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Happy Easter! (treats inside) 🐣

Happy Easter! Have an eggcellent long weekend.

AI has side-tracked me this week – an AMA with J. Thorn (aka Tim Desmond) at the Leading Expert Alliance. 

He’s just returned from SXSW, where he gave a presentation on using AI creatively. This year’s rock stars were the OpenAI attorneys – walking around with bodyguards!   

I can see why, reading this piece by Ted Gioia (also there), consumers are getting angry about new tech (and not just AI). 

I had a long convo/argument with my sister about AI. She’s doing a PhD in Music at Glasgow Uni and has written a paper on the impact of AI on the industry (she’s new to Substack, give her some love here). 

AI is a big deal for musicians, and people are pissed off, she says. It got a bit heated, so we had to change the subject.

We’re seeing exponential growth, things are moving very fast and it’s hard to wrap our heads around. 

Here are some key titbits from the convo with J. Thorn. He said a few things that resonated with me, so I wanted to share them. 

Like many of us, he’s veering between ‘AI will save the world’ and ‘fuck, we’re all doomed.’

How to use ChatGPT 

Here’s one tip you can use instantly that will dramatically shift how you see this tool.

Don’t use it as a search engine.

Think about the tasks that you typically do—or do on a regular basis—and instead of asking ChatGPT to do them, ask it what it needs for you to accomplish them.

Try it and see. He says you’ll be shocked at what you get back, so now you know what you don’t know! 

It’s a big mindset shift to start conversing with ChatGPT rather than telling it what to do as we would with Google. 

  • The Pro version is worth paying for (several people said this) – it’s stronger, multimodal, and can analyse text, images, and voice. 
  • On setting your ego aside as a writer. “The purpose of being a writer isn’t to write words; it’s to get your message across.” Love that, keeping it at eye level.
  • More personalised AI is coming – an encrypted AI assistant that can remember everything you’ve ever written and store all your personal info.
  • Licensing is a key area—musicians will be able to make more money from licensing their voices than doing the voiceover work. 

Hmm, where’s the fun in that!? We enjoy the creative process and the sense of achievement that it brings.  

  • The quantity game is over, so you need to focus on making the highest quality content that only you can write. And supplement it with IRL events and experiences (which don’t scale…) 

I feel like we’re coming full circle – from global to local, more intimate community events.

In many ways, the next several decades will force humans (in the West, maybe globally) to redefine purpose because AI & robotics will do what we’ve done for ourselves for generations. 

Much food for thought and a positive conversation. Thanks to Tim & the team.

💌Creative AI Digest [J. Thorn

And some Further inspo from Brian Clark in his newsletter this week on ‘Why it’s time [for Gen X] to adapt (again).

Because your wisdom and experience (armed with AI) in your own gig can do some seriously amazing things.

We’ve been around the block and can remember how life was before the internet, and that’s our superpower!

My dad sent me a pic of his new birthday shelving: books, maps, DVDs, VHS tapes (us as kids), WD40, cans of Stella, and survival tins. He says it holds up to 50 tee-shirts (or more!)

So if it all goes to pot, he’ll be ok!

ChatGPT-5

It’s coming soon…maybe in June – and it will be even smarter

Interesting to hear Sam Altman say that ‘ChatGPT-4 sucks!’ on the Lex Fridman Podcast. I love how he gets right in there: ‘Take me through the OpenAI board saga.’ 

I’m interested in learning what the next iteration can do so playing around with the Plus version and figuring out how to integrate it into my daily workflow. 

I don’t have a VA, so a little help with admin, marketing/PR, distribution, and repetitive tasks is welcome and it will free me up to do other stuff, e.g., getting OUT there and networking! 

ChatGPT is the only AI tool I use as it’s affordable, and I want to keep things simple. I don’t need different interfaces to do the same job. I figure they’re all using OpenAI data anyway.

What everyday tasks are you using ChatGPT for and how is it helping?

Nika 

PS Speaking of events, last chance to grab your ticket for CEX 2024. Spring pricing ends today. Sign up and use code TOM100 to win a guest spot on This Old Marketing Pod. 

An action-packed agenda – there’s a lot on AI this year. And because it’s a niche, smaller event, there’s a strong focus on networking and collaborations.


Good Reads 

▶️Rejecting Specialization: Using vibes and voice to attract the right clients [Tom Critchlow]. An excellent piece on why specialising as an indie consultant is hard, why it fails, and what an alternative path looks like. Lean into your weirdness and POV to consistently generate senior clients. 

