Hello Reader,

Will the hand-crafted website, built with human hands and filled with human words to solve profound human challenges, become a relic of the past?

I’ve tried to be slow and strategic in my use of AI, to hold fast to my humanness — my heart, my passion, my values. It’s a journey I know many of you are on with me, this quest to find a way to work that feels kind, aligned, and true.

But what I’m seeing now makes me question everything. Entire platforms pivoting to AI. Tools that promise to identify a problem, generate a solution, and build the website to sell it — all in a matter of clicks.

And I can’t help but ask: Are these AI-identified problems even real problems, or are they just surface-level noise? More importantly, will this avalanche of automated solutions help us become healthier, more whole?

My feeling is no. My fear is that it will solve surface-level issues and leave the profound in us untouched.

Things like the human touch. The soul of a business. The raw emotion shared between real people, building connections that are grounded in memory, empathy, and life itself.

Creation or Generation

My very first website had one of my favorite quotes on its homepage. Thanks to the Wayback Machine, you can still see a stripped-down version of it from back in 2004: a testament to a principle that has guided my work for over twenty years.

The quote is from Michelangelo, perhaps history’s greatest sculptor. When asked how he created his masterpiece, David, he replied, “I saw the angel in the marble and carved to set him free.”

This has always been the artistic creed: to see potential within raw material and, with passion and purpose, bring it into the world.

It's the very essence of creation, the process of uncovering something true and imparting your soul, your story, and your deeply human touch. It's the real work of what it means to “Amplify Who You Already Are“ and build something true to your purpose.

But look at where we are today. We now stand before a block of digital marble and, instead of picking up a chisel, we can simply type a command: “Generate a website for a life coach. Make it inspiring.”

And just like that, a website appears. It’s functional, aesthetically pleasing, and technically correct. But is it art? Does it have a soul? Or is it simply a very good copy of a copy?

Because true connection isn’t about the tools we use, but about the humanity we bring to what we create. It’s about building a service and an online space with intention, clarity, and a willingness to show up as ourselves.

My heartfelt reminder, then, is to carve to set our angel free — not to add more noise and distraction to the world.

Recommended Reads 📚

This week’s reads are a powerful pairing about the journey and the destination.

First, the path. For every creator looking for a more genuine path than the social media rat race, this article is a poignant reminder of why we do this work. The Rise of the Sovereign Creator is a deeply encouraging call to build a body of work that reflects who you are and how you want to show up.

Then, the proof. It’s a heartfelt and honest look at what a year of writing on Substack is actually like. A great reminder that the real reward is building a community, not just chasing numbers. Read A Year of Being a Substack Bestseller.

Tooltips 📷

If Notion (or a similar tool) isn’t your thing, this looks promising — one platform to organize, search, bookmark, and more. Use Findr free here.​

Forget where you saw that interesting article you wanted to read later? Try a "read it later" app! I highly recommend Flyleaf (if you're on Apple) or Instapaper (which works for everyone).

A quick question before I close: Where would you rather be?

I think most of us know the answer. The real question is, why is it so easy to get stuck on the right side of this image, and so hard to choose the left?

My goal this month is to intentionally choose the left — more time in nature, barefoot and disconnected. Perhaps you'll join me.

Until next month,

Yael

I ❤️ LOVE REFERRALS

It's my favorite way of getting new clients.
So anyone you know needing a website or brand revamp.
Please send them my way.
In appreciation.