Hi Reader,
​
You come and go on social.
You send a newsletter, then you don't.
The world keeps spinning.

The apology post is a trap.
So is the "I know it's been a while since I sent one of these" email opener.

Nobody was counting the days.
They didn't notice.

That sounds brutal.
It's actually a gift.

The Permission Slip

You don't owe anyone an explanation.

You don't need to start with "I know it's been a while..."
You don't need to promise to be more consistent.
You don't need permission to show up.

And you don't need permission to leave.

The only thing that matters is what has always mattered.

Do you have something to say?

Not perfect. Not profound.
But real.

Marketing isn't a performance.
And conversations start by saying something.
Anything.

If You've Been Gone

Just show up.
No explanation needed.
Your next post—or email—is your welcome back party.

A Few Fun Things (In Case You Missed Them)

While I was away, some of you might have missed a few resources I released last year. Here are some favorites:

​The A to Z Prompting Guide - 26 rules for better AI outputs, plus a high-res infographic. For anyone frustrated with generic AI responses.

​5 Custom GPT Templates - Copy-paste ready templates for voice preservation, meeting notes, email responses, and more. Stop building from scratch.

​The Viral Prep System - The complete checklist I used before content blew up. Because you can't plan what goes viral, but you can be ready when it happens.

Your Turn

What did you build in 2025 that you're proud of?

Hit reply and tell me. I read every one.

Keep building,

-Dan