▶️With this LinkedIn algorithm change, your best posts could reach new readers for months. One of many new features the platform is rolling out in ‘24 to help you grow and why they’ve dropped the term ‘creator’. [Entrepreneur

▶️Spotify adds video learning courses in latest experiment [The Verge]. It’s offering four categories of courses in the UK: make music, get creative, learn business, and healthy living because more people are coming to Spotify to learn. Curious to see how this experiment goes!

▶️What’s happening with Substack right now is why creators need to understand their platforms’ business models and incentives. [Jay Acunzo

Great commentary and insight on platform biz models. You still get your email list, so it’s not like YouTube. Personally, I enjoy the social side of SS—content should lead to connections and conversations, and that happens naturally in this ecosystem. I don’t mind if they bring in ads to support paid subscriptions.

▶️Travel videos, health hacks, and entrepreneur interviews by Ever Wander aka [Ashley Perona]. She and her husband have been full-time nomads since 2021 and she’s been to 47 countries, 7 continents. She’d love some tips on growing her channel.

Fascinating to see how she’s managing her content biz (& her health) while on the road. Some inspo for your next trip!


Hi, I’m Nika!

I’m a writer and indie consultant. Founder of Firebird, a small-but-mighty content consultancy.

I help entrepreneurs and biz leaders tell compelling stories that connect and inspire. 

Need my copy chops? See my services here. You can book a 1:1 intro call with me here.

Newsletter Talent Directory! Feel free to add your deets here.

Gold star for reading this far. If you have an indie newsletter I’d love to chat! 🤩

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Bold Types: Abha Malpani Naismith 🇦🇪

I spoke to Abha about her shift from corporate to solopreneur, and launching an online course that helps working mums kickstart their AI journey with joy (scroll down for the video!)

Helping working mums use AI to work better and faster – and make their first $ online

Hi Abha, firstly, I’d love to know where you grew up and your first job.

I was born in Mumbai, India. When I was three years old, we moved to the UK and lived there till I was nine. Then, we moved back to a small town in India (Aurangabad), where I finished high school.

Luckily, I was still young and fascinated by Indian culture, so no culture shock as far as I can remember!

When I was 18, we moved to Dubai. I went to university in Australia and then returned to work in Dubai.

Burnout led me to quit my job and try my hand at being a travel writer in Spain. The plan was for six months; I stayed for three years!

After my stint in Spain, I moved back to the corporate world in Dubai, where I now live with my husband and two children.

My first job was when I was 18. I was a production assistant for a film company.

Interesting. So, what inspired you to start your own business? 

Apart from my adventure in Spain, I’ve been in the corporate world my entire life. After I graduated, I worked in advertising, which was short-lived – and then moved to PR.

After working in PR & comms for over 17 years, a lack of flexibility and limited growth opportunities led me to quit my job six months ago to start my solopreneur journey.

I believe in the transformative power of the internet and emerging technology. It will reshape our work and personal lives by giving us limitless tools to grow and reinvent ourselves without prior skills. We just need to start using them!

As I embark on a mission to redesign my life, I’m constantly experimenting with new tools to improve my productivity and efficiency.

This is where the idea for my business came from. It revolves around building a community of working mums who want to do the same: maximise their productivity and potential by learning to use emerging technology like AI.

The biggest challenge with AI is not knowing what to use it for and not realising its potential until we see it applied to achieve a task in record time.

I decided to launch my business to address these challenges, and it’s in its very early stages.

You launched your first online course recently.

Yes. It helps mums start their AI journey whilst having some fun. It teaches you how to write, illustrate, design, and publish a children’s book in one hour by using ChatGPT, Midjourney and Canva.

I also offer free resources on using AI tools and building a side income for those interested.

The aspiration for my business is my pursuit of time and financial freedom and a mission to inspire others, especially working mums, to believe in the possibility of creating a life that combines career and parenthood.

This is now so much easier to achieve with emerging tech at our fingertips.

Yes! Sounds fabulous. What are you most excited about at work right now?

I’ve been learning and reading about how to be a solopreneur for the last two years. I’m finally putting everything I’ve learned into action and loving it!

It’s a lot of work, and being a one-woman show whilst having two small kids is no easy feat, but I believe in what I am doing and feel grateful that I get to do this!

We are lucky in Dubai that home help is easily accessible and affordable. Because of this and my husband’s consistent encouragement, I have everything in place to build a life where I have time and financial freedom.

