"What's one thing that I've done a certain way for a long time that if stopped, could help me make progress?"

Have you ever heard of the sunk cost fallacy? It's the idea that the longer we continue with something, the less likely we are to stop doing it.

We overvalue the costs of stopping vs the opportunity cost.

I find much growth in identifying areas ripe for this and then consciously considering if I want to continue.

Rather than living an aimless life led by the sunk cost fallacy.

Sometimes the answer is subtraction.

Enjoy this week's letter:

A Micro Idea On Marketing 💡
S2E12: On AI Featuring…ME🦸‍♂️

Time to Listen: 16:53 minutes
———

It's 2050.

The way we're doing marketing (and many other things) is completely different. I believe AI will be a component of that.

And my question is, are you ready (and how will you get ready)?

That's what today's solo pod is all about:

1. Where AI is going

2. The old way of marketing

3. How AI will change marketing

4. What you can do about it

5. My five AI promises 

Listen to the podcast episode

Three Books / Three Quotes

"[No matter who you are]...the quality of your stories has a direct impact on the quality of your results." – (NEW) David Garfinkel (The Persuasion Story Code: The Magic of Conversational Storytelling)

The best story wins.

In all areas of life.
Politics. Dating. Fame.
The most riveting story gets attention.

And in marketing, our currency is attention. We're attention dealers.

That's why learning about stories and how to craft them is critical. Everything is a story. And only the best win.

To have better outcomes in life, learn how to tell stories.

//

"I found in my career, that if you took pride in the little jobs, people would think you're worthy of the bigger jobs." – (NEW) Admiral William H. McRaven (The Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy))

My dad used to say, "How you do some things, is how you do everything."

It stuck with me. But I still suck at it. My ego gets in the way and suggests how I should be doing those "bigger jobs."

Pride and ego lead me to think I deserve to do the things I love rather than the tasks needed to complete the mission, whatever that mission may be. And when I believe that, I'm wrong.

Here's a takeaway from this chapter: Accept the fact that you will be asked to do jobs beneath your status. Do them to the best of your ability.

I am working on accepting that fact. And ironically, I feel and do better when I lean into this.

Who woulda thought.

//

"It seems that about three hours per week of zone 2 (exercise), or four 45-minute sessions, is the minimum required for most people to derive a benefit and make improvements." – Peter Attia, MD (Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity)

I could be better at this.

As a runner from birth (lol), I still do not enjoy aerobic activities. I would rather "lift" to have 1:15 minutes of rest between sets. It's easier.

But we must move. It's an unavoidable truth.

So, what's zone 2? It's being able to chat briefly while exercising. When you reach that pace or heart rate (mine is between 135 and 150 bpm), you stay there for 45 minutes. While a leisurely pace, it's a good chunk of time.

"Aerobic exercise, done in a specific way (zone 2), improves our ability to utilize glucose and especially fat as fuel." – Peter.

This is why I must improve my exercise. Starting will only get harder as I age, "The more active you want or plan to be as you age, the more you need to train for it now." – Peter.

Let's start now.

Heard / Saw / Experienced

Time to Read: 1:10 minutes
———

While I agree that many groups need help and support, one close to me isn't getting enough attention.

Young men/teens. 

They are struggling more than typical. You may argue that this is a reversion to the mean, that they've been on "top" for so long it's only fitting. Fair.

I heard Scott Galloway and Rich Roll discuss this male identity crisis on a podcast. I sent it to my dad, who likes Rich, and he said Scott had many good points. You can check it out here if you care: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qpqmyfxDj4. 

I also saw a friend and got some coffee. Sadly, this friend is moving.

It was a reminder that nothing is forever. Things are constantly changing. Impermanence.

This reminds me (and you, maybe) that we must make the most of now. We only have this moment with these people. 

Get a coffee with a friend.
Make that call and check in after work.
Reach out that person (for the 77th time) for lunch.

Finally, a highlight of my week was at work. I was chatting with one of our VPs about content for a client when she said, "I like the style you write in when you interview them." I experienced a feeling of pure happiness.

I felt proud (the good kind).

I don't always feel that. For two reasons: I want to keep improving, so I focus solely on constructive (negative) feedback, and I have self-esteem issues.

I experienced an event a bit ago that hurt my confidence. I've always struggled with feeling like I was "good enough," but my struggle has only increased in the past two years.

Thankfully, I'm slowly improving as I could stop and celebrate this moment.

I’m still happy writing this. Thank you, MD.p06

– Jo (every second counts)