Hey friends,
First off, a very Happy New Year to you - sincerely, thank you for being part of this community.
Good thinkers know what to think.
Great thinkers know how to think.
The real problem isn’t your ideas.
It’s that you use one thinking style for every situation.
Like trying to fix everything with the same tool.
Once you switch the tool, the whole problem changes shape.
But first, a quick build-in-public update…
▶️ We Almost Launched a Feature No One Asked For
A few weeks ago, I had a moment where I looked at what we were building… and realized I wouldn’t even use it myself.
We were halfway through a new feature.
On paper, it sounded useful.
In meetings, it made sense.
But in real life? It wasn’t what people needed.
So we stopped.
Deleted the code. Cleared the board.
And used that time to launch something way more helpful:
We just released our new AI Tool inside creatyl.
And it does something wild:
You answer a few simple questions
It writes your entire product outline
Then turns it into ready-to-sell content (like a PDF, guide, or course)
We built this for the person who says,
“I know what I want to help people with — but I don’t know how to turn it into a real product.”
Now you do.
And it takes just a few minutes.
Sometimes the best thing you can ship… is the thing people actually needed but never thought to ask for.
That’s how we’ll keep building.
P.S. Come see how creatyl will totally change your income in 2026 in my free workshop on Thursday:
👉 Save my seat 👈
Now, let’s get back to it…
When you change how you think, you change what becomes possible.
Nine styles.
Nine lenses.
Nine ways to solve what’s in front of you.
Today we are going to help you master this by using:
‘9 Ways to Think - And When to Use Each One'.
Let’s dive in…
Download This PDF + my Top 90+ Cheat Sheets At Bottom of Email
How to Think Smarter at Work: 4 Scenarios You’ll Actually Face
1. You’re stuck in back-to-back meetings, and your big project isn’t moving.
Scenario: You feel busy, but nothing important is getting done.
Use: Execution Thinking
Cancel or shorten non-essential meetings for 3 days.
Block 90 minutes daily just for deep work.
Break your project into a visible checklist (3 items max at a time).
What to say in a meeting:
“I’d like to simplify this. Here are three small moves we can act on today.”
Tell your team: “Done is better than perfect. Let’s test a small version and build from there.”
2. Your team keeps pitching the same safe ideas. You need fresh thinking.
Scenario: Everything feels like a repeat.
Use: Innovative Thinking
Set a timer for 15 minutes: everyone writes down wild ideas—no judging.
Use the “Wrong Answer First” method: start by asking what’s a terrible idea? Then flip it.
Bring in an unrelated object or word and ask: “How would this apply to our problem?”
What to say to spark creativity:
“Let’s forget what we’ve done before. What’s something no one in our industry would dare try?”
Say “no rules for 10 minutes” to break mental patterns.
3. A big deadline is coming. Two teammates want to go in totally opposite directions.
Scenario: You’re stuck in decision limbo. Nobody wants to be wrong.
Use: Decision Thinking
Ask both sides: “What’s the fastest way to test each option?”
Create a quick side-by-side outcome chart (cost, time, risk, upside).
Choose one small test path and set a 3-day decision checkpoint.
What to say:
“Let’s decide on one clear move today. It doesn’t need to be forever—just forward.”
Give permission to pivot later. That lowers the fear of making the wrong choice.
4. There’s tension on the team, and no one is talking about it.
Scenario: Morale is low, but it’s all under the surface.
Use: Systems Thinking + Reflective Thinking
Call a reset meeting. Ask: “What patterns have we fallen into?”
Map out what's influencing emotions, communication, and energy.
Ask individuals in private: “What’s one thing you wish was different?”
What to say in a team huddle:
“I think we’ve gotten stuck in some habits. Let’s unpack what’s underneath.”
End by asking everyone, “What’s one rule or rhythm we want to carry forward together?”
1. You want to launch something this week but don’t know what to sell.
Scenario: You’ve been thinking about starting a digital product or offer, but you keep overthinking it. You need speed. You need direction.
Go to Prompt #1 (Fast Offer Finder).