How do you stay on top of industry trends?

I subscribe to and read a lot of newsletters and pay for a handful of them! There is so much content out there – relying on people you trust and can relate to, who know what they are writing about and are enjoyable to read, is the best way to filter out the noise and stay on top of what you need to know.

In order to get the land of cool, you have to climb Cringe Mountain

How are getting yourself out there, building a network and finding collaborators?

I started focusing on my marketing efforts at the beginning of this year, and I need to get better at it and be more efficient.

Once I started on my own, I realised how much harder it is to do your own marketing than it is to do it for other people or brands.

I’m keeping my email list engaged with a weekly Substack newsletter and working on some free resources to help grow my list. I’ve been repurposing some of that content on social media.

I’ve been showing up on Instagram almost daily and being more active on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Medium. I’m also planning to launch my YouTube channel in February!

I am part of many communities and have been networking there. This has led to several speaking and podcast opportunities, all of which I have taken!

To sell my online course I had to be super active on social media. I feel like I am at the top of the cringe mountain, but I’m past caring, lol. I also experimented with Facebook and Instagram ads.

Now that I better understand what I am trying to solve, I’m finally building a website that will help me better serve my audience.

I hope all of this will give my business the boost it needs to take off. Consistency is key, as they say, for at least two years!

Good luck with YouTube. You’re very engaging on screen, so I’m sure you’ll smash it!

What does 
success mean to you these days? How do you balance ambition and contentment? 

I think the definition of success changes depending on which phase of life you’re in. Right now, it’s making money by doing what I love and having the freedom to do that in a way that fits with my life and kids.

My ultimate success would be time and financial freedom to spend my days as I please.

Interestingly, I feel lucky that my success and happiness are mutually exclusive. If they come together, my happiness will magnify, but I am happy nonetheless (cheesy, I know!).

I am also of the mindset that I am so blessed that I get to be on this journey, so I have an obligation to succeed! The failing is in giving up; if I don’t give up, I know I will make it. That’s my current mindset.

“Dubai has THE best food in the UAE!” Dishes to devour when you get there…

You mentioned burnout earlier and quitting your job. How do you take care of your health? 

As I’m just starting my business, I am very driven and tend to skimp on sleep; there is so much to do, and I am eager to get on with it. I am so wired, but therefore also tired.

I am very aware of it, though, and I try not to ignore how I feel for too long. Reminding myself of the law of diminishing returns is very helpful in these cases. So, if I feel exhausted, I choose rest – even if I don’t want it!

I am also trying my best to do the basics consistently. Exercise is non-negotiable, and I workout a few times a week. I’m trying hard to take breaks.

I also try to eat clean at least five days a week, but it’s hard when you’re at home and you know where the keys to the snack cupboard are!

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?

You don’t learn anything by osmosis. You learn by taking action. Get comfortable taking messy action! – Jessica DeRose…also an online business coach.

Yeah. That’s my mantra. It’s easy to get stuck in the ideas phase and think we have to have it all perfectly in place before taking action. But life is too short!

Are you happy? Is there anything you’d change?

I’m the happiest I have been in ages. Not having a stressful and depleting job has shifted my energy enormously. I am using this newfound energy and optimism to build my own business.

I get to see my kids more and manage my own time – I really could not ask for more!

Now I just need to make it work so I never have to go back to a 9-5 😁

Can you recommend one book, podcast, and course for digital entrepreneurs? 

📕The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks

This is the last book I read, and it’s been a game-changer for how I think about time.

As a working mum, I struggle with time and have always seen it as being in short supply. The book introduces the concept of ‘Einstein Time’, which makes you realise that WE are the source of our time.

This means time is not finite, and because we are the producers of time, we can create as much of it as we want! This book also introduced me to being in your ‘Zone of Genius’, which was revelatory!

🙇🏻‍♀️Amy Porterfield’s Digital Course Academy 

This opened my eyes to the potential of being a wildly successful online entrepreneur by solving a problem using a skillset I already have.

The way she teaches and her structured programmes enable anyone to do the same. It’s an expensive course (about $2,000) but worth it.

Amy Porterfield did $100 million in her business last year, so you are learning from the best if you want to start your online business.

🎧Steph Taylor’s Imperfect Action

Steph Taylor is a student of Amy’s, and she has a great podcast focused on the magic of taking ‘imperfect action’ and how done is better than good. It’s an important reminder not to get stuck on our quest for perfection that rarely moves us forward.

