RecomMONDAYtions ~ 2025.07.14
Recommended Reading
š¤Ā 1 delightfully human sentence to help you become a killer writer
If you want to be a more effective writer who stands out as a human (not a robotic imitation of a human), readĀ this.Ā Ann Handley is a great writer and teacher who understands AI’s power but also understands the need to for human touch.
In this post/email, she breaks down a single sentence as a launching point to deliver several “killer tips” about writing.
Recommended Resource
šļøĀ Sparkle File Organizer for Mac
My “Downloads” folder was a mess (and don’t even get me started about my desktop). Then I gotĀ SparkleĀ and problem solved.
You choose the folders that needs de-cluttering and Sparkle organizes the files into logical sub-folders — including a “Recents” sub-folder that makes it simple to find your latest work. It also removes duplicates.
I haven’t measured, but I know I’ve wasted countless hours of time, wading through cluttered folders, looking for that file buried in the mess.
Sparkle is saving me time and relieving that stress.
Sparkle works only on Macs, but there are similar applications for PCs.
Recommended Video
š¤Ā How Grok Went Rogue on July 8
Last week, the Grok AI engine went off the rails for about 16 hours — spouting antisemitic and racist garbage that, among other things, praised Adolph Hitler.
The company behind Grok, xAI, issued an apology on Saturday that said, in part: “We deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced. Our intent for Grok is to provide helpful and truthful responses to users…”
So how did this happen? Nate B. Jones breaks it down in thisĀ video.
If you want a deeper understanding of how AI operates and how you can make it work for you, subscribe to Jones’ YouTube channel.
I learn something important and valuable about AI every time I watch one of his videos.
This one, about the Grok fiasco, is a valuable primer on how AI models work, where human beings come in, and what are the dos and don’ts when building an AI system.
Recommended Event
š¤Ā Turn Content Into Clients: The Proven “PLAN”
Join me on Thursday, July 24 (7 p.m. ET) for a free training: “The Proven PLAN to Get More and Better Leads, Inspire Prospects to Hire You, and 3X Profits — Without Ever Feeling Stuck.”
Recommended Books
šĀ Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots
Ever feel like time’s slipping away, leaving you with unfulfilled potential and a low hum of anxiety?
If yes, you’ll enjoy Modern Wisdom, Ancient Roots by Dr. Srikumar Rao.
He’s distilled powerful life lessons from ancient wisdom into quick, easy-to-read chapters
The big idea: you can achieve incredible things and find inner peace, not by working harder, but by changing your mindset.
Ted Prodromou and I have chosen this book as the July selection for The Mastermind Book Club.
Every month, Ted and I choose a great book for members to read and discuss.
We’ll meet live on Zoom — July 24, 2:30 p.m. ET — to discuss the book. Dr. Rao will be our guest at the meeting.
Join the ClubĀ hereĀ (it’s free). Members will receive meeting reminders with the Zoom link later this month.
Another Recommended Resource
š”Ā AI Copywriting Secrets (Volume 2)
Still available for those who missed it last month…
John McIntyre invited some of the world’s top marketers and copywriters to reveal how they have harnessed AI to make their lives easier and their businesses more profitable.
David Garfinkel, Adil Amarsi, Bill Mueller, Bob Bly, Chris Orzy, Daniel Throssell, David Deutsch, John McIntyre, Jon Benson, Lukas Fisher, Rob Marsh, Sam Woods, Shiv Shetti, and me…
…all sharing our best prompts, hacks, and frameworks to leverage AI to save time and land more/better clients.
I sent a lot of emails about this last week because it’s too valuable to ignore.
The early-bird discount is no more. But even at its current price, the value far exceeds the investment.
Podcast (The Story Power Marketing Show)
š”How to Turn Sparks of Purpose Into Brush Fires of Impact (with JR Rennie)
After founding and running a business software company for nearly 40 years, JR Rennie thought he was going to ride off into the sunset and retire. Instead, he started the BrushFires Ministry, using his ability to build unified teams to help others discover their strengths and weaknesses.
In this episode, JR shares his journey from running a successful business software company to responding to a deeper calling in 2015. He highlights how he uses psychometric assessments to help individuals and organizations uncover their strengths and serve with authenticity.
He and Tom also discuss discovering oneās purpose, the impact of ministry in both business and personal life, and the transformative power of storytelling. Whether youāre a devout Christian or from a different faith background, this episode offers valuable insights into finding passion and purpose in your life and work.
DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE
1:07 JR’s Journey From Business to Ministry
03:14 The Turning Point From Challenges to New Beginnings
05:17 Discovering Psychometric Assessments
07:43 The Birth of Brush Fires Ministry
09:52 The Broader Concept of Ministry
15:44 Marketing as Ministry
17:36 Finding Joy in Purpose and Obedience
26:26 How to Connect with JR and His Work
FULL EPISODE VIDEO
Words to Ponder
Woody Guthrie was born on this day in 1912. He once said:
āAny fool can make something complicated. It takes a genius to make it simple.”
Don't go away yet..
p.s. Coaches, authors, and consultants hire me to power-up their creative content and storytelling to captivate prospects, stand-out and book more business.
Whenever you're ready, here are several ways I can help you become a storytelling stand-out so you'll land more clients without pitching and prodding:
1) Get theĀ Story Power Profit PackĀ -- 52 Strategies, Tips, and Tactics Ā to Transform Your Content from Ignored to Adored.
2) Watch theĀ free, 7-minute Micro-Training: āThe 3 Most Important Storytelling Keys to Captivate Prospects and Inspire Them to Act -- Without Pitching and Prodding.ā
3) Become a Story Power VIP: Master how to discover, assemble, and deliver business-building stories. Twice-monthly live masterclasses. Members-only content. One-on-one feedback and consulting sessions. And moreā¦ If you'd like to learn more about our VIP program, just reply to this email and put "Story Power VIP" in the subject line. Iāll contact you with more details.
4) Work with me one-on-one: If youāre interested in working directly with me -- to discover, assemble, and deliver powerful, business-building stories -- simply reply to this email and change the subject line to "Private Client." Tell me a little about yourself, your business, and what you'd like to accomplish, and I'll reply to discuss options.
5) Invite me to speak at an event: I can tailor a presentation that meets the specific needs of your organization. Informative. Entertaining. Virtual or live. Potential for continuing education credits when applicable for your group. If interested, reply to this email and change the subject line to āSpeaking Engagement.ā Iāll circle back to discuss the possibilities.
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