The Fundamentals Matter More with Michelle Warner
In this episode, we dig into the realities of running a relationship-led business in a market that’s no longer in beginner mode. Michelle Warner joins us to talk about what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in a world where quick wins and easy opportunities are drying up, and why now more than ever, the boring stuff—fundamentals, relationships, offers that fit—really matters.
We cover how to adapt to a maturing market, where the “growth hacks” of the past aren’t working like they used to. Michelle shares why most client issues aren’t massive strategy problems but small, foundational misalignments—and why fixing them starts with a return to the basics.
This is an episode for anyone feeling like what used to work just… doesn’t anymore. And for those ready to stop chasing the next big trick and return to the very unsexy, very effective roots of sustainable business.
* Why the market isn’t broken—it’s just finally maturing (and your tactics need to, too)
* The real reason your sales aren’t working (hint: it’s not because you’re not posting enough)
* The problem with marketing arbitrage plays (Substack, LinkedIn newsletters, bundles—you name it)
* Why your offer math might be the real problem behind your revenue plateau
* How AI is making everyone sound the same—and how to stand out by being specific
* Why the boring fundamentals are the most effective thing you can do right now
* What to do instead of panic-posting when leads slow down
“That's the key to relationships. The specificity and the “because statements” allow you to also build sticky relationships. So a lot of times when we're networking a, we don't know why we're networking with people, so we end up just meeting people and then trying to force square pegs into round holes, and b. so then you get stuck in these small talk traps.” - Michelle Warner
About our Guest
Sequence over Strategy podcast
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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations
In a world focused on more: more content, more followers, more marketing, more scale, more noise… we’re facing less trust, less contact, less reach. We’re drowning in AI-generated slop, being pitch-slapped by “personalized” email funnels that couldn’t be farther from authentic, and struggling to be seen by a pay-to-play algorithm. It’s never been easier to create and connect more cheaply and at more scale, with less trust and more skepticism.But for experts and service-based businesses? We’re seeing the pendulum swing back. The answer isn’t to play by these trends. It’s to be **aggressively human.**
aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
- No. of episodes: 42
- Latest episode: 2025-09-11
- Business Technology
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