white space
- One idea per paragraph
- Zero fluff - just pure value
- Uses emojis only when necessary
- Numbered lists that break down complex ideas
# 3
Strategic invitation to engage the post
Eric doesn't just post and ghost. He turns posts into conversations:
Check this out… at the end of the post:
“What’s the biggest ask you’ve made that changed your career?
Let me know in the comments.”
His engagement strategy is simple but powerful:
- Encourages reposts for reach
- Ends posts with 1 clear question
- Responds quickly to early comments
- Tags you directly in the comment when responding
- Always has a clear call-to-action
But here's what makes it really work - he's actually interested in the answers. Not just farming engagement.
# 4
Post structure that’s built for impact
Every viral Eric post follows this exact formula:
Hook → Problem → Solution → Action
"You spend 90,000 hours at work in your lifetime.
So why settle for a job that just pays the bills?”
Notice how it works:
- Hook: Bold statement that makes you pause
- Problem: Why should you care?
- Solution: Clear, actionable steps
- Action: What to do next
# 5
Value That Actually Helps
Eric's not here to motivate - he's here to transform. Every post gives you something you can use today:
“You don’t get what you deserve.
You get what you negotiate.”
His value comes in many forms:
- Frameworks you can apply today
- Templates that save time
- Real stories with lessons
- Tools that solve problems
- Action steps that work
# 6
Credit strategy that builds trust
One thing you'll notice in Eric's posts - he's always giving credit. Not just the "hey, look who I know" way… but real, meaningful shoutouts that add value.
"As Daksh Sethi points out..."
"Just like my friend Chris Donnelly suggests..."
"As Neha K Puri states in this post..."
But here's what makes his credit strategy special. Eric doesn't just tag people - he:
- Highlights specific insights they shared
- Adds his own experience to their points
- Shows how their ideas work in practice
- Creates genuine conversation
- Builds real relationships
# 7
Value that actually helps
1. Leadership Development
This is Eric's bread and butter. He breaks down complex leadership concepts into bite-sized pieces anyone can use:
“Want to be an admired leader, followed by many?
It starts by serving other people…”
He covers:
- Decision making frameworks
- Team leadership principles
- Communication strategies
- Crisis management
- Strategic thinking…
2. Management Skills
Eric turns management theory into practical tools:
“🚩 Micromanagement is silently killing teams.
Steal this cheat sheet to put an end to it today…”
His management content focuses on:
- One-on-one meeting structures
- Feedback frameworks
- Performance reviews
- Team motivation
- Conflict resolution…
3. Personal Growth
Eric shares his own growth journey, making big concepts feel achievable:
"A quarterly ritual that changed my life (and may change yours).
The 10x Day:
Let’s face it…”
He breaks down:
- Goal setting
- Morning routines
- Mental toughness
- Time management
- Productivity systems
4. Team Building
This pillar shows how to build teams that actually work:
"Creating psychological safety is critical for a high-performing team. Yet only 25% of leaders do it…”
Key themes include:
- Hiring strategies
- Team dynamics
- Remote leadership
- Culture building
- Performance optimization
5. Workplace Culture
Eric's take on culture isn't just theory - it's practical steps for better work:
"The 9 biggest threats to your company culture:”
He tackles:
- Company vision
- Values alignment
- Organizational change
- Cultural transformation
- Employee engagement
Here's what makes Eric's content strategy work - it's not just what he posts, but how consistently he delivers value. Every post fits one of these pillars, and every pillar serves his core mission: helping leaders build better teams and better lives.
Your content strategy isn't about you. It's about the transformation you create for others
Eric’s Most Viral Moments
"A good manager can significantly improve your life"
(103,344 reactions, 3,167 comments, 5,952 reposts)
Instead of just listing what makes a good manager, Eric showed the direct impact on employees' lives. It's personal, practical, and powerful. This post crushed it because:
- Opens with a simple truth everyone can relate to
- Uses clear bullets with the 🧭 emoji to make points scannable
- Breaks down exactly how good managers make work easier
- Mentions Daksh Sethi to boost credibility
- Shows the impact on daily work life
"Silence isn't golden at work. It's a warning sign
12 more signs of a broken culture:"
(96,766 reactions, 2,841 comments, 8,211 reposts)
The post hit different because it named problems most people see but don't know how to fix. It's not just complaints - it's solutions.
