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4 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way This Week

For today’s article, I chose to go back to my roots. Please find my original handwritten journal in the gallery below. This is in an effort to inspire human creativity at the most basic form — writing and exploring thoughts in real time.

I had planned a totally different direction until inspiration took over at the local S’bux lunch menu.

Before we get into it, here are three interdependent things I’ve been pondering this week…

1. What if AI was the ruin of human creativity…?

2. What would happen if it were easy…? (life, work, your mission, saying no to things that no longer serve you, making decisions… etc)

3. What if I completely removed AI from my life…? (one of my business mentors Tad Hargrave recently made mention to this as he has never used it in his work)

If you cannot read my scratch notes (bless your soul for trying!) I’ve provided the narration so you can listen to me instead.

Here are the Cole’s notes:

1. Do the things that you let go of that once brought you joy as a kid

2. Stay focused and stay in your lane

3. Slow down to speed up

4. Scars are reminders of the above

August 9, 2026

As always, thanks for reading. It’s not lost on me that you choose to be here and read this publication and I very much appreciate you. Here are a few cool things I’m doing upon reflection and integration of this week’s lessons… might as well walk my talk, right? I’d love some help picking my next single. No commitment at all… just require an email and name so I can personally thank you with a little gift for helping me out.

If that’s your jam, click the link.👇 https://app.grouped.com/braveasbears/s/y1mwsg