I’ve been drinking more premium teas recently.
I was always a regular tea drinker. Not a connoisseur. Not obsessed. But I like something ‘more’ than water but healthier than soda.
And I don’t drink coffee…
So, tea is a logical next choice.
But in the past, I drank a lot of cheap green/black teas from the local grocery store. When I saw the steep price tag at a fancy cafe, I shrugged:
“It’s just tea. Why would I want to spend that much?”
Until…
Earlier this year, I took on a client selling fresh, premium tea.
Whenever I take on a new client, I make it my job to “become the market.”
How can you sell a product with passion if you’re not passionate yourself?
Then…
I realized how wrong I was.
I would never know how bad teabags taste until I tasted fresh, hand-crafted Darjeeling springs that were plucked a few weeks ago.
I would never realize how ridiculous it is for a teabag to go bitter just because you left it in the hot water for more than 90 seconds.
This is a really interesting insight for me.
Because I see a similar “trap” in the marketing industry, too.
People who don’t know what good copy is or… what compelling stories read like… will easily fall into the trap of “AI solution.”
They will shake their heads at the steep investment for an outstanding copywriter.
“It’s just words. I can write everything with GPT, costing me 20 buckaroos.”
Until…
Their list stops responding. Prospects stop buying. Customers lose trust. And the whole “branding” collapses.
Then…
They realize how wrong they were.
I’ll end this by quoting a post I read this week:
(from a business owner spending 300k+ per month on advertising—profitably)
“AI is so inferior to humans it’s crazy.
Everyone who thinks otherwise is selling it.
It’s writing:
It sounds like AI. It doesn’t sound natural.
People fill out my job applications with AI and it says the EXACT same responses on all submits.
People write me ads with it, it’s so bad at copy.
It’s recommendations:
No liability. Make sure “you ask your doctor or financial advisor” as this is not real advice. It’s constantly contradicting its recommendations.
It’s Google on steroids.
That’s what it is right now.
One day, I’m sure it will be more but honestly anyone using this to sub their own writing or thoughts — don’t.
Good for ideas. Not final drafts.
I would say 80% or more people who apply to jobs, write me stuff, try to get gigs on Upwork are just overusing AI and it’s so obvious.
It’s terrible and OBVIOUS.
If I want AI, I’ll use it myself.
Even worse these AI comments on FB.
Honestly guys, what are you doing?
Are you thinking that is going to get you more money or exposure? It doesn’t work like that.
I just don’t understand this obsession with automation or efficiency.
Don’t want to work, but want to get paid?
You get paid for value, not for efficiency if that efficiency doesn’t create value.
People need to wake up.
It’s not 2035.
It’s 2025 and AI SUCKS.
You still need to use your human brain.
If anyone, AI has only exposed all the lazy people out there and made hiring easier for me.”
I’ve said this many times before…
If you want to stand out in your market, destroy your competition, and craft a blue ocean market of your own…
Focus on being effective, not efficient.
And, unfortunately…
AI—in its current state—is ONLY about efficiency.
To your success,
– WYH
P.S. – Despite the em dash in this email…
This email is definitely not “written by AI.”
I’m sorry to blow your mind, but…
ChatGPT did NOT invent the em dash. 🤯