How Bots, Apple Pie, and Storytelling Taught Me the Same Lesson

Core Article: How Bots, Apple Pie, and Storytelling Taught Me the Same Lesson

Quote I’m Pondering: “If you want to make an apple pie…”

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire: “I live in a universe of limitless supply…”

Cool Stuff: Why do seagulls really hang out in parking lots?

AI Info & Resources: The dark side of AI in retail…

How Bots, Apple Pie, and Storytelling Taught Me the Same Lesson

I’ve got a curious question for you… Do you cook your meals for yourself, family, etc.?

Yeah, I know, this doesn’t seem like a question that an expert marketer/coach would ask, right? I mean, why in the world am I asking you this question?

Well, it’s cuz I’ve been doing A LOT of work in 2 areas, working and creating Bots/GPTs, and also improving my storytelling/writing skills.

The main “ingredient” for both is that you need a recipe to start. Just like in cooking, the recipe is the key to creating a delicious meal. And in our case, create a Bot/GPT and create stories…

The most fascinating thing about the recipe is that, like the best chefs out there, you can’t just always follow the recipe. There are nuances and tweaks you can make here or there. And if you don’t know them, your outcome may not be as you expect it.

So what the heck am I talking about?! 😉

Since I’ve been working with AI, specifically with ChatGPT, and also been part of my Story Republic group with Bernadette Jiwa, I’ve learned a lot about “recipes” and how to create an impactful Bot/GPT, as well as how to craft impactful stories using her 5 C’s of storytelling. (Want to know more, hit reply, happy to share more with you.)

The core issue with both is that you always need more information and to work with the masters, the best person you believe will help you create that amazing award-winning apple pie, or that BOT/GPT that will change lives, and write stories that will not only connect with your dream clients, but also draw them closer to you! AND finding or creating the best recipe/formula for all the above.

The more I’ve worked with GPTs, the more I’ve deepened my writing practice, the more I’ve come back to this one soulful truth:

There’s no shortcut to depth. No formula that replaces presence.

I’d recommend that you start with a recipe. It gives you structure, direction, and even confidence. Whether you’re writing a story, building a bot, launching a business, or baking a damn good apple pie—structure helps.

Yet the recipe alone? It’s not the thing that makes it memorable. That comes from you. The one behind the story. The one who cuts the apples or stirs the pot.

When I was creating our new bot business with colleague Clive Cable—NeuroCopy Analyzer—I realized something: This wasn’t just another tech tool. It was a way to help mindful entrepreneurs find their rhythm, their flavor, their soul in the sea of marketing formulas out there.

Because like great storytelling—or great pie—what really resonates is the stuff that isn’t measured. The pinch of intuition. The pause between words. The permission to do it your way.

And that’s what Soulful Marketing has always been about for me.

It’s not about throwing away the rules. It’s about knowing when to bend them. Or when to bake something entirely new.

Maybe the question isn’t: Am I doing it right? It’s: Am I doing it in a way that’s true to me?

Because when you lead with authenticity, your dream clients will feel it.
And they’ll know they’ve found their place at your virtual table.

So What Do You Do With This?

If this stirred something in you, (Yeah, I know I’m kind of overdoing the cooking metaphors! 😉 here are a few grounded ways to take this idea into your own business:

Start with the recipe (framework) and make it yours.
Before you follow anyone else’s launch plan, copy formula, or AI setup… know it’s simply a place to begin. Start there. And don’t be afraid to make it yours. Add your own spice. Leave something out that doesn’t sit right. Trust your instincts to be uniquely you.
Tweak the formula, don’t toss it.
Use frameworks, tools, and formulas (like the ones in NeuroCopy Analyzer!) as a jumping-off point. Then trust your gut to adapt it for your people.
Ask yourself: Is this really me?
If you’re following someone else’s steps, pause and check in. Is this how you want to show up? Is this how you’d speak to a client you care about? If not, simple rewrite from there.
Bake in your values.
Whether it’s a bot or a webinar, infuse your marketing with the stuff that matters most to you. Start with your values, and I’d recommend being your unique self. Remember, the goal is to create genuine connections, be authentic, and build trust with your potential dream clients.
Let it be imperfect (and still worth sharing).
The best meals aren’t always pretty. Neither is great storytelling. What matters is that it’s real. And that it nourishes someone who needs it.

