Wednesday, June 03, 2026
Confession:
Yesterday, I spent 10+ hours elbows-deep in a big new update for my AI writing software, EmailStoryselling.ai.
By the time I was wrapping up, my brain was basically mashed potatoes.
So I did what I usually do before signing off... checked my Perplexity For You page for a quick lap around the internet.
And there it was:
News that Anthropic had just released Opus 4.8.
Now, my first reaction wasn't excitement…
It was irritation.
That’s not to say Opus 4.8 is going to change everything overnight…
(Candidly, I was pretty underwhelmed by 4.7, so big whup 🤷♂️)
It was more the feeling underneath it...
The low-grade panic a lot of us have probably felt this year:
That the pace of AI is so friggin' fast now no matter how hard you try to stay on the cutting edge…
And no matter how many 12-hour days you’re willing to put in…
You still can’t keep up.
(Ironic for an AI founder to be saying, I know.)
So… what to do?
Do you sit tight and wait for the universal basic income checks to start showing up?
Do you pack it in and go become an HVAC technician?
Move to an off-grid cabin in the woods?
I'm being facetious, obviously…
But only a little.
Cause it’s a legit question you and I have both gotta solve for.
Some parts of business are changing insanely fast right now.
Like the tools, workflows, and skill stack.
And if you stare at the headlines long enough…
It's easy to feel like your whole business is built on melting ice.
Yet here's the thing:
Some stuff will change, but other stuff won’t.
So don’t let the shiny objects distract you from the timeless principles.
One of which is:
Building a list of engaged readers you OWN… people who like, know, and trust you… and making offers to them on a consistent (i.e daily) basis.
This is how you create freedom and sovereignty as a business owner.
Especially in the age of AI.
What it looks like on the surface will undoubtedly evolve…
But the fundamental strategy is exactly the same as it was 10 years ago.
Don’t lose sight of that.
Enjoy your weekend :)
Jim Hamilton
P.S:
Not to let the irony stop me from talking my own book…
If you’re an ESS AI subscriber, stay tuned for some big news late next week.
The aforementioned update I’ve got cooking is gonna be quite something.
Probably the biggest update to the platform yet…
Including a sick new bot + a bunch of improvements to output quality and general user experience.
Pumped to share it with you 🤘
More details coming soon.
Learn how to build a profitable daily newsletter with Email Storyselling. Read by 5,000+ subscribers.