Who should we interview next and why? 

Anna Burgess Yang would be great for you. She left a 15-year career in fintech during Covid (and her husband did too, I think) as a product manager to pursue work she loves. She creates resources for solopreneurs and small businesses.

I’d be happy to connect you if you’re interested?

Definitely  thank you! Also curious to know more about your Spanish adventurenext time! And I need to get my ass over to delicious Dubai for some sunshine and shopping.

How can readers get in touch with you? 

My website is almost ready! It has all the information here.

Check out Abha’s wild ride so far! You are a part of it, so let her know what you think.

If you enjoyed reading this, join The Shifties for the full experience.

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Brian Clark on AI: ‘Be a leader, not a creator’

Your go-to mission plan 🤖

I did a webinar with Brian Clark on ‘How to Become a Market Leader in the Age of AI’.

Why radical change is a leadership opportunity for savvy marketers, and how to navigate these uncertain times.

AI is one of the top 5 big disruptors. Now the hype has died down regarding ChatGPT, it’s time to pay attention. AI is being baked into everything, and we still don’t know what the impact will be on the broader job market.

He shared an important paper in Gen-AI [MIT], which found people preferred the AI content over human content. A bit depressing, but “change brings opportunity – this is opportunity on steroids.”

Beat the ‘push button’ crowd

The basic advice we’ve been given is you’ve got to be human – not very useful. The ‘Be human’ mantra has been chanted since the early days of blogging – fighting against corporate jargon and non-sensical marketing speak.

We need to be ‘more human than human’ – Tyrell’s motto in Bladerunner.

By intimately understanding human psychology and how words influence people rather than getting hung up at the tactical level.

Exploring human values and needs – trust, purpose and belonging. Unity is the most persuasive principle and is included in the new edition of Cialdini’s book Influence.

Building together around a shared identity – the Unemployable community is a great example.

Be a leader, not a creator

Brian talked about redefining how we use content for marketing purposes and prefers ‘empowerment marketing’ to ‘content marketing’. Empowerment is the objective, not content creation.

Thinking in terms of missions, movements and mentors is way more powerful than marketing and niches.

“Because when content can get generated at the push of a button, hey maybe that’s not what I want to be known for, right.” It’s become meaningless and watered down.

I agree. It’s something I’ve been struggling with. Just listened to Chris Cantwell on a pod talking about why he doesn’t like the word ‘content’.

The creator economy is a sea of sameness – lots of creator-named brands, tips and tactics. We create content to make a living. But the creator ethos is backwards – focused on vanity metrics – likes and comments, while not getting to the building a business part because they can’t inspire action.

Connector is a better word.

So, what’s next for Movement Ventures and the community?

Their new focus is the Leading Expert (Copyblogger for grown-ups) – a person fighting against the status quo as part of a movement.

Leading is the key word because “Leadership is what’s needed – and what people are begging for in terms of navigating the change we’re facing.” It doesn’t really matter if you’re working for yourself or for an org.

Outward-focused on the person over the content, and psychological over tactical – the whole human. They are bringing their universe together and unifying things in one community. I love that.

I said the expert hat is tricky sometimes especially if you’re learning in public and on the journey with your readers. I’m seeing more ‘how I did it’ over ‘how to do it’ posts these days.

Brian said but ‘how I did it’ at beginning of the journey is just as viable. When Darren Rowse started blogging in photography back in 2003, he didn’t know a huge amount about it and was very candid about that. “I would research. I would write. I was one week ahead of my audience.”

His Digital Photography School is now hugely successful. He’s pioneered an online movement by sharing his journey with pro blogging.

“So, you’ll be teaching us how to be leading experts?” 💬

“Yes, that’s the idea. This has always been the way, but most people got lost in the content, and more content, and more content. And never understood what they were trying to accomplish with all the content.”

An emphasis on creating the right type of content for your people – which is what content design is all about.

Back to that MIT study he quoted at the start (Title: Human Favoritism not AI Aversion). The most important finding. “When people knew that a human created the content all by themselves they liked it better than if it was AI-generated.”

Human nature is the one thing that’s not going to change. Thank you for giving us some hope!

“Augmented humans will be the leaders going forward, not robots.”

Inspiring stuff – got me all fired up!! An excellent presentation.

Yes to being part of a true alliance of people who want to help each other out.

