Why Aren't You Doing It?

Why aren't you emailing more?

Why aren't you putting yourself out there and building a list?

I'm going to keep repeating it because it's so true, but if you’re not building a list, you’re not building a business.

But we often hesitate to send those emails.

Maybe we write them, but don’t send. Or find excuses not to sit down and write in the first place.

Or maybe you start writing and sending like I'm doing in this newsletter, but then you hold yourself back from what you need to do to grow the list and make money off it.

I've been sending this newsletter for a few weeks, but hesitating to finalize my lead magnet, hesitating to create my first mini course.

Because I have fear.

Fear of failure, fear of success, I don’t know.

They manifest in excuses. No time. Something else is a priority. I need to get it just right.

So it's easier said than done, but this is an encouragement to put it out there, make mistakes, and not take everything personally.

Don't let fear hold you back.

Send those emails. Make those offers. Let people unsubscribe.

Keep doing it in a way that provides the insights and the value and the things that your audience needs.

Build the muscle. Get a little better each time.

Because the success we’re after never comes if we never start.

Thanks for reading!

Nathan

QUICK QUIZ

Last week’s Quiz: Why is junk email called "spam"?

Answer: B) From a Monty Python sketch about Spam. The first digital “spam” wasn’t email, it was a moderation mishap. In 1993, Richard Depew accidentally posted the same message 200 times on USENET. Amused users, reminded of the Monty Python sketch where everything is “Spam, Spam, Spam,” gave the flood of posts its now-infamous name.

HOW I AI’D THIS WEEK

I joined a 3-day Growth Tools challenge last week.

As mentioned in the intro, I’ve been dragging my feet on getting a lead magnet for this newsletter done.

The challenge helped with a couple of simple templates.

First, there was a “solution” template:

"I make it easy to _________ for _____________. I do that by helping them 1___________, 2___________, 3____________”

Because I’ve been using the Projects feature in ChatGPT to work through everything around How I AI, it already had the full context: who I’m helping, what I stand for, and the kind of resource I wanted to make.

In just a few minutes, I had a good draft to share in the challenge. The coach gave some feedback via Loom.

I grabbed the transcript and gave it to ChatGPT to refine into:

I make it easy for online entrepreneurs to grow their email list with the help of AI. I do that by helping them:

1. Write better emails with a clear, consistent structure

2. Build a simple system to attract subscribers

3. Use AI to speed things up without losing their voice

The challenge next provided a simple way to create a 1-2 page cheatsheet by expanding on each of those three points:

“Step 1:_____________ (Step 1 from your solution statement)

What?_____________ (What is this)

Why?_____________ (Why does your prospect need to care about this?)

How?_____________ (What is 1 simple but powerful action step they can take to get there?)”

It took a bit of back and forth with ChatGPT to develop my cheatsheet draft, but it was still done in less than 15 minutes on a Saturday while my kids were clamoring for my attention.

It’s not perfect, and still needs polish.

But it’s real, it’s useful, and it’s 98% more done than it was a week ago.

I’ll share the finished version next week so you can see how it turns out.

STEAL THIS PROMPT

Try this prompt to get new clients. Modify for finding partners to grow your email list with list-swaps.

HOW THEY AI

AI is a powerful tool for accelerating creation across various content forms. However, if you rely solely on AI, you risk losing your distinctive voice in a sea of AI-generated content.

To stand out, your personality, perspective, and experiences must shine through. And you may need to be vulnerable.

Vulnerability Is the Last AI Refuge

CHECK THIS OUT

Turn rough ideas into polished content that feels like you, not a bot.

(There’s also a lifetime deal running this week on App Sumo.)

What’s holding you back from hitting “send” more often?

Fear of rejection? Not feeling ready? No time? Something else?

Reply and let me know what your biggest block is right now. I read every one.