When I was in high school, the “thing” we all wanted (well, the girls, anyway) was Guess jeans.
Remember those?
Oh, and a Guess bookbag (which was ridiculously uncomfortable and totally dug into your shoulder).
But hey, it had “Guess” plastered on either side, so we suffered through the pain.
That little triangle was everything.
The independence and individuality of teenagers who all want to be exactly the same. 🤣
Teenagers are teenagers, regardless of the era or generation (although I think the 80s was the epitome of “name brands” and being a walking billboard for clothing brands).
Be unique by being like everyone else.
Which is how the internet can (and does) feel at times.
I’ve noticed this with many of the AI newsletters I subscribe to.
Similar format, the same tools, the same sponsors, the same news, etc.
Which is fine. It helps me clean up what I’m subscribed to and whittle my inbox a bit.
In a conversation with my friend Jason last week, I mentioned to him that things were starting to feel very templated, and while newsletters aren’t going anywhere (thankfully — because I love them), there’s a huge feeling of sameness.
And let me say this…
I have zero judgment about anyone who models something that’s working.
This is how we learn.
And yes, I have no doubt with AI, there’s an element of opportunity, and some people may be trying to capitalize on this.
Go for it.
Again, zero judgment.
With my newsletter, “The AI Marketing Chronicles,” — I don’t see that as something I will continue long-term, like ‘the SPARK’.
This is truly a build-in-public experiment where I’m sharing one way I’m using ChatGPT in my own business each week.
As we progress and grow in our business, ideally, our skills and interests change.
We want to follow/read/listen to different people who are already where we want to be.
If we’re progressing, what we focus on changes.
Fewer templates and more frameworks.
There is a plethora of templates available for pretty much anything you can think of.
Graphics, tweets, newsletters, social posts, etc.
I’m all for a template to get the ball rolling, but if it doesn’t sound like you/feel like you, it’s not going to work.
Here’s a great example:
Starting a social post with:
“Unpopular opinion”… 🤮
The second I see that, I cringe and have zero interest in the platitude that follows.
In many ways, when I see this stuff, it helps me clean my feed, so there’s that.
Now let’s look at frameworks.
Right now, I’m going through a short copywriting course that focuses on one specific element of copywriting.
It’s completely blowing my mind.
It’s not simply a ‘how to do this’ — or plug-and-play course.
For example: [INSERT YOUR PRODUCT NAME HERE] followed by the same headline everyone else uses.
This course explains the ‘why’ behind these different copy elements and how to think about each element as you build your copy.
The biggest difference between a template and a framework is that frameworks require you to do the work.
This is why AI won’t work for everyone or why people struggle with getting the results they want.
If you’re just trying to produce without the understanding and mastery of what it is you’re creating, it’s going to sound like more ‘sameness.’
This applies mostly to people who are either:
- Just starting out (or in the first couple of years of business)
- Or are feeling a strong pull for something more, something different
Not every business owner wants “more.”
And by more, I don’t mean more stuff (and if you do, have at it).
I mean more impact, more fulfillment, more experiences, and deeper relationships.
The only way to get to something more or something different is to do and be something different.
Which takes courage.
Courage to:
- Start writing what you want to write, not what gurus say you should write.
- Let go of things, people, and situations that no longer serve you.
- Be willing to get uncomfortable. You will never get somewhere new by doing the same things that got you here. Get out of your own way.
- Claim what you want.
- Stop caring about what anyone else thinks.
- Stop listening to people who aren’t already where you want to be.
- Find the people/things that not only inspire you but resonate with you on a deep level.
The simplest (note I didn’t say easy) way to really differentiate yourself and find those people who truly need what you have to offer is to be YOU.
I fully subscribe to the idea that there are “no new ideas.”
The only way to differentiate yourself is to bring your view, your experiences, and your thoughts to whatever it is you’re creating.
I’ll end this with one of my favorite quotes (and someone worth following) by Jay Acunzo:
“Don’t be the best, be their favorite.”
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