Happy Tuesday, Reader! Today’s AI tools make starting things easier than ever. For example, much has been written about how helpful ChatGPT is at getting from blank page to rough draft for writers. But here's what no algorithm can do for you: the discipline of finishing. There are 99 days left in 2025. We're in that magic momentum cycle where hitting those big goals and leaning into the intentions we set in our planning sessions becomes not just possible, but natural. Realign with the Human...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! We've been exploring where AI shortcuts can actually hurt your business. This week we’re focusing on the hidden cost of making your work too easy. Deep learning and maintaining creative skills require cognitive strain. If we’re not careful, what helps us in the short run (freeing up cognitive load with AI tools) can hurt us in the long run. It's crucial to make thoughtful choices about where the trade-off of short-term ease for long-term skill development is worth it,...
4 days ago • 2 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! Much has been written about AI's usefulness for evaluating work quality. But the more we experiment with it, the more we're realizing that quality feedback is still surprisingly difficult to get from a bot, especially for those actively trying to improve their skills. Effective feedback, particularly on creative work, remains inherently human. AI might eventually replicate it, but today it simply doesn't (at least not nearly as well as many believe) Realign with the...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! We've spent the last several weeks exploring AI's impact on discoverability. I'm excited about helping clients and our own team navigate this new reality, but I feel a compelling need to remind us (both myself and everyone I work with daily) that there are crucial life and business skills AI simply cannot touch. Skills that are uniquely, powerfully human. Today, I want to talk about one skill that might transform how you think about building your business. Realign with...
4 days ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! We've talked about how being discoverable in an AI-driven world means adapting your brand strategy and realigning your digital tactics. This week, I'm going to say something that might surprise you, especially coming from someone who's been advocating for digital marketing for over 15 years. We’re going old-school for community-based businesses. TRA-digital marketing means offline first, digital second. I’ve talked about the importance of TRA-digital marketing before....
5 days ago • 3 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! We’ve been discussing how to equip small businesses like yours to still be discoverable in the age of AI. The playground of keyword-driven search and pay-per-click advertising has fundamentally changed, but there are actionable steps you can take to maintain and grow that vital connection to your audience. Last time, we talked about the importance of a distinct and all-encompassing brand voice. This week we’re focusing on realigning your digital marketing tactics. But...
12 days ago • 2 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! Last week, we talked about how the typical channels for how people discover small businesses online have fundamentally changed. This week, let's dive into what you can actually do about it. In the age of AI, your brand’s distinctiveness is your superpower. Distinctiveness isn't about being completely unique or reinventing the wheel. It's about being consistently recognizable as you. Brand cohesiveness has always been important, but in a world where search is dominated...
19 days ago • 2 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! If you've been watching your website traffic drop, your social media engagement plummet, or your Google Ads become less effective over the past 18 months, you're not imagining things. Search and social as we've known them for the past 20 years are fundamentally changing. Don't panic. Do act. Your current SEO, PPC, and social media strategies are probably offering diminishing returns. This isn't a fluke—it's the new reality as AI reshapes how people find businesses like...
26 days ago • 1 min read
Happy Tuesday, Reader! This is the last week our Fall 2025 Strategic Planning Retreat spots are available exclusively to subscribers and current clients. If you haven’t reserved your spot yet, what's been holding you back? Book Your No-Pressure Info Call I understand the hesitation. Bringing in a third party to help with strategic planning is like hiring a contractor for your home—you have to consider costs vs. benefits. If your home's electrical system has problems, you have to get it fixed....
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
