Surprise! Your Business Model Sucks, AI Won’t Save You, and Not Everyone Wants to Be a CEO

Buckle up, because this week’s ASOM Pod is coming in hotter than a founder explaining why their failing business model is actually disruptive.

🔥 Jimmy is throwing hands at delusional leaders
If your business ego is bigger than your bottom line, congratulations—you’re the problem. Jimmy is breaking down why the “I’m never wrong” mindset is the fastest way to tank a company (and why your investors are sweating through their Patagonia vests).

🤖 John is begging you to stop the AI doomsday posts
AI isn’t coming for great salespeople. It’s coming for the ones who sucked at sales in the first place. If your only skill is reading a script, yeah, you might want to panic.

🏀 Amer says not everyone needs to be a CEO—and that’s okay
Hustle culture bros, take a seat. Some people just want to do their job, collect their check, and log the hell off. And guess what? That’s what keeps companies running.

💸 Bryan is declaring subscriptions officially dead
DTC brands guzzled the subscription Kool-Aid, but the party’s over. Retail is the future, and if you’re not pivoting, you’re playing a very expensive game of musical chairs with no open seats.

This newsletter hits like a reality check you didn’t ask for—but definitely need. So take a read and prepare to feel things.

Lean, Mean Business: The Great Talent Shift in eCommerce, Agency, and SaaS - EP38

In this ASOM Pod episode, the squad is cutting through the chaos of running a business in today’s economy—because let’s be real, it’s a wild ride. From layoffs to navigating the rise of freelancers, fractional execs, and overseas talent—are they a genius scaling move or just a temporary fix? Plus, the eternal battle of remote vs. in-office work (hint: there’s no easy answer). Grab your headphones and check out the episode here.

When Your Business Ego Writes Checks Your Results Can’t Cash.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the boardroom: your massive, market-crushing business ego that’s currently driving your company straight into a wall.

You know exactly who you are. The founder who can’t stand being wrong. The CEO who surrounds themselves with yes-people. The executive who thinks customer feedback is just ‘noise from people who don’t get your vision.’

News flash: Your ego isn’t your amigo. It’s the silent killer of otherwise promising businesses.

I’ve watched companies implode because their leadership was too busy polishing their LinkedIn profiles to notice their product was garbage. I’ve seen startups flush millions down the toilet because the founder wouldn’t listen when literally everyone told them their pricing strategy was delusional.

But we’re disrupting the industry! 

No, you’re disrupting your investors’ sleep as they watch their money evaporate.

Our approach is revolutionary!

So revolutionary that not a single customer wants to pay for it. 

Fascinating.

Here’s the brutal truth: The market doesn’t care about your ego. It doesn’t care about your fancy office, your startup awards, or how many times you’ve been featured on that podcast nobody listens to. The market only cares about value. Period.

Your competition – the ones actually winning? 

They’re too busy listening to customers, testing assumptions, and pivoting when things don’t work to worry about looking smart. 

Meanwhile, you’re clutching your original business plan like it’s a sacred text that can’t be questioned.

The most dangerous words in business aren’t ‘we’re facing competition’ – they’re ‘I already know that.’ 

The moment you think you’re too smart to learn, too established to change, or too visionary to be wrong, you’ve already lost.

So here’s your reality check: Ditch the ego. 

Embrace being wrong. 

Get comfortable with the phrase “I don’t know, but let’s find out.”

Your business will thank you. 

Your team will thank you. 

Your bank account will thank you.

Because at the end of the day, the size of your success will be directly proportional to the size of your willingness to look stupid in the pursuit of getting it right.

And if this post is making you defensive? 

Well, I rest my case.

PLEASE STOP WITH THE AI WILL REPLACE SALES REP POSTS

AI is coming for sales reps. At least, that’s what all the LinkedIn thought leaders keep saying.

Great salespeople are already rare. AI isn’t making more of them.

What it will do is automate the busywork. Research, follow-ups, forecasting. AI can handle that. And the best reps will use it to run faster, sell smarter, and close more.

What AI won’t do is build real relationships, navigate complex deals, or make someone actually want to buy from you. It can’t replace trust. It can’t negotiate. It can’t read between the lines when a buyer hesitates.

