Welcome to Issue Zero.

This is built in public, not polished — and that is the point.

I think there is something honest about starting that way.

No brass band.

No grand claims.

Just a man with a long work history, a few hard-earned convictions, and a desire to help good people make sense of a new tool before the noise gets too loud.

I have seen this kind of moment before.

Back in 1977, while I was still in the Army, I bought a TRS-80 Model I.

Now, that machine may not mean much to some folks today.

But at the time, it was one of those moments when the future had arrived and most people in the room were still trying to decide what to make of it.

I decided to learn it.

That decision led to a paid side job helping set up software for the base NCO Club.

I was not the smartest fellow in the building.

I was simply willing to get my hands on the new tool while other people were standing back with their arms folded.

And that changed things for me.

That is one reason I am here now.

I believe AI is that kind of moment again.

Not magic.

Not a money button.

And not some wild promise that your life will change because you typed a sentence into a machine.

What I do believe is this:

AI is a learnable tool.

If you learn to use it well, it can help you think more clearly, move faster, organize your work, write more confidently, and begin building useful systems that once felt out of reach.

That is the spirit of this newsletter.

Each issue will be a practical lesson.

What is working.

What is not.

What needed more patience than expected.

And how to pursue a real additional-income goal without falling for hype, pressure, or foolish promises.

But before tools, tactics, and workflows, I want to start in a simpler place.

With one question.

What’s your number?

What amount of additional monthly income would actually help you sleep a little better?

What would it cover?

What pressure would it take off your shoulders?

What choice would it give you back?

That is why I built the Additional Income Vision Builder.

It walks you through a few easy questions, helps you picture the life you are working toward, and gives you a practical first win with AI in about ten minutes.

If you do not already have a free ChatGPT account, we will help you get set up.

No charge.

No nonsense.

Just a clear first step.

If you are ready, start here:

What’s your number? Start the Additional Income Vision Builder.

That is enough for Issue Zero.

We do not need to do everything today.

We just need to begin in the right place.

Each one teach one.

And now you know the rest of the story.

— Don Shults