“It's about the relationship building without any immediate expectations. I think this is a mistake many freelancers and business owners make, is that they network with an immediate outcome in their mind.
And I think if you have that approach, people can sense it. People can sense that you straight away want something from them. And that turns them off. Even if they're not consciously realizing, sort of energetically, subconsciously, they can sense.
My advice would be that, yes, to build that trust, you need to actually make the person feel important as a person. Not somebody you might be able to get something out of a client, or money, or opportunities, you know, just genuinely build relationships with people that you like.
And whether that's your competitors, collaborators, or potential clients, it's the same. Because ultimatel,y people will refer clients to you because they like you.”
From this episode, you'll know:
👉 How to build trust with clients and collaborators without faking it.
👉 Navigating perfectionism, overthinking, and still getting the work done.
👉 Why gut instinct and values matter more than ever in today’s business world.
Choose the best platform to listen to this episode:
Connect with Zsike and Yurii here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zsike-peter/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurii-lazaruk-community-consultant/
🧠 Think Before You Create: A Conversation with Zsike on Humanity, Content, and Reclaiming Creativity
What do knitting, chess, and content marketing have in common?
If you're Zsike, the founder of Vampire Digital and creator of Thinkbait, the answer is simple: deliberate thinking.
In a world obsessed with speed, shortcuts, and AI-generated sameness, Zsike is building something entirely different—a movement that values depth over dopamine, and creativity over convenience.
We sat down for a new episode of Humans of Business to explore what drives her mission, how human traits shape the way we show up in business, and what it means to create in an era where everything's been optimized—except for meaning.
🔮 The Rebel Behind Thinkbait
Zsike runs Vampire Digital, a boutique content marketing agency for VIP clients ranging from SaaS founders and Ivy League researchers to reality TV winners. Her work goes far beyond surface-level branding. She helps people become heard, seen, and known—not by chasing trends, but by building presence and authority rooted in thoughtfulness.
But her real rebellion? It’s called Thinkbait.
“Creating the Thinkbait way is choosing to go deeper when everything else pushes us to stay shallow.”
Thinkbait is a call to reclaim creativity. It’s the anti-clickbait, anti-AI-regurgitation, pro-human movement we didn’t know we needed—but deeply do.
🧵 Knitting, Chess, and Strategy
One of the first things I learned about Zsike in this conversation? She’s a knitter. Yep—scarves mostly.
“It’s a kind of yoga for the brain… repetitive, meditative.”
That meditative quality echoes in her business thinking. Zsike was also a competitive chess player—so competitive, in fact, that she became Hungary’s national student chess champion twice.
Chess taught her more than just strategy. It taught her how to think multiple moves ahead, a trait she now applies to business negotiations, content, and even how she listens.
“If you want a conversation to have a certain outcome that benefits both of you, you can word your sentences in a way that you know the other person will respond positively.”
This isn't manipulation—it’s intentionality. And it’s a skill more entrepreneurs could benefit from.
🤝 On Clients, Collaborators, and Saying No
A big theme in our conversation was integrity. Zsike isn’t afraid to say no to the wrong client, even if it means turning away business.
“You have to be honest about whether you can help them.”
And when she can’t? She refers them—to what she lovingly calls her “collaborators” (others might call them competitors).
“If I’m not the right fit, I’d rather send someone to a collaborator who is. This isn’t about hoarding—it’s about doing right by people.”
That mindset has helped her build strong relationships in her niche. She emphasized how important it is to network without expectations—to connect as humans first, not with a hidden pitch waiting in your back pocket.
💡 How to Be Liked (Without Trying So Hard)
We all want to be liked. It’s human. But Zsike offers a powerful (and disarmingly simple) approach to building connection:
“Ask more questions. Talk less.”
It’s not revolutionary, but it is rarely practiced. Too often, we’re listening just long enough to respond, not to understand. That distinction matters.
“If you make someone feel heard and important, they’ll automatically associate that positive emotion with you.”
This applies to clients, collaborators, team members, and even internet strangers on LinkedIn.
🧠 Think Before You Post: AI, Creativity, and Content That Feels Alive
Zsike is currently writing a book titled Thinkbait: The Ultimate Guide to Reclaim Human Creativity in the Age of AI. She’s also building a certification program to help younger marketers and writers break free from beige, algorithm-chasing content and reconnect with the art of meaningful creation.
Her message?
“AI can be useful—but we’re outsourcing too much of our thinking.”
Instead of relying on ChatGPT to write your next post, pause. Reflect. Ask: What do I actually think? What do I want someone to feel, question, or change after they read this?
“If we keep letting AI think for us, we risk losing the very thing that makes our work impactful: our cognitive edge.”
💬 On Mistakes, Feedback, and Being Online
Like many creatives, Zsike admits she’s a perfectionist. Writing her book has forced her to face the discomfort of imperfection—and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite.
“Some pages I read back and think, ‘Wow, I wrote this?’ And others I want to burn.”
On LinkedIn, where she has built a loyal and growing following, she used to take negative comments hard. Now?
“I block. I move on. If someone challenges my ideas respectfully, I welcome that. But trolls? No thanks.”
Her advice is to remain open, but not porous.
“If your opinions never change, the problem might be you.”
🎯 Redefining Success
When I asked Zsike how she defines success beyond financial metrics, her answer was immediate:
“Having close, healthy relationships. That’s it. That’s everything.”
She values purpose, curiosity, and a sense of internal drive. Whether it’s writing, fitness, or parenting her two children, she lives in cycles of passion and focus. Sometimes she’s up at 3 a.m. chasing an idea she can’t let go.
And yes, she’s also an excellent dancer. (Her words.)
💭 Final Thoughts
Talking with Zsike always leaves me inspired. She’s sharp, funny, wildly human, and refreshingly unfiltered. She reminds us that in a world flooded with content, it's not more than we need, it's meaning.
So if you’ve been feeling the pressure to automate your voice, rush your content, or mold yourself into something more “palatable,” pause.
And ask yourself: What would Thinkbait do? 💛
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