Building My Second Brain, Sales Engine & AI Analyst

The landscape is shifting fast. New tech is born every day, and the fusion of identity with innovation is changing the game. The pressure to keep up is relentless, and falling behind means risking both your brand and bottom line.

Too many leaders chase superficial measures instead of investing in real, long-lasting differentiation. They switch from one flashy tool to another, missing the chance to build something truly enduring. The secret isn’t about following every trend; it’s about harnessing technology to capture the core of who you are and where you want to go.

This week, I’m all in on building your AI-powered second brain—a dynamic system that sharpens decision-making, deepens authenticity, and drives operational mastery. It’s a way to steady your course even when the market is noisy and ever-changing.

It’s the strategy that not only refines your brand identity but also fuels smarter investments and stronger partnerships.

Today’s Issue:

• Discover how focusing on genuine engagement can transform
  your brand and boost connection.
  

• Learn to build an AI-powered second brain that mirrors your own decision-making for lasting impact.
  

• Explore models that shift sales from chase and chance to collaborative, revenue-driven success.
  

• See how systematic AI tracking can elevate your market insights and fuel sustainable growth.
  
  

AI Leverage

This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about identity—not just who I am, but how I show up across my brand, my business, and my investments.

Brand

One of my most personal posts this week, about disconnecting from work and reconnecting with real leverage, got the highest reach. But most of the engagement came from people I already know, not my ideal clients. That’s telling.

It reminded me: views are vanity, resonance is leverage.

Behind the scenes, we’ve been working on something deeper. Training an AI-powered “second brain” that mirrors how I think, speak, and make decisions. My team will be able to ask it anything about strategy, offers, or even past client examples and get an on-brand response.

We’re wiring this into my AI Content Engine so we can scale thought leadership without losing authenticity. It’s my way of bottling the hard-won insight I’ve built over 15+ years across investing, digital business, and now AI consulting.

I also refined my positioning: From The AI Leverage Guy → to The AI Leverage Investor.

Why? Because that’s who/what I am. I invest not just capital, but my expertise, systems, and strategy into businesses I believe in. The new headline feels more aligned with the role I actually play.

Business

This week, most of our time went into testing the inbound features of our AI Sales System, particularly how well it qualifies, nurtures, and books prospects across channels. Increasingly confident based on the result we are seeing.

We also finalized our AI Sales Accelerator... an offer where we deploy the system for businesses at no upfront cost. We only win when they do.

That’s not just a hook. It’s how I want to operate going forward.

I’m looking for the right businesses to partner with where I can bring AI leverage in exchange for a slice of the upside: rev share, profit share, or even equity.

A few more client wins came through at A360 this week too, along with a fresh proposal. But the Accelerator is where my energy’s going.

Investments

Most people today are asking ChatGPT for stock picks. I’m doing something different. This week, I dusted off research and newsletters I wrote back in 2009, when I led an analyst team and published an investment book in my twenties.

My focus was always on two things: valuations and trends. That hasn’t changed.

So now I’m training an AI analyst to do exactly that: track market valuations and emerging trends—and keep me updated, automatically.

Not to chase noise, but to stay anchored in what’s always worked.

• One AI for my mind.

• One AI for my sales.

• One AI for my portfolio.

AI Copilots: 

PROFIT/PROGRESS: Scale Your Impact 

Purpose 

• Objective: Assess and refine your product pricing strategy to enhance profitability without sacrificing sales volume.
  

• SMB Relevance: Pricing is a critical factor for SMBs seeking to balance profitability and market competitiveness.
  

• Timeliness/Context: As new products are developed, it's essential to evaluate pricing to ensure a successful launch.
  
  

Core Functionality 

• Copilot Actions: Analyze competitor pricing, calculate cost structures, and suggest optimal price points.
  

• Key Capabilities to Leverage: Market analysis tools and pricing models.
  
  

Interaction Style 

• Copilot Persona/Tone: Analytical and informative.
  

• Guidance Level: High, providing thorough explanations and recommendations.
  
  

Typical User Inputs 

• Information Required: Product details, cost breakdowns, competitor pricing data.
  

• Format of Input: Structured forms or spreadsheets.
  
  

Expected Outputs 

• Deliverables: A detailed pricing strategy report with suggested price points and justifications.
  

• Format/Structure of Output: PDF or presentation format with visual data representations.
  

• Success Criteria: Pricing strategy aligns with market expectations while ensuring profitability goals.
   
  

AI News

➔ Featured Story

OpenAI unveils ChatGPT agent to handle tasks as AI apps evolve

OpenAI launched an autonomous ChatGPT agent that enhances operational efficiency for small and medium-sized businesses by automating complex tasks and enabling better resource allocation.

Bullet Points:

• OpenAI's new ChatGPT agent autonomously manages tasks, revolutionizing AI capabilities for small and medium-sized businesses.
  

• The agent can organize schedules, manage communications, and handle customer inquiries independently.
  

• Automation through the ChatGPT agent boosts operational efficiency by reallocating human resources to strategic initiatives.
  

• Industry experts predict significant cost savings and improved service delivery with this innovative automation technology.

Key Takeaway: Why this matters: The introduction of OpenAI's ChatGPT agent represents a transformative step in business automation, enabling organizations to optimize workflows and enhance creativity. As companies embrace these tools, they stand to gain a substantial competitive edge in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape.

➔ Other Notable AI News

• Meta Hires Two Key Apple AI Experts After Poaching Their Boss
  Meta has hired two senior AI researchers from Apple, Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, joining its Superintelligence Labs shortly after poaching their former boss, Ruoming Pang.

  👉 Read more
  
  

• AI Startup Perplexity Valued at $18 Billion With New Funding
  The startup, which launched its AI-powered “Comet” browser and now boasts tens of millions of users and accelerating revenue, aims to challenge Google in search while preparing for an eventual public offering.
  👉 Full story
  
  

• Johnson Controls secures $377.9M contract for automation systems
  Disney is taking legal action against companies like Midjourney to stop unauthorized use of its characters while also exploring licensing deals with platforms such as OpenAI.
  👉 Read more
  
  

• 5 Lucrative, AI-Enhanced Side Hustles You Can Start This Weekend
  These ventures are positioned as fast, low‑barrier ways to earn, helping people capitalize on emerging AI demand and supplement their income with minimal startup effort.
  👉 Full article
  
  

• Delta Airlines’ AI Pricing Trigger Customer Trust Crisis?
  Forbes’ Roger Dooley warns Delta Airlines’ move to use AI-driven personalized ticket pricing, targeting up to 20% of fares by end of 2025, risks eroding customer trust as customers may feel manipulated when fares are tailored to their individual willingness to pay.
  👉 Read more
  
  

• Amazon now requires staff to show AI use to get promoted at Ring and some other units
  Amazon now requires employees in its RBKS smart-home division—which includes Ring, Blink, Key, and Sidewalk—to demonstrate AI usage in their work to be eligible for promotions, per a memo from Ring founder Jamie Siminoff.
  👉 Read more
  
  

• The use of AI could lead to a ‘more effective America,’ says former House speaker
  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praises AI as a transformative force that can make America more effective, highlighting its potential to boost productivity and streamline public services
  👉 Full story
  

 AI Economy

Big Picture: The U.S. economy demonstrated resilience this week, with consumer sentiment rising to a five-month high on improving inflation expectations, boosting stock market performance and overshadowing concerns about impending tariffs.

Meanwhile, in the Eurozone, overseas investors significantly increased their purchasing of euro-area debt—nearly €100 billion in May, driven by investor flight from U.S. tariffs. The G-20 also expressed a rare unity in calls for cooperative economic policy amid ongoing global trade tensions.


What to Watch

• U.S. consumer sentiment rose to a five-month high in early July due to improving expectations regarding the economy and inflation.
  

• Foreign investors bought almost €100 billion of euro-area debt in May, the highest since 2023, suggesting a pivot towards Europe amidst concerns over U.S. trade policies.
  

• U.S. stock markets rallied, buoyed by strong earnings reports and positive economic data, easing fears surrounding President Trump’s proposed tariffs.

• San Jose’s Mayor is actively promoting the city as a leading AI hub, leveraging local talent and integrating AI into government operations to foster innovation.

Key Takeaway : This week’s economic indicators suggest an upward trajectory for U.S. markets, driven by increasing consumer confidence and strategic shifts in investor behavior towards Europe.

Given this context, businesses should explore AI adoption opportunities, as cities like San Jose demonstrate a commitment to integrating advanced solutions into governance. Organizations that proactively implement AI tools now may enhance operational efficiency and maintain a competitive edge—echoing McKinsey’s findings on AI-driven productivity gains.

AI Community

💬 Q&A of the Week

Subscriber Question (from "Lena, Founder of a Boutique Marketing Agency"):
As a tech founder focused on responsible AI development, I’m concerned that banning state-level AI regulations might hinder efforts to implement strong ethical guidelines. How does the bill balance innovation with public accountability?

Answer (From Newsletter team):
Great question, Lena! The ChatGPT agent is designed with flexibility in mind, especially for SMBs like yours. When it comes to social media guidance, the agent can adapt content based on your brand’s unique tone, audience demographics, and preferred platforms. By feeding it specific brand keywords, regional nuances, and engagement goals, the agent can generate highly tailored content—from post ideas and captions to hashtag strategies. This allows you to maintain a consistent brand voice while resonating with your niche audience. Plus, it learns over time, improving its suggestions as it better understands your business style.

That's it for today!

Before you go we’d love to know what you thought of today's newsletter to help us improve The Leaders Leverage experience for you.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Awesome 

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Average

⭐️ Awful

See you soon,

James Brooks—The Leader’s Leverage editorial team