😱 Hyper-Growth to Hyper-Stressed…

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

• 😱 Hyper-Growth to Hyper-Stressed... [True Story]

• 🔥 U.S. & China Call a 90-Day Tariff Truce [Deep Dive]

• 📈 Send Free Samples With 0 Headaches

• 🚀 Better Results From ChatGPT With 1 Small Change [AI Lesson]

• ✅ 5 Tools to Build Viral Video Ads With AI!

This week’s Wheel of Kelsey prize is here!👇

Win an in-depth audit with Amazon expert Daniela Bolzmann to help you decide & prioritize the most critical areas for improvement on your Amazon listings.

🚨 All you have to do is enter → HERE. (You’ll be asked for your email and name so we can contact you if you win.)

We’ll be spinning the Wheel of Kelsey during our live episode every Wednesday at 12 pm ET. Congrats to Barry G. from last week’s giveaway!

🔍 HYPER-GROWTH TO HYPER-STRESSED [TRUE STORY] 

Back in the ’90s, I had my first hyper-growth company.

It was a wild ride.

I felt like I was getting up half an hour before I went to bed.

Sleep was scarce, and stress was everywhere.

The turning point came when I picked up The E-Myth by Michael Gerber.

I realized my biggest problem wasn’t sales or operations—it was keeping employees.

Like a lot of entrepreneurs, I was wearing all the hats until things got overwhelming.

I’d bring someone on and expect them to be incredible right out of the gate.

I’d hire someone, throw them into the deep end, and expect them to figure it out.

No training, no guidance, just “here you go.”

And when mistakes happened, I’d jump back in, convinced no one could do it as well as I could.

That cycle repeated more times than I’d like to admit.

What The E-Myth taught me was that I needed systems.

I started documenting everything—every repetitive task, every process.

I wrote out the “why” behind each step, added in definitions, and made sure everything was clear and consistent.

I created templates, and built a real framework.

When I brought someone new on, I walked them through it all.

I let them try it, corrected things when needed, and gave them space to get confident.

Instead of throwing them into chaos, I gave them a roadmap.

And guess what?

It worked.

Turnover dropped, the business ran smoother, and I wasn’t burning out anymore.

That book changed the way I think about building a company.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, like nobody can do the job right—maybe it’s not them.

It’s time to step back, build a system, and train your team.

Trust me, it makes all the difference.

— Norm

🔥 SEND FREE SAMPLES WITH 0 HEADACHES!

I found this app this weekend.

You will never have to deal with:

1. Back-and-forth to get influencer's shipping address and sizing

2. Manually enter influencer orders into Shopify

3. Mass uploading order data from a spreadsheet.

This tool is a custom checkout link you can send to creators and influencer where they can choose a product and enter their socials.

It’s perfect for product seeding, free gifts, instagram giveaways, creator gifting, media kits, retail samples, employee freebies, corporate gifting, and PR packages.

• Automate free order input for influencer gifting and employee freebies.

• Track gift orders and Fulfillment status within Shopify—no spreadsheets!

Check it out → Here

🔥 U.S. and China Call a 90-Day Tariff Truce

As of May 12, the U.S. and China have agreed to pump the brakes—at least for 90 days.

The two countries just signed off on a temporary deal to slash tariffs across the board.

Here’s the simple version:

🔻 Tariffs Are Dropping (For Now)

• The U.S. has cut tariffs on Chinese imports from 145% down to 30%.

• China is dropping its retaliatory tariffs from 125% to 10% on U.S. goods.

• These new rates are in place for the next 90 days—a trial period to see if both sides can quit throwing punches.

Now, don’t get too excited—“de minimis” exemptions (that let small eComm orders into the U.S. tariff-free) are still off the table, so Shein, Temu, and others will still be eating higher fees, or passing them on to consumers.

🔧 What’s the Plan?

U.S. officials are saying both sides now “don’t want decoupling.” The high tariffs were starting to feel like an embargo. Nobody wins in that situation—especially sellers caught in the middle.

The focus now? Over the next 90 days:

• Fix the tariff structure

• Tackle non-tariff trade barriers

• Discuss subsidies and labor issues

• China’s role in the fentanyl crisis is on the agenda

💼 What Does This Mean for Sellers?

For Amazon sellers and eComm brands importing from China, this temporary drop in tariffs could be huge:

• Margins might get a little breathing room.

• Sourcing options that looked too expensive last month may now be viable again.

• Retailers can move inventory more confidently without 145% tariff penalties looming.

This is a pause, not a peace treaty.

⏳ What to Watch Next

The next 90 days are crucial.

If they can reach a broader deal, great. If not… we’re likely back to square one.

If you're importing, this might be a good time to revisit your supply plan. If you're holding inventory or sitting on the sidelines, now might be the moment to move.

🚨 Read the full article → Here

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE BEARD GUY?

Can you find Norm in the picture below? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see the answer!

🔥 5 AI TOOLS TO BUILD VIRAL VIDEO ADS (FULL PRESENTATION!)

Here’s 10 Takeaways From This Episode:

1. Build AI Video Ads with a $30 Stack
   Andrew’s full AI video ad creation stack includes:

   • ChatGPT or Grok for ad script writing

   • Midjourney for visuals

   • 11 Labs for voiceovers

   • Runway ML (Gen-4) for video animation

   • CapCut for editing

2. Ask for Half the Length
   When using ChatGPT to generate video scripts, always ask for a 10-second script if you want 20 seconds—the model tends to double the requested time unintentionally.

3. Automate Workflows with Make.com
   Use Make.com to pull content from email, social, or other sources, apply AI transformations, and republish—saving time on repetitive tasks and video creation loops.

4. Use Lip Sync Only After Animation
   When using 11 Labs and Runway ML together, always animate your character’s body first, then apply the lip sync feature. If you skip this order, your video will look robotic.

5. Focus on Short, High-Volume Ad Clips
   Keep AI-generated clips short and punchy. Longer clips introduce more AI errors and lose viewer attention.  

Find this episode of Lunch With Norm on YouTube and anywhere you listen to podcasts

🔥 HOW QUITTING YOUR BUSINESS CAN MAKE YOU A MILLIONAIRE!

Here are my favorite TIPS from this episode!

1. Speak to Each Niche with Their Own Landing Page

Mary lost momentum when she tried to “industry-neutralize” her brand’s messaging. The fix? Create unique landing pages and ads tailored to each vertical (tattoo artists, estheticians, nail techs) — each with custom copy, content, reviews, and benefits relevant to their unique needs.

2. Launch Before You’re Ready Using Pre-Sales + Facebook Groups

Mary validated demand by posting a napkin-sketch concept in a niche Facebook group and opened pre-orders — batch 1 sold out before it shipped.

Real-world proof: community + prototype + urgency = launch traction.

3. Build the Product You Wish Existed — Then Patent It Aggressively

Mary saw a hole in her own salon experience (lighting for lash services), built a custom solution, and filed for design + utility patents in 28+ countries before ever launching publicly.

Result: she now enforces her IP globally and even sells her own dupe on Amazon to block knockoffs.

4. Let Customers Create Content in Their Own Voice

Every light shipped includes a prompt encouraging customers to share a photo or story on Instagram. Instead of polished brand voice, she leverages authentic, peer-to-peer “Hey girl, I got this!” style UGC that drives organic reach and trust within tight-knit service communities.

Find this episode of Marketing Misfits on YouTube and anywhere you listen to podcasts

🌎 MARK DOWN THESE EVENTS! 🌎

And that’s it, Beardos!

See you next Monday!

- Norm

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