Could it replace a bad sales rep? Sure. But who cares? That rep wasn’t booking meetings or closing deals anyway. AI isn’t taking jobs from high performers. It’s just exposing the ones who never should have been in sales to begin with.

The truth is, AI will widen the gap between the great and the average. The ones who rely on scripts and automation will be left behind. The ones who actually know how to sell will dominate even faster.

AI isn’t coming for the top salespeople. It’s coming for the ones who were never that good in the first place.

Hey Mr. Hustle Grind and Burnout.. SHUT IT.. Some People Just Want 9-5

Not everyone wants to be the next CEO. Some people just want to do their job, collect their check, and go home…kind of like a dependable train that runs on time…liek the one they most likely take home. No delays, no drama. And that’s a damn valuable thing.

Here’s the problem, too many so called managers treat 9-5ers like broken vending machines. They are shaking them, banging on the glass, demanding more output. Why the fluck?

Not everyone is trying to climb the corporate Mount [BLEEPING] Everest. 

Some folks are perfectly happy on solid ground, enjoying their evenings, hobbies, and families without checking Slack at 9 PM.

And guess what? That’s not a weakness. That’s stability. And it is okay!

But you need them to do more? Well, maybe decide if they are in the wrong role, if you have the wrong expectation, or maybe……let them decide if that role and that company is the right place they want to call home for 8 hours a day.

A company full of ladder climbers and hustle addicts is like a sports team where everyone wants to be the star player. TOXIC!

But you know who wins championships? The role players. The ones who show up, do their job well, and don’t burn out in a season.

Not everyone’s Jordan. Some people are Robert Horry. They are not flashy, not chasing MVPs trophy’s, but they hit game-winning shots when it matters. That is why they called him BIG SHOT BOB!

That’s what great 9-5ers do. They show up, do their job, and deliver when needed. But too many managers overlook them because they’re not “hungry” enough. Wrong!!! They’re just efficient if you can coach them to be. If they are not, most likely you damn fault.

A team full of superstars is chaos. Winning teams have role players. Managers need to value their steady hands. Because when the pressure’s on?

It’s not always the superstar who saves you…most likely it’s Big Shot Bob in the corner.

The real job of a manager isn’t to turn everyone into “high performers.” It’s to figure out what motivates each person and set them up for success. Some people want to sprint. Others are marathon runners. Both are necessary.

So stop trying to make everyone “hungry” for the next promotion. 

Some people are just hungry to clock out on time and enjoy their life. And that is damn okay.

And if companies can’t respect that? They’ll lose the most reliable people—the ones who keep the engine running long after the burnout cases crash.

Go find your Big Shot Bob!

Hot Take: Subscriptions Are Dying & Retail Is Your Only Way Out

For years, DTC brands have been guzzling the subscription Kool-Aid. Recurring revenue! Predictability! Infinite LTV! But here’s the harsh reality: Subscriptions are collapsing.

Why? Because consumers are finally waking up:

🚫 They don’t want to be locked into yet another monthly charge.
💳 Their credit cards are maxed out with forgotten subscriptions.
📉 Churn rates are brutal, and paid acquisition isn’t saving anyone.

Think I’m wrong? Look around. Big-name subscription brands are pivoting to retail faster than you can say “CAC crisis.” Warby Parker, Allbirds, and even the DTC golden child, Dollar Shave Club, all figured out that retail = survival.

Because here’s the truth:

🛒 Retail is the endgame. If you’re serious about long-term success, you need shelf space, retail partners, and distribution strategies that go beyond Shopify and Meta ads.
📦 Ecommerce alone won’t scale forever. Brands that don’t diversify will either get acquired or disappear.
🔄 Even the best subscriptions hit a wall. The biggest players all have omnichannel strategies because they know what’s coming.

DTC brands that rely only on subscriptions are playing a game of musical chairs. The music is slowing down. If you’re not thinking about retail, you’re already behind.

And that’s a wrap on this week’s unfiltered takes! If you’re hooked on our no-BS rants (or just love the chaos), be sure to hit that Subscribe button and let us keep your inbox spicy. 🌶️

And of course, don’t be selfish—share with your friends, coworkers, or anyone who needs a wake-up call from their boring newsletters.

Have an ASOM day ✌️