Paste it into ChatGPT, add who your audience is, and let it give you 10 quick ideas.
From the 10, pick one and rewrite it in your own words.
Use Prompt #3 (Hook & Name Generator) right after to make it scroll-stopping.
Once you find a great idea, test it in your next Instagram story or tweet. Watch what gets clicks or replies.
2. You already have something to sell, but nobody is buying.
Scenario: You’ve made something—maybe a template, service, or mini-course—but it’s not converting. It’s time to fix the message.
Go to Prompt #4 (Sales Page Starter). Copy and paste it into ChatGPT with your offer name.
Use the result to rewrite your landing page, Instagram caption, or bio link offer.
Then, run Prompt #5 (Ad & Reel Kit) to test 3 new ways to pitch it with short videos or reels.
Don’t rewrite everything at once. Test the new message in your next story or post and see how people respond.
3. You want a simple way to build your product inside creatyl.
Scenario: You have an idea, but you don’t know how to build it into something real that people can buy. You need a starting point.
Use Prompt #11 (System Builder) to turn your process or idea into steps.
Once you have your system, go to creatyl.com and use the Plug Into creatyl step (Prompt #12) to start your free product inside the platform.
Everything—sales page, email flow, and product delivery—is already inside. You just paste, tweak, and publish.
Make your first product simple—like a one-page system, checklist, or script set. You can launch faster than you think.
Want to read more? Go here to download the infographic.
Here's how you can make it real today:
Step 1: Choose your thinking style
Look at the 9 Ways to Think.
Pick the one you need most today.
That’s your thinking focus for the day.
Step 2: Pick your moment
Choose one moment ahead where you’ll try this thinking style:
– Before your next meeting
– While solving a problem
– During a task you usually rush throughWrite it down or set a reminder:
“Use new thinking today.”
Step 3: Do one thing differently
Here are simple ways to shift your thinking
If you chose Analytical Thinking: Break your task into steps before jumping in.
If you chose Decision Thinking: Make one fast choice without second-guessing.
If you chose Innovative Thinking: Write down one wild idea you’ve never said out loud.
If you chose Reflective Thinking: After a tough moment, ask, “What just happened—and why?”
If you chose Systems Thinking: Step back and ask, “What’s influencing this from the outside?”
Keep it small. Just one clear move.
Step 4: Notice what shifted
Later in the day, pause and reflect:
Did this thinking style make something easier?
Did it lead to a better idea or outcome?
Did the moment feel different than usual?
Small mental shifts can change big patterns.
Step 5: Lock it in with one sentence
Before your day ends, write this:
“Today I thought differently by ________.”
or
“Next time I feel stuck, I’ll try ________.”
AI Prompt: “Act as a thinking coach. Help me apply one of the 9 thinking styles from the “9 Ways to Think” framework to a real situation today.
My Thinking Style: [Insert one of the 9 styles, e.g., “Strategic Thinking” or “Reflective Thinking”]
Today’s Situation: [Insert the real thing I want to apply this to, e.g., “I have a team meeting this afternoon and we’re stuck on a product idea” or “I keep delaying a task I don’t want to start.”]
Help me with the following:
A quick explanation of how this thinking style works in real life
1 powerful question I should ask myself before I take action
1 simple action I can try today using this thinking style
1 sentence I can say out loud or write down to lock it in
What I should reflect on at the end of the day to see if it worked
Use clear wording and short steps I can follow without overthinking. I want to actually do this, not just understand it.”
You can’t control every task, meeting, or moment.
But you can decide how you show up in each one.
The way you think shapes the way you lead, work, and solve.
One shift in thinking can make your day feel completely different.
And the more you do it, the more it becomes how you live.
The smartest people aren’t faster—they just use more of what they already have.
Until next time and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
“The 5 Elements of Effective Thinking” by Edward B. Burger & Michael Starbird (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch:
“5 tips to improve your critical thinking" by Samantha Agoos (see it here)
Want to learn to create your own digital products you can sell over and over?
Today’s PDF
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