Want to be part of it? Brian is doing Expert lessons over on the Longevity Gains newsletter for the longevity market, but they are general principles applied to the over-50s. The biggest consumer market the world’s ever seen (think about it, none of us want to get old and die!!).

Leading expert. All rivers flow into this:

• I did a Skill Session with Josh Spector called ‘The Expert Positioner’. He’s changed his messaging to ‘I’m a marketing strategist who helps experts…”

• Ellen Donnelly at The Ask launched the Authority Club this week.

• Thomas Strider shut down his newsletter to start something mission-backed, sparked by a remote work revolution and online entrepreneurship.

• Joe Pulizzi has a new website written in the first person. ‘Father, Husband, Son, Friend, Entrepreneur, Marketer, Author, Podcaster, Speaker.’ Bringing his whole self to it. 

• Jan Murray has rebranded her pod to The Courageous CEO (prev. Courageous Content).

Overall, it’s about relationships – important in the golden days of blogging – and bringing that back. LinkedIn and Substack are filling a gap – the number of folks flocking to these platforms shows it’s much needed.

I’ve been thinking about the ‘whole human’ thing and the direction of this newsletter. Trying to figure out a way to bring all my passions and interests together in one place rather than having work and life in separate buckets, which doesn’t make sense.

It’s never been about content creation, personal branding or building an audience. It’s about growth and impact and helping people to reach their true potential. Being the best person we can be. Leaving a legacy, if that’s what you want.

And helping women gain power, health and wealth. The UK has an unaffordable childcare system, which restricts women’s freedom, fun and happiness. I’ve experienced that first-hand. Digital entrepreneurship and remote work were the game changers that kept me going.

Resources 

📧 AI content is preferred over human content | Awaken Your Superhero by Christopher S Penn

🎧 Questioning content with writer, producer and director Chris Cantwell | Content People 

📚 Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini 

Living well 

The little (and big) things that made me feel better this week

  • I made gluten-free oat bread
  • I did a one-day yoga detox retreat
  • I had a two-hour chat with my sister about her Camino adventure
  • I took the afternoon off to potter around Rye with Julieta
  • I read a few chapters of Marie Forleo’s book Everything is Figureoutable
  • I offered an older man a seat on the bus. He looked at me and said, “No thanks. I’m 79 and fit as a fiddle. I’m very strong. I prefer to stand up.”

It sparked a conversation about healthy ageing. “I’m curious about everything. I’m very nosy. I don’t smoke. I don’t drink. I exercise. Do all these things, and you’ll live a long life.”

Sorry this is so long. I got really into it!!

If you have topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, please get in touch: nika@nikatalbot.io. I’d love to hear from you.


Sorry this is so long. I got really into it!!

If you have topic ideas or want to suggest a guest, please get in touch: nika@nikatalbot.io. I’d love to hear from you.

Newsletter Talent Directory! – feel free to add your deets here if you want to connect and collaborate.

It’s editable, so a bit of a social experiment!

To support my work and unlock extra features, subscribe now or leave a one-time tip.

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INVITATION: Boss Branding 🌟🚀

Crafting your big-hearted brand story

First week back, and I’m struggling to open the laptop – just not feeling it. I want to be outside, offline, and hang out with Julieta – take her mind off next week’s exam results!

Took the day off yesterday to go to Brighton. I’ve lost track of how many independent shops there are in the Lanes – just start walking and soak it all up.

As Pandora Sykes said, “Nothing beats the physical hunt when you’re in a market – you can smell the vintage and all the tales it has to tell.” 🌈 💅


Date for your diary. I’ve booked Sudhana Singh to talk about how she built a powerful personal brand for her business and self-published three books. 

Boss Branding with Sudhana Singh

Sudhana, an award-winning author, journalist, and Exec coach, will share her Imbue Story Brand model (ISBM) with the NUJ on Monday, 11 September. The ISBM helps you grow sizzling SEO by using the art of storytelling with the psychology of marketing to help you: 

1. Choose a clear, strong plot for your brand story 

2. Formulate a short, snappy tagline for your brand and create a brand personality 

3. Craft a marketing message

4. Build brand loyalty 

5. Cast off cliches with an authentic brand story 

Boss Branding: She’s created a Deck to take you through the process step by step.

Get inspired and learn how to improve your personal brand relationships to reach your business goals and stand out in a noisy world. 

To be followed by a Q&A on entrepreneurial journalism and the creator economy – the highs and lows of flying solo. 

Send me your questions.

