Hey 👋
This newsletter is for independent creators, expression-minded solopreneurs, and makers who want to build meaningful work without losing heart in the process.
This week was just about working. I spent most of time building a client project, but the real shift happened when I set up Claude Code and started working through the terminal. That, combined with some insane news from the tech world, made me rethink a lot of things. Let me break it down.
🧠 Reflection of the week
Jack Dorsey just fired half his company. And the stock went up.
So this happened on Thursday. Jack Dorsey, the guy who founded Twitter, runs another company called Block. They had around 9,000 employees.
He announced they're letting go of 4,000 people. Almost half. In one move.
The reason? AI and internal tooling made that many roles unnecessary.
And here's the news - the stock price jumped about 20% after the announcement. The market literally celebrated it.
I'm not sharing this to be dramatic.
I'm sharing this because it's a signal.
A loud one.
If a company worth billions can cut half its workforce because AI handles what those people used to do, what does that mean for solopreneurs, freelancers, and small business owners?
What I took from this: This isn't coming. It's here. The question is not "will AI affect my work?", it is "am I building