iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 02/05/2025

My newsletter today struck a chord apparently! I'm really hopeful because of that. I just published the full essay to my site. My grandest delusion about marketing (is my grandest delusion about you) jayacunzo.com/blog/my-gran...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 17/04/2025

If you do NOTHING else and want to improve as a communicator: carefully and consciously craft stronger openers and closers. If you kept the rest of a mediocre talk or piece the same, but added a GREAT opener and closer, you've gotten way better, way faster. Remember the Primacy & Recency Effects

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 14/04/2025

Much-needed reminder... Fuck Donald Trump, and fuck the Never Hugged Enough All-Stars who support him.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 10/04/2025

Early-bird sales are underway for my Public Speaking Accelerator! Lessons, templates, direct notes + coaching from me, helping busy business leaders become stronger speakers. The craft + getting booked are both covered. Grab your spot now: jayacunzo.com/signaturetalk

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 27/03/2025

If you give talks in support of your business, then your goal is likely follow-on opportunities. That probably has you thinking about adding CTAs to your slides. Here's why most of those don't actually work (and what to try instead)... (short thread)

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 26/03/2025

I am so fucking mad and sad at all of this.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 18/03/2025

This makes me want to hurl my entire laptop at the head of someone named Google. Hey, here's an idea: if you're a tech co, instead of making people want things, how about you MAKE THINGS PEOPLE WANT????

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 08/03/2025

Once you have a framework for your ideas, you get to have fun writing around and through it. That’s what I’ve been doing lately with my Idea Impact Matrix. Like this post. Here’s how to assess + differentiate your communication style: jayacunzo.com/blog/how-to-...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 08/03/2025

I like this shot. My wife does not. 😆

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 04/03/2025

The incomparable and unstoppable force of creativity and light that is @bradmontague.bsky.social appeared on How Stories Happen this week! Brad takes us inside his storytelling process and dissects 1 signature story for us. You'll walk away feeling SO uplifted: jayacunzo.com/blog/brad-mo...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 01/03/2025

In late March/early April, I have 2 client spots available to work with soloists on messaging, speaking, and thought leadership. I'm your peer-level partner to get out into the world what you've been trying to say all along, so you can differentiate + resonate. Learn more at jayacunzo.com

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 28/02/2025

Facts help people know. Stories help people care. Maybe it should be enough for them to see your post or presentation or data and care. But it isn’t. That’s not how people work. If you want others to care about your message, find a way to tell a better story.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 28/02/2025

Oh @bsky.app, the bar is low for social apps, but you jump it so nicely.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 21/02/2025

Did a really fun shoot with @minnowpark.com awhile back and this was part of a lot of laughs and funny faces in downtown Boston.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 10/02/2025

Incredible new ep this week! It's @elisewho.bsky.social, who takes us inside her TED Talk. We discuss: - What goes into crafting an exceptional talk, tightly told - Our shared love of Bourdain - The “peak/end rule” - Using callbacks And more! Find How Stories Happen in your podcast player

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 01/02/2025

Effective storytellers can do 1 thing better than anyone: Resonate. We’ve grown obsessed with reach, but resonance actually drives results. It’s what sparks action. If you want fans, clients, customers, supporters of any kind—if you want others to care about your message—learn to resonate.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 01/02/2025

Look what @carmenhill.bsky.social sent me from Oregon! Guess when you have a good premise and own an idea, not only do you become associated with the word… you drink to it! 🍷

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 31/01/2025

You see what’s happened in sports media? It’s a lot of this. Or “Yanks could sign a former Braves 1st round pick” and the player is like… a 13 year vet. The internet is broken in so many ways.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 30/01/2025

Resonance over reach. That’s my business’s premise. That’s why I coach others on their speaking and storytelling. Reach is how many see it. Resonance is how much they care. (Video by Andy Robinson, robinsonvideoconsulting.com)

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 29/01/2025

We're on a hot streak with the podcast, not because the guests are famous (though some are!) but because we've collected together some of the sharpest minds in crafting business stories, messaging, and speeches imaginable. If you haven't yet, check out How Stories Happen wherever you get podcasts!