Date: Monday, 11 September
Time: 6.30 pm on Zoom – speaker @ 7 pm

Register now (it’s free) by emailing nika@nikatalbot.io

Boss Branding is available on Kindle here.

There’s always something new to learn and a different perspective. As one reader said: “A timely book to help all sectors as we rebrand during the Covid crisis.” And now AI… the future is coming at us fast!


WATCH/READ/LISTEN 🔥

Thomas Strider’s ultimate guide to building a powerful personal brand. Loving his thoughtful podcast that focuses on the personal growth journey of creators and entrepreneurs – can’t wait for the episode on Human Design.

A piece from Emma Gannon on how she makes six figures on Substack“I’m aware that from reading this long post, it looks like running a Substack is a lot of work. It is. But it’s the best job I’ve had in a long while.” [Substack On]

10 AI tools to help you boost your business operations from Mike Kaput, chief content officer of the Marketing AI Institute [The Tilt]. “The power of these tools is incredible, especially as a solo or small team. You can scale up to a level previously impossible.” 

Finding the time to market and repurpose content is a struggle, so let’s see how AI can help.

Keep shipping! Remember: the tortoise always wins the race.

Nika 🙂 

PS I’ve rewritten my welcome email. It’s a bit more personal – added some context and explained what I’m trying to do. It’s important as the first piece of communication (no welcome sequence here) and needs to set the tone.

Thanks to Dan O for the inspo. I’d love your feedback on the questions.


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ChatGPT and the new wave of Content Shock 🌊

How to beat ChatGPT

Great article this week by Mark Schaefer on ‘How to beat ChatGPT and the new wave of Content Shock’. Thanks to Mark @YATM for sending it on – it is a motivating rallying call for summer 2023. Read it here.

We’re all becoming 80% replaceable with AI.

If you’re a creator just starting out today, the amount of content in the ChatGPT Era must seem like a major hurdle to success. It is. And there is only one solution: Focus on the 20% ChatGPT can’t touch.”

It’s an update on his original article (2014) on why covering the world with content isn’t a long-term sustainable strategy for businesses. “The global warming of content marketing is in view.”

Fast forward a few years, and we’ve had panic publishing with Covid-19 – businesses whacking up website content, over-communicating via email, and digital event overload to try and stay connected.

Gerry McGovern talks about the ‘Invisible Crisis’ of managing and storing all this data. It’s mindblowing that 99% of data has been produced in the last ten years. The Cloud is on the ground, and digital is still physical… yet no one is talking about this.

Now, with the introduction of ChatGPT and AI, the cost of creating content has been reduced to almost nothing. A tsunami of new content is rising. And the quality of the output will only get better and better.

Welcome to the new wave of Content Shock.

Is there hope? Or should we give up now and go off-grid? What can creators do to survive and thrive in the AI Era?

Focus on the 20% that matters, he says. The personal brand.  

The only thing that can save us in a world of commoditised content – writing, editing, and consulting.  

It all boils down to your premise, as Jay Acunzo describes it. Your why and mission. Justin Welsh’s is to build an army of one-person businesses, and he’s getting there. Inspiring folks every day on LinkedIn.

What problem are you solving for your clients and customers? Worth thinking about in a world of generalised expertise.

Mark is going to share his thoughts on what we can do in a Content Shock and ChatGPT Special in the YATM Club on Tuesday, 11 July, at 7pm BST. A chance to ask questions and go deeper on “the most important article of 2023.” Sign up here.


Shift Hot 5 🔥

Lots of free stuff on personal branding on Mark’s site and his bestselling book KNOWN – a path to personal business success in the digital age.

Dave Harland knows the power of humour. His Tweets always make me chuckle – a daily reminder to laugh more and not take life too seriously. Latest creation: #ConfuseTheScammers

The Brand Called You. Tom Peters on what it takes to be CEO of Me Inc (Fast Company, published in 1997!)

How to build an effective (and memorable) personal brand and FAQs (The Portfolio Collective) 

Johanna Renoth on bullshit in online content (Bye, Social Media!) 

Next issue: An interview with Johanna Renoth on finding the joy in marketing and growing a thriving business with ease – socials optional.

I like the idea of giving yourself a total blackout on content consumption for a week – emails, podcasts, socials. Not sure I have the discipline – love reading, love podcasts. Strap me to a massage table and maybe.

Summer Retreat! Now there’s an idea. See what I come up with when bored out of my brain.

Stay cool. Enjoy Glasto! 👯‍♀️

Nika


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