Why are you like this?

Hey Reader,

Besides it being a consistent political and/or natural disaster shitshow, I’d be ok with January if it weren’t for this pressure to “kick off the year,” “start strong,” and “hit the ground running.”

I prefer to hit the bed bingeing.

I told Deb*, my intuition coach (I feel so weird saying that — should I go all-in on saying “spiritual coach”?), that I’m never in that Go get 'em mode in January. I’m in Leave me be so I can dream about winning the lottery, $157M to be exact, and having work be a just-for-fun choice from here on out mode.

She confirmed what I’ve read, which is that the new year used to start in March, and that I’m “wintering.”

I really am. I’m wintering so hard.

I’m still reading Buckeye, which I love. Would have plowed through it without stopping if not for what I’m streaming.

I’m watching Tell Me Lies season 3 (Hulu) and Industry (HBO), which is basically Billions meets Euphoria.

Season 1 of Industry lost me at the start a few years ago. My friend Vic convinced me to start with season 3 and then go back through seasons 1 and 2.

I was set to follow orders, but the recap of season 2 was so compelling I decided to start with that. And now I’m hooked. Aren’t you glad you asked?

I’m also reading a NY Mag article about peptides which makes that world sound like a galaxy of narcissistic, chest-waxing douchebags, but also makes it tempting to look into microdosing. Under a doctor’s supervision, though, and not from a shady vendor in China selling through an AI-generated sexy-lady avatar on IG. I don’t need a discount on something I inject. This is just musing, btw. I don’t know if I’ll try them at all.

Of course I’m working, too. And it is fun, if not JUST for fun. Spoke at a retreat in Mexico (which played perfectly into my wintering schemes).

We’ve had our 2x/month Shrimp Club hot seat calls, which are incredible and a showcase of smarts and talent that blows my mind every time.

And on Wednesday, I taught a class for Inbox Hero students called Tighter, Better, Faster: How to write your best emails faster than ever, entirely in your voice, using AI

I started off talking about how I don’t use AI for my emails, and never will: by having it write for me.

Cream-colored background with bold red text reading, “Realness tip: AI can help you brainstorm and edit, but it can’t BE you.” A horizontal stripe pattern in red, orange, and yellow runs along the bottom above a black band, with small white text in the lower left reading “talking shrimp.”

Graphic slide with a dark red background and a large red rounded rectangle centered on the screen. At the top, white text reads “Real human.” Inside the rectangle, white paragraph text describes a person’s favorite restaurant as an old-school Italian place with mediocre veal piccata, a drop ceiling, no music, and the ability to overhear nearby complaints, ending with a note about enjoying wearing comfy shoes and sounding old. Decorative red and orange lines curve in the background. Along the bottom, a black band includes small white text reading “talking shrimp” on the left and “TIGHTER BETTER FASTER with LAURA BELGRAY” on the right.

Graphic slide with a dark red background and curved decorative lines. A large orange rounded rectangle fills most of the center. At the top, a white label reads “ChatGPT.” Inside the rectangle, white text describes a favorite old-school Italian restaurant, noting that the veal piccata is “just fine,” the drop ceiling, the lack of music, the quiet atmosphere, and overhearing older diners debate menu items, ending with a reflection about being the right age to appreciate the moment. Along the bottom, a black band contains small white text reading “talking shrimp” on the left and “TIGHTER BETTER FASTER with LAURA BELGRAY” on the right.

Don’t have Inbox Hero? What? Get it here for 51% off with code: WINTERSHRIMP. Grab it now and you’ll get this AI class as a bonus.

Offer expires Sunday, no reminder emails planned. I have to think about packing, because…

On Sunday, I take off for my friend Kate Northrup’s event Relaxed Money Live. It’s in Nashville. Isn’t that the South? Why is the temperature like this?

Screenshot of a weather app showing a 10-day forecast for Nashville. At the top, white text reads “Nashville, 35°, Cloudy.” Below is a list labeled “10-Day Forecast” with daily rows showing cloud or partly cloudy icons and temperature ranges. Today shows 21° to 36°. Upcoming days include Friday through the following Saturday, with lows ranging from about 11° to 34° and highs from about 19° to 47°. One day shows rain with an “80%” chance. Blue bars indicate temperature ranges for each day.

Though through my eyes, Tuesday’s 45 degrees looks like a heatwave. Packing those flip flops!

How you doing? Going hard, or just wintering hard?
Write back and tell me.

xoLaura

PS - *Working with Deb has been fantastic. I’ll dedicate a full email to the work we’re doing sometime soon, but if you’re intrigued, sign up for a free 20 minutes of magic with her here. Nothing to lose, right? That’s what I said, and now I’m cooking with (spiritual) gas.

Want more help with copywriting, storytelling, writing emails that make money,
and/or generally getting paid to be you?

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Thank you for reading and sharing,
Laura

Laura Belgray (Talking Shrimp)

Why are you like this?

I secretly love this overused “power word.”

Apparently, it’s time for your new era

Nobody asked for this