Growth Ritual #43

📋 IN THIS ISSUE: Recap of 2024

Dec 26, 2024

Sammy & Mila offer in-depth analysis on each newsletter issue. Subscribe to their podcast.

Looking Back at 2024: A Year of Growth, Milestones, and Gratitude 🙏

As we approach the time of year for reflection, I wanted to dedicate this issue to bidding farewell to 2024.

This year has been, without a doubt, one of the most pivotal years in my personal history. In every way...

Founding Next Big App, my third venture after 4play and Madduck, with all its thrills and challenges.
Publishing my second book, “Recode Your Future”, which, like my first book, became a bestseller in multiple Amazon categories.
Growing this newsletter from scratch to 33,000+ subscribers and developing the discipline to write every week—something that wasn’t easy!
Launching Tap Grow, an AI-powered call assistant, with sales in the U.S., Canada, and Japan—and interest from major Turkish brands that I’ll likely be able to announce in early 2025.
Meeting incredible new people through my books and newsletter and having opportunities to present and run workshops at events like Webrazzi Summit, Alive 24, and Komunite, among others.
Being trusted by dozens of amazing companies to contribute to their growth journeys.
Traveling more than ever—exploring new countries, experiencing new cultures, and collecting unforgettable memories.

In short, while there were plenty of things I could have done better, 2024 was one of my most fulfilling years in terms of productivity and personal growth.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who open and read the newsletter every week and share kind words of encouragement.

You might not realize it, but your support helps me grow in countless ways. I understand that more deeply with each passing day.

Thank you for being here.

For the rest of this issue, I’ll be recapping the highlights from all 42 previous editions—one sentence for each.

Who knows? You might find something interesting and revisit an old issue.

At the very bottom, I’ll include a comprehensive list of all the noteworthy products and services featured in the newsletter this year.

I hope seeing them all in one place will be helpful. Honestly, even I was amazed by how many we’ve covered!

Highlights From All 42 Previous Issues 💫

Issue #1 - Discover how to tailor your startup to attract investors, just like catering a product to meet user needs.
Issue #2 - Explore the unsettling thought of intelligence becoming accessible to everyone and its potential impact on conflict resolution.
Issue #3 - Imagine a future where software development is as simple as using Google Translate, thanks to AI advancements.
Issue #4 - The evolving role of software developers in an era of AI-driven code generation.
Issue #5 - Explore the meteoric rise of ChatGPT and the need for new directions as user acquisition plateaus.
Issue #6 - Learn how the art of influencing consumer behavior has evolved into a complex game of branding and psychology.
Issue #7 - Discover why a strong brand doesn't always guarantee a strong identity, using Trendyol's sub-brand as a case study.
Issue #8 - Explore the world of Hugging Chat, a platform that allows you to use different AI models in one place.
Issue #9 - Uncover the possibilities of uncensored AI models and learn how to install similar systems locally on your computer.
Issue #10 - Discover the surprising truth about dead technologies and why they might still have buyers.
Issue #11 - Uncover the truth about venture capitals and learn how understanding their perspective can increase your chances of securing funding.
Issue #12 - Delve into the world of high-revenue mobile applications and learn how to replicate their success using AI.
Issue #13 - Explore the history of artificial intelligence and witness its meteoric rise from simple chatbots to symphony-composing AI.
Issue #14 - Journey through the past 25 years, revisiting key milestones that fundamentally changed our world, and gain a new perspective on the current era of rapid transformation.
Issue #15 - Discover Apple's unique approach to innovation and how their focus on user experience sets them apart in the AI race.
Issue #16 - Learn the tactical steps to transform a product into a global success story and the importance of building a collaborative community.
Issue #17 - Explore how to bridge the gap between AI hype and real-world implementation, and learn how to effectively integrate these tools into your daily workflows.
Issue #18 - Discover how specialized AI is revolutionizing workflows across various professions, from business analysts to video creators.
Issue #19 - Get a glimpse into the coding-free future with Websim.ai, a tool that turns your ideas into reality without writing a single line of code.
Issue #20 - Uncover the potential of OpenAI's "Project Strawberry," an AI assistant designed to empower small businesses with super-smart capabilities.
Issue #21 - Discover how a restaurant's simple story became a marketing masterpiece, proving that authenticity trumps trends.
Issue #22 - Learn valuable growth lessons from Morning Brew's journey, from near-miss deals to strategic pivots that led to success.
Issue #23 - Uncover why your best investment isn't in the stock market, but in building a direct connection with your customer base.
Issue #24 - Explore effective strategies for marketing your app on Google, using Sylvain Gauchet's insights from Growth Gems.
Issue #25 - Learn how to leverage digital transformation for a competitive edge and explore Doug Stephens' vision for the future of retail in a post-pandemic world.
Issue #26 - Reimagine the retail experience by striking a balance between digital innovation and the enduring power of physical stores and personal interaction.
Issue #27 - Discover how to integrate AI automation into your business using Tap Grow, an AI-powered call agent designed to boost sales and support.
Issue #28 - Explore the concept of "personalized marketing" and how AI can be used to tailor messages, offers, and experiences to individual customers.
Issue #29 - Explore the unconventional world of "Grandpa-as-a-Service" in Japan and learn how this service is redefining human connection in the digital age.
Issue #30 - A practical journey into the world of AI with an easy-to-follow starter kit, designed to help you overcome the fear of AI and turn it into your teammate.
Issue #31 - Explore the rise of handcrafted imperfection in a world increasingly dominated by AI, and discover how Judero, a hand-drawn card game, embodies this trend.
Issue #32 - See the world through an economic lens, rather than geographic size, and discover hidden opportunities in countries with surprisingly large GDPs.
Issue #33 - Learn how AI can help companies overcome the challenges of scaling beyond 50 employees, focusing on marketing automation and data management solutions.
Issue #34 - Discover how the ability to rapidly acquire new skills is becoming the currency of success, drawing insights from Nobel laureate Daron Acemoğlu's research on technological innovation and labor value.
Issue #35 - Unlock the power of micro-influencer marketing, understanding how their authenticity and deep audience engagement can drive conversions for your brand.
Issue #36 - Explore the three essential roles every founder must master: Technician, Entrepreneur, and Manager, drawing insights from the classic business book "The E-Myth Revisited."
Issue #37 - Learn the importance of crafting a clear AI strategy before diving into tools, avoiding common pitfalls and ensuring AI initiatives align with your business goals.
Issue #38 - Uncover the paradox of progress, exploring how the internet, mobile, and AI have connected us while also creating echo chambers, dependency, and new forms of inequality.
Issue #39 - Navigate the changing landscape of marketing and sales in the age of AI, understanding how to combine the precision of AI with the creativity and emotional intelligence of humans.
Issue #40 - Develop a post-AI playbook with strategies that are immune to technological turbulence, emphasizing the importance of storytelling, choice architecture, and emotional connections.
Issue #41 - Learn how a simple email automation can help small businesses recapture lost revenue from potential customers who showed interest but didn't convert.
Issue #42 - Explore the major trends and potential disruptions predicted for 2025, from AI advancements and global power shifts to consumer behavior and geopolitical tensions.

