June Roundup & Monthly Musings
Facing reality, community building, AI-powered promo videos, my fave ChatGPT hack
Welcome to monthly musings! This is a once per month email (not my usual programming), where I share random things that have tickled my fancy over the past four weeks. Some will be related to the content of this newsletter, and others…well…won’t be.
Hope you enjoy a little glimpse into my world!
The Reality Trap
When I tell people I don't watch the news, they gasp in horror. "But you've got to face reality!" they cry, as if consuming a daily diet of disasters and dysfunction is some kind of civic duty.
Here's what I've learned about reality: it's not nearly as fixed as people think.
The smartphone in your pocket would have landed you in an asylum in 1900. The idea that you could speak face-to-face with someone on the other side of the planet, access the sum of human knowledge instantly, or capture and share moments in ultra-high definition would have been pure madness to anyone living then. Yet here we are, treating these "impossibilities" as boring everyday tools.
Every breakthrough in human history started with someone refusing to accept the prevailing version of reality. The Wright brothers didn't "face reality" about humans being earthbound creatures. They imagined a different reality and built it.
This matters more than you might think, especially if you're trying to build something meaningful with your life.
At 43, I'm finally understanding that success isn't just about finding more hours in the day or working harder. It's about fundamentally changing the conversation I have with myself during those hours. The voice in my head that says "be realistic" about my business goals isn't protecting me from disappointment, it's protecting me from possibility.
Most of what we call "reality" is just what most people agree is possible. Someone who thinks they can't run a business with two young children because it's "impossible to juggle" lives in a different world than someone who sees their kids as motivation to build something meaningful.
I'm not talking about delusion or ignoring genuine constraints. I'm talking about the difference between asking "What's realistic?" versus "What's possible?" The first question closes doors before you even try to open them. The second question is where every significant achievement in human history began.
So when people tell me I need to face reality, I smile and think about all the "realities" that turned out to be temporary. Maybe the reality I need to face isn't the one in the news headlines. Maybe it's the one I'm capable of creating.
What’s your take on this?
Community building
This month I went to my first skool event IRL. It was great! Mini golf, lots of interesting conversations and above all - a day out on my own with no children.
It reminded me of what life is like when you don’t have a 2 year old attached to your leg (or boob).
But most importantly, it reminded me of the value of networks.
An AI solution I’ve built this month:
Create tailored business videos in a few clicks! This automation uses the latest Google VEO3 to generate AI-powered promo videos that address a clients’ specific pain point. This is a game changer for the video production industry.
My favourite ChatGPT hack at the moment:
This is the simplest way to get outstanding quality results that I’ve seen, and I’m loving the outputs it’s giving me!
Here’s what you missed this month…
This is the unusual way perfectionism almost saved my business
Why productivity advice fails parents (I had a little meltdown)
Your mind isn’t broken, your toxic system is (What we can learn from bees)
Have a great week everyone.
P.S. If you found this post interesting, would you please consider clicking the 🤍 and restacking it or sharing it with your audience?
This spreads the word and keeps me writing content that will help you find opportunities to “maximize your minutes” and get more out of your life. 🙏