Because in the end?
You don’t need to become someone else to succeed. Maybe you simply need the courage to bring more of YOU to the table.

Hands at your back always. 🙂

Quote I’m Pondering

“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe.” ~ Carl Sagan

Powerful Affirmations to Inspire

“I am a magnet for inspired ideas that grow my business with ease.”
“I live in a universe of limitless supply, and I receive generously.”
“I am grounded, centered, and fully present in this moment.”

Cool Stuff

So you know the REAL reason why Seagulls hang out in parking lots? You know what to do, curious mind. 🙂
This is a fascinating old book, Millionaires and Kings of Their Time, by James Burnley, which Google Digitized , and it talks about Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller, and more. You just need to get past the many blank pages in the beginning. It’s worth it. 🙂
Beware of tech that turns everything into a transaction. I can erode context and trusts This a cautionary tale on algorithmic commerce and consumer perception.

AI Info and Resources

How AI is reshaping marketing and decision-making. Hmmm
Authors are fighting back against AI. They just got a settlement of 1.5 billion dollars from a copyright suit against Anthropic – check it out here.
The dark side of AI in retail comes at a high security cost.

Weekly Photos

The clouds this week were kind of crazy on my trail near our house. This part of the trail is really wide, and you can see the burnt trees. This area burned down 8 years ago from a fire. It’s still beautiful in its own way.
Here’s Cooper before his baseball game. It was so nice to hang out with my 8-year-old nephew, who wanted to hang out with me. 🙂
I just love the reflections I snap at the Sacramento River Trail.
Here’s Beau again, my little sister’s dog. I love how the closer and lower you get, the more interesting the perspective becomes.
Yeah, there’s Emma, doing what she LOVED to do ANY time of the year, go swimming.
One of my favorite pics of us on our hikes. I really miss my hiking buddy.
More clouds as fall is in full bloom here. Always makes for some dramatic photos of Shasta Bally.

NEW P.S. One of the Best Storytelling Workshops I’ve ever taken: If You Want Seth Godin’s storytelling master, Bernadette Jiwa, to guide you in writing and telling better and more impactful stories. She only offers this course once or twice a year…. So….

If you’ve been getting this eNewsletter for a while, you already know how often I reference Bernadette Jiwa’s work. I’ve reviewed her books here. And I’ve shared her frameworks. This time, I’m pointing you toward something bigger.

Her Story Skills Workshop is now open — and it’s one of the best, most aligned ways I know to sharpen your message-sharing skills.

Her program isn’t about hype. It’s about clarity, confidence, and telling your story in a way that lands, using her 5 C’s framework. If your message isn’t getting through the way it should, this will guide you as it’s guided me for years

I’ve gone through this program myself — and yes, I’m an affiliate. I’m sharing it because I know how powerful it’s been for me and others I trust. If you decide to join through my link, I’ll receive a commission. That doesn’t change the cost to you, and I only ever share things I’ve personally vetted and believe in.

P.S.S. Whenever You’re Ready: Here are 3 Ways I can make an impact on creating greater success in your business using marketing that’s aligned with your mission and values without feeling like you’re selling your soul.

1. Make Money Now Sheet – It’s one of the bonuses in my 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. I wanted to give it to you for free to help you create more success.

2. Love Books Like I Do? – I’m always reviewing the best nonfiction books – Where Buddha Meets Business.

3. Get my proven 7-Step Soulful Marketing System. It gives you the framework you need to implement authentic and connected marketing using online customer experiences and launching your products, services, or courses. It will help you create greater success.

It’s a simple system, especially if you love to read like me. There’s no video or audio. Plus, you get my proven templates, tools, and worksheets, all with tremendous value. And I’m pricing it incredibly low so it can be more accessible to more people. 🙂

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I appreciate your sharing. Thank you!

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