Hey, Reader,

I’ve always held it deep in my heart that we are incredibly lucky to live in a country and an era where people can use their God-given talents to build something meaningful in their own unique way.

And in the year of our Lord 2026, we have more tools than ever. AI. Automation. Algorithms. Templates. Online courses to teach whatever you need.

But you can take all the classes and have an arsenal of tools at the ready, and still not make it. Bc the businesses that stand out are the ones who are really good at the basics, AND know how to apply them in a way that fits this new techy world we’re living in.

So for the next few weeks, this newsletter is time-traveling back to the 90’s. We're going to

Track 01: Everybody Talks

Starting with: YOUR VOICE. Because literally — everybody talks. Everybody has something to say.

The old-school business principle we're revisiting this week is simple: The businesses that grow are the ones with strong brand positioning + messaging and know how to communicate it clearly.

That's always been true. Long before websites, Instagram, or AI, businesses won because they knew what they stood for, who they served, and how to explain it in a way people remembered.

Today, everyone has access to the same tools. Canva. ChatGPT. Websites. Social media. YouTube. The barriers to publishing have almost disappeared.

But now, everyone also has access to a pretty good writer and robot assistant who can take on as much work as you pass over to them. And as someone who writes for a living... I have thoughts.

I understand why people use it - I'm not mad about it. I think it's one of the best productivity tools we've been given. If it helps someone finally get their ideas out of their head and onto the page, I'm all for it.

But when everyone's thoughts are polished by the same tool, trained on the same information, using the same patterns — we slowly start trading our own voices for the same one.

🤔 So... what do you do then? The good news is, the answer hasn't changed.

We counter this by going back to the basics and doing what has always worked. AI changed the tools. It didn't change the fundamentals. I wrote an entire blog post about.

Here's what's inside:

• What AI is NOT good at and how to use that to your advantage
• How to have a stand out brand in an AI world
• How to infuse YOUR personality into your outputs
• And yes, prompts - but not your typical prompts. These are actually helpful.

​Read the full post here. And if you ever want to chat more about this, as with all my letters, just hit reply. I'll be right here waiting 🎵

​MADE IN PARADISE​ branding, copy and web design

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BONUS TRACK

🔨 TOOL TIME: Kit users – A redesigned navigation is rolling out next week. You'll have the option to try the new layout early, with both versions available until the end of July.
🎧 NOW PLAYING: The Email Marketing Show has been on my podcast list lately. Giving it a solid A. ​
🎬 REWIND: Found a few gems from years ago when I was cleaning out my blogs. Here's a great oldie but goodie about about FAQ's on your website. ​
​🎵 NEXT TRACK: Wannabe – So, tell me what you want, what you really really want​
​📼 FOUND IN THE TAPE DECK: