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“Sometimes you need to step back to see what you've been saying all along.”
This morning, I saw a post from Bryant Duhon over on Substack about using AI to create a visual summary of his message inspired by a classic Guinness ad style.
Sounded fun.
So I tried it while getting ready.
It may seem frivolous.
But here's what happened.
After wrestling with ChatGPT through several iterations, I ended up with something that captures my core message in a compelling and interesting way.
Result?
A visual I can use across emails, social posts, and my site.
Plus clarity on what I actually stand for, seen through fresh eyes.
How I Did It
Here's the play-by-play:
1️⃣ Started with a simple prompt:
"Create an image summarizing the main theme of my overall message using a similar style to the iconic Guinness ad campaign."
2️⃣ First version was good, but one weird flaw
That clipboard being backwards detracted from the image, and I didn’t get the month of squares with an x on it.
So…
3️⃣ I iterated.
Asked it what was going on with the clipboard and got a new version that totally changed everything, including the text.
Told it to change the text back to: "Build your BUSINESS around your LIFE"
Uploaded photos and asked it to show me with my two daughters (one standing, one on my lap)
Got pushback from ChatGPT because it told me it “I can’t create or edit images that depict or resemble real people.” Which is odd because it’s definitely done so before.
I finally got a version I liked:
4️⃣ Tried new ideas until it felt right
Then I got the idea to try Pixar style since the Guinness style wasn’t one I was familiar with.
It took a few more iterations until I got something I really like:
My Take
Maybe this feels silly to some.
Like, why spend 15 minutes making a fake poster of myself?
But sometimes you need to see what you've been saying.
Writing is abstract.
A visual makes it immediate.
Emotional and shareable.
Once you have the image, you can:
Drop it in a social post
Use it as email header art
Pin it above your desk
Make it the hero on your homepage
It's a creative reset that doubles as a messaging tool.
A few things to keep in mind:
✅ The first result won't be perfect. That's the point. Iterate.
✅ If you use Projects, do it inside. You'll get better, more accurant results.
✅ Have fun with it. This isn't A/B testing a subject line. It's play. And play should be fun.
Dig Deeper
👉 If you try this and are on Substack, share your result here
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