Noteworthy Products and Services

Anduril - A defense software and hardware company
Anthropic - An artificial intelligence safety and research company
AspireIQ - A comprehensive tool for managing influencer relationships
Avakin Life - A mobile game
Bitly - A link management platform that shortens URLs
Boomerang - An email productivity tool that lets users schedule emails and set reminders
Brand24 - An app that monitors brand mentions across social media and the web
Buffer - A social media management tool
Canva - A graphic design platform
Capcut - A video editing app that allows users to make short-form videos from longer content
CapGo.ai - An AI-powered spreadsheet application
Cerebras - A computer chip maker
ChartGPT.dev - An AI tool that can create charts and other data visualizations
ChatGPT - A chatbot launched by OpenAI
Clean Email - A tool that helps users automatically unsubscribe from unwanted emails
Claude - An AI assistant developed by Anthropic that can write different kinds of creative content
Colormind - An AI-powered tool that generates color palettes based on images and art
Commenter.ai - A Chrome extension that provides users with AI-generated comment ideas for LinkedIn
Conversica - An AI sales assistant that automates follow-ups with leads
Crait - A platform that uses AI to generate product visuals and ads
Crayon - A market research tool that uses AI to track competitors' moves
Creatify.ai - A tool that can help businesses create personalized marketing materials
Cuebric - An AI tool for filmmaking that generates realistic images and videos from text descriptions
Databricks - A data storage and analytics company
DataSquirrel - A tool that allows users to analyze data quickly and effectively without technical expertise
DesignerGPT - An AI that can build websites and landing pages
Devin - An AI capable of writing code
Dialpad Ai - An AI-powered platform that can transcribe phone conversations in real-time, provide call summaries, and assist customer service agents
DocuSign - A platform that provides electronic signature technology and digital transaction management services
EchoAI - A tool that transforms customer conversations into actionable insights
Envato - A design marketplace acquired by Shutterstock
Exceed.ai - A tool that automates conversations with sales prospects through email, chat, and SMS
Figure AI - An autonomous humanoid robot company
Firebase - Google’s mobile platform that provides analytics, databases, messaging, and other services for mobile app developers
Forwrd - A tool for building lead scoring models without coding
Framer - A design tool for building responsive websites
Gainsight - A platform that helps businesses reduce churn
Gamma - An AI presentation builder
Gemma - A type of LLM that can be run with Ollama
Gemini - A large language model developed by Google
GitHub - A platform for hosting and collaborating on software projects
GitMind - An AI-powered tool for mind mapping
Grammarly - An AI-powered writing assistant
Grin - A comprehensive tool for managing influencer relationships
Grok-1 - An AI system developed by xAI that generates image completions
Gumloop - A no-code AI automation platform
HeyBooster - An e-commerce analysis platform
HeyGen - An AI video generation platform
Hiver - A tool that allows users to manage shared inboxes from Gmail
Hugging Chat - A chat app developed by Hugging Face that offers access to multiple AI models
Hugging Face - A community and platform for machine learning, natural language processing, and artificial intelligence
Humane AI Pin - An AI assistant in the form of a wearable pin
Humanizer PRO - A tool that makes AI-generated writing sound more human
HubSpot - A customer relationship management (CRM) platform
HypeAuditor - A tool for analyzing the authenticity, engagement, and audience quality of influencers
Kite - A platform that allows businesses to break down data silos
Instagram - A photo and video-sharing social media platform
Insitro - A drug discovery and development company
Intuit - A business and financial software company
Jan.ai - A platform that lets users build personalized, uncensored AI companions
Jasper - An AI writing tool
Judero - A game crafted using traditional animation techniques
Klaviyo - An email marketing platform
Lavender.ai - A tool that analyzes and enhances the effectiveness of emails
Linktree - A platform for creating a customizable landing page of links
Loom - A video messaging tool
Luma AI - A tool for creating 3D models from video footage
Luna AI - A prospecting assistant that finds and contacts potential customers for you
LottieFiles - A platform for creating, editing, and hosting Lottie animations
Lucidchart - A visual workspace for diagramming and collaboration
Magic Write - An AI writing assistant from Canva
Mailchimp - A marketing automation platform and email marketing service
Make.com - A visual automation platform
Memento - A tool for creating AI-generated video testimonials
Mem - A self-organizing workspace for notes and ideas
MidJourney - An AI image generation tool
Miro - A collaborative online whiteboard platform
Monica - A personal relationship management tool
Moz - A platform offering SEO tools and resources
Neural.love - An AI art and image generator
Notion - A note-taking and productivity tool
Ollama - A local LLM that lets you run AI models on your computer
OpenAI - The company behind tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E
Otter.ai - A tool for transcribing audio in real-time
PaLM - Google's Pathways Language Model
Pepper Content - A content management platform with AI tools for content creation
Pipeline - An AI-driven sales enablement tool
Poe - A platform that lets users chat with multiple AI models
Prezi - A presentation software tool
PromptBase - A marketplace for AI-generated prompts
Replit - A collaborative browser-based IDE
Respeecher - A voice-cloning technology platform
Salesforce Einstein - AI-driven CRM capabilities within Salesforce
SEMrush - A marketing analytics and SEO platform
Slack - A team communication and collaboration platform
Snapchat My AI - A customizable AI chatbot in the Snapchat app
Socratic - An AI-based app by Google for helping students with homework
Stability AI - The company behind the Stable Diffusion image generator
Synthesia - A tool for creating AI-generated video content
Tableau - A visual analytics platform
Tally - A no-code form-building tool
Tawk.to - A free live chat software
Tidio - An AI chatbot and live chat platform for websites
Trello - A visual collaboration tool for organizing work
Typeform - A platform for building forms and surveys
Uberduck - A text-to-speech platform
Unbounce - A landing page and conversion optimization platform
Visme - A visual content creation platform
Zapier - An automation tool for connecting apps
Zoom - A video conferencing platform
Zoho - A suite of business tools including CRM, email, and finance management