Last month, I watched Light & Magic on Disney+, a docuseries that gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the formation of Pixar and the birth of computer graphics at Industrial Light & Magic.
 
It was a time of invention, new tech, and change. Kind of like now.
 
The film industry was moving from film to digital, and George Lucas was pushing the limits of special effects and going all-in on digital. There was a rearranging of jobs and people mixing old tech with new tech.
 
But even with the influx of new tools, both the Pixar and ILM teams were still using hand-drawn storyboards. People were the ones pulling the strings. The tools may have changed, but it was still about collaboration.
 
In this newsletter, we're looking at how defining your brand and creating a business knowledge guide can turn your AI from a content cloner to a Jedi-level content collaborator. Because having everyone (even the droids) working together from the same creative direction never goes out of style.

1. It's an AI Trap!

According to Neal Patel, AI creates the “statistical average” of the internet, which can make your brand invisible. ust like George Lucas used digital technology to push the boundaries of storytelling in a galaxy far, far away, you can use AI to expand your creativity — not replace it.

Escape the AI Trap

2. Escape the Trap

One way to get out of the AI average trap is to use a business knowledge document. It gives AI a set of rules to follow so you look and sound like you, not an AI clone. But for AI to go full Jedi, your style guide needs to be specific and rule-based — for example, 'use plain language over industry jargon.'"

Chat GPT Sample Instructions

3. Down on Earth

For my clients, I've set up projects in ChatGPT and given each custom instructions on their target markets, mission, goals, and their messaging tone. When I need content ideas, it gives me tailored results that spark new ideas and directions to pursue.

Note: never, copy and paste what you get from AI, always tweak it. It can hurt your rankings and is usually a crummy user experience as well. Always make it your own.

DIY AI Business Knowledge Document

4. Build a Better Droid

If you do one thing today—build a business knowledge document to feed your AI instructions so you get better results. That way, what AI spits out will sound (and look) more like you. Grab the free DIY Mad-Libs here

R2D2

5. These Aren’t the Droids You’re Looking For

Remember, your brand is more than the sum of its parts — it's the feeling people experience every time they encounter it.