#65 Prompting a Strong DM Using AI & Productive Commuting Content

Welcome back!

You know how they say taking a break is good for you?

Or how taking a long vacation gets you recharged for the rest of the year?

That’s what it felt like for us when one of our popular sections, Making Cents, took a long mini-vacation from last week’s edition.

Before that, we went 28 straight weeks including Making Cents with every edition.

We got good news for you, it’s back and there is no PTO for the foreseeable future.

For those new to On The Fly, Making Cents shares or reviews financial concepts in a casual and accessible way to help you better manage money and build wealth.

Now let’s get to it.

This Week’s 🔥 Highlights:

Fattening The Wallet 💰️ 

• Why You Should Rarely Start a Tab

Boosting Your Productivity 📊 

• Prompting a DM with AI

• Productive Content For Your Commute

Elevating Your Brand 🤝 

• How to Create a Killer Newsletter

• Leadership Tactics from the Netflix Founder

➕ Much. More.

Making Cents 💰️ 

Why You Should Rarely Start a Tab

Short and Sweet: Starting a tab at a bar or a restaurant may feel like convenience, but it can honestly lead you to spend more than you intended.

Why It Matters: Because opening a tab makes it easy to lose track of each drink or dish you order - turning a night out into an unexpected financial headache the next morning.

OTF Example: A question you may hear when you go out “Do you want to start a tab?”

Now imagine this: You're at a rooftop bar with your friends on a warm Friday evening, vibing to the music. You open a tab for the convenience - just a couple of drinks each, you think.

By night's end, those "couple of drinks" turn into a full-blown spend…apps, rounds of shots you agreed to in the “high of the moment” and those premium drinks you wouldn't normally choose if paying cash per order.

What may seem like the right choice for convenience, may actually end up not Making sense Cents.

Get Specific: Breaking Down Why You Should Rarely Start a Tab

• 1) Peer Pressure: With a tab, it's easier for friends to suggest "just one more round" without considering the cost.

• 2) Spontaneous Splurges: That special bourbon or the top-shelf tequila? On a tab, such indulgences are more tempting when you don't see immediate cash leaving your wallet.

• 3) Post-Party Regrets: The freedom of a tab may lead to financial remorse when the party's over, making your fun night a potential source of stress instead of good memories.

Take Action: 3 Things You Can Do ASAP

• 👆️ Cash is King: Bring a set amount of cash for the night. Once it’s gone, your spending stops, keeping your budget intact.

• ✌️Use Debit Cards Instead of Credit Cards: Opt for using a debit card rather than a credit card. Since debit cards pull directly from your bank account, you'll feel the pinch of each purchase immediately, unlike credit cards which can psychologically detach you from the spending out of no where.

• 🤟 Set a Strict Entertainment Budget: Before heading out, determine a fixed amount you are willing to spend for the night. You can even use budgeting apps to alert you as you approach your spending limit.

(PSA: Let’s face it - there will be times when you decide to open up a tab and that is OK. We’re not here to blow out the candles.

This approach is to help you zoom out and rethink opening up a tab so you don’t break the bank every time you go out.)

Hustle Hub 📈 

• YOUR SUCCESS: Learn about this 3-word leadership tactic from the Netflix founder and Co-CEO, Reed Hastings.

• THEIR SUCCESS: Here are 4 travel secrets of the mega-rich from a vacation planner for billionaires.

• YOUR SUCCESS: Thinking about starting a newsletter? This one’s for you…

Working With AI 🦾 

The DM Prompt.

DM’s are becoming more and more common.

Question: Do you know how to send an effective DM?

If not, let’s use AI to craft one up.

One of the most effective ways to get someone to respond to you is to send a personable and compelling DM.

So, if you’re stuck on what to say to someone and don’t know where to begin.

Try this prompt:

"Hello I need you to put together a compelling DM to someone I am looking to work with in the photography space. I want to make sure I first compliment them on the style of their social page(s) and their aesthetic. I want it to feel genuine and kind. I then would like you to give me 4-6 short sentences to follow the compliment that can make my request feel personable. My goal is to get 15-30 minutes on their calendar to discuss how I can work with them. Please respond to the best of your ability when helping me out."

RESPONSE BACK FROM THE PROMPT ABOVE:

Not too bad…

Feel free to amend where necessary, as you don’t want it to come off too robotic.

Make sure you add your own spin to it.

This should give you a good starting point if you are having trouble crafting a DM to someone.

Content For Your Commute 👍️ 

ON FOOT: Walking to work to go deal with customers? We recommend The Game, which helps you get more customers, make more profit per customer, and how to keep them longer.

TRAIN TIME: Next time you board your train, put on Modern Wisdom, which shares life lessons from the greatest thinkers on the planet with Chris Williamson. An OTF favorite. Epic podcast.

FIRST CLASS: For those who enjoy being creative, Steven Pressfield shows you how to identify, defeat, and unlock inner barriers to creativity in his book, The War of Art. If you’re feeling stuck creatively or need a boost, this is a great read to get you over the hump.

Food For Thought 💭 

Before You Go…

We hope you enjoyed this edition. Next week, we’ll be back with an updated Always Informed with the latest going on in AI, Making Cents of why you should have financial reminders, and Much More.

See you then!

You are now On The Fly and In The Know.