- Flips conventional wisdom on its head
- Lists 12 clear signs of broken culture
- Offers solution for each problem
- Makes complex culture issues simple
- Offers Actionable steps for improvement
"This couldn't be more true.
I was a horrible manager when I had my first shot"
(95,699 reactions, 2,825 comments, 8,408 reposts)
By admitting his own failures, Eric made it okay for others to acknowledge theirs. That's rare in leadership content.
- Raw honesty about leadership struggles
- Shares specific mistakes and lessons
- Gives hope to struggling managers
- Makes leadership feel human
- Proves growth is possible
"STOP GETTING IN YOUR TEAM’S WAY.
Managers, here’s a harsh truth: treating your employees like they need constant oversight is outdated and counterproductive."
(85,752 reactions, 2,345 comments, 5,694 reposts)
This worked because it challenged traditional management while offering better alternatives. It's not just criticism - it's transformation.
The breakdown:
- Strong, attention-grabbing opener
- Calls out outdated management styles
- Credits Neha K Puri for inspiration
- Shows why micromanagement fails
- Offers modern leadership alternatives
- Gives clear action steps
"Stop trying to hire the smartest people.
- - - -
I value the below qualities more…"
79,382 reactions, 1,905 comments, 5,820 reposts
The post worked because it freed people from the "must hire geniuses" trap and showed what really matters in team building.
This post also …
- Uses a counterintuitive opening
- Credits Chris Donnelly's insights
- Lists alternative qualities to seek
- Challenges hiring norms
- Practical hiring advice
Wrap Up
Here’s one thing that makes Eric different…
He's not just another leadership voice on LinkedIn. He's the CEO Whisperer - the guy literally helping industry leaders become better versions of themselves.
Watch Eric's content for one week. Notice how he never tells CEOs what to do. Instead, he shows them what's possible. That's the difference between advice and transformation.
Every post feels like he's standing behind top CEOs, whispering exactly what they need to hear. Not just generic advice, but real, tested insights about:
- How to lead without burning out
- When to push and when to pause
- Why balance beats burnout
- What real success looks like
- How to scale without sacrifice
From Eric's content, here's what separates posts that fly from those that die in the LinkedIn noise. Pay attention to these elements if you want your content to hit different
- Real-world solutions, not just theory.
- Strong, surprising openings that stop scrolls.
- Clear, actionable advice they can use today.
- Focus on real transformation, not quick fixes.
- Easy implementation steps anyone can follow.
Now, here's what you should focus on:
1. Start posting now
Don't wait until you're "ready". Someone 5 steps behind you needs your insights today.
2. Share what you wish you knew
Be the guide you needed five years ago. Your struggles and solutions matter.
3. Build in public
Share your journey, including the messy parts. Real stories beat perfect theories.
4. Focus on helping one person
Don't try to help everyone. Write for that one person who needs your message today.
Until next Wednesday,
Keep growing.
Related Resources
Learn How Founders Build Their Brand, Content Strategy and Create Viral Moments
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About the author
I'm ANDREW MCGUIRE
SaaS Pipeline Strategy Consultant
I'm helping SaaS Founders build their founder brands and create a pipeline strategy that actually works—by applying what I've learned doing this at SaaS companies for the past 15+ years.
Now, I'm living in Bend, Oregon where I take advantage of all the outdoor adventures.
If you can't find me, I'm probably doing an X3Bar workout, sweating in a sauna or freezing in a cold plunge.
Now I'm on a mission to help you understand pipeline strategy tactics and how founders build their brands on LinkedIn.
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