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 28/01/2025

My secrets REVEALED! Here’s my process for finishing drafts. (Sigh. Every time… 😝)

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 26/01/2025

I spent a big chunk of last recording moments of doubt & friction developing my new show. Now, you can watch some of it + get useful frameworks to help you navigate your creative process with greater confidence and joy. It's my first-ever YouTube series! www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8_l...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 24/01/2025

Come for the craft. Stay for the cringe. It’s my first-ever YouTube series! Behind-the-scenes developing and piloting my new show last year. It’s a mess. youtu.be/l8_l1pIRwW8?...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 24/01/2025

This comment from @mikeganino.bsky.social on my new series launch is getting its own frame.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 24/01/2025

Ep. 1 of my new series is here! Go behind-the-scenes with an honest look at the messy creative process of developing + launching my new show last year. Frameworks, stories, and silly sketches will help you navigate the mess of your own creative process with confidence. >> jayacunzo.com/hsh-bts

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 24/01/2025

There is nothing like a live audience.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 23/01/2025

Tomorrow, ep1 of my 4-part behind-the-scenes series lands. We never get access to someone else's messy process, only the final created work. That causes us to think our mess is a PROBLEM. It's not. It's the work. And it's in the mess we find our best. Watch a teaser at jayacunzo.com/hsh-bts

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 21/01/2025

Who knows how to spell things in the sky because I present to you the words of @mspackyetti.bsky.social that deserve to be up there for a long, long time. They want you to be so overwhelmed and/or distracted, you become ineffective. Resistance means we each find our own way to DO EFFECTIVE WORK.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 21/01/2025

Friday! Ep1 of a 4-part series showing my messy process of crafting my show, How Stories Happen, last year. I want to share what it's really like producing creative things, so we stop blaming ourselves & learn to work with confidence. In the mess, you find your best. Subscribe at jayacunzo.com

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 18/01/2025

I don’t mean speak slowly. I mean spoonfeed and signpost. Here’s what the previous quote from the story intro looks like as a reminder. And next, let’s deliver it as better SPEAKING…

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 17/01/2025

I am meeting just the most remarkable yet kind humans through hosting How Stories Happen. Every episode, we hear a signature story dissected and talk shop shout the craft of telling stories to grow our causes & careers. I’ve never felt this alive hosting a show. (And I’ve hosted more than 500!)

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 16/01/2025

Ever experience this? I think that’s where we find hope.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 16/01/2025

Here's the nuanced truth to "telling my story." Ron Tite nails it. No notes. >> Listen to How Stories Happen to hear exceptional communicators and creators dissect signature stories. It's a look at the craft of business storytelling like you've never heard from these people before.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 16/01/2025

This from a poem by @bradmontague.bsky.social is just so important. Excited to be interviewing Brad for How Stories Happen later today. He's been one of my favorite creators my entire career. Here's the video version of the poem where I first saw this line: www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4KO...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 14/01/2025

Every year, I set a theme for myself. This year's is "feel of the flour." Here's more context (in the screenshot) plus the essay where I share this theme + begin to execute on it, showcasing changes I'd make to evolve a an idea from good writing to a good SPEECH> jayacunzo.com/blog/my-them...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 13/01/2025

The line below is OK writing, if a little wordy. But it's problematic if you shift from writing to speaking. Yet this style of speaking is what LOTS of people are doing as they create more videos, podcasts, and speeches lately. I wrote about this issue in my essay: jayacunzo.com/blog/my-them...

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 13/01/2025

I built an AI agent to offer warmth and snuggles and generally be a Very Good Boy. Surely, the future has arrived.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 12/01/2025

I need to unhook myself from all things Internet unrelated to my work. Because this is how I think.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 12/01/2025

The newest ep of How Stories Happen features @rontite.bsky.social! Yanno how some comedians can really explain why something works? That’s Ron for public speaking. Also comedy. Ron pulls from years as a standup! This was a masterclass for all communicators. Listen wherever you get podcasts

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 11/01/2025

I built an AI agent to watch for squirrels. Still gotta fix the shedding issue.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 11/01/2025

I want people to embrace that the mess of the creative process isn’t a problem with them or something to outsource to AI. It’s the work. It’s where breakthroughs big & small are found, all ideas and tweaks and quirks and stuff YOU bring. In the mess, you find your best. Part 1 of 4. Jan 24.

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 10/01/2025

Ever feel your creative process is a mess? It's not a problem with you. *It's the work.* On Jan 24, I'm bringing you a 4-part series going beind-the-scenes of developing and launching my new podcast last year. It's how How Stories Happen happened. Come for the craft. Stay for the cringe!

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 09/01/2025

Tomorrow AM in my newsletter, I'm sharing the 2025 theme guiding my business + the biggest note I give to my clients for their speaking & storytelling. Then, a beat-for-beat revision of some copy to evolve it from good writing to good speaking. These aren't the same things. 💌 jayacunzo.com

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 08/01/2025

Howdy! And oh… I am familiar 😆

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 08/01/2025

This is very cool. Top-5 rated speech at one of the world's biggest and best events for B2B marketers and brand-builders. Right in my hometown of Boston too. See you again this year, friends!

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 01/01/2025

The final moments of light from 2024. Happy New Year to you!

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 29/12/2024

LinkedIn commenters off to a great start today 🙄

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Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo.com · 27/12/2024

Today on How Stories Happen: An episode simply titled “Whisper.” If you liked the essay I wrote last week, you’ll adore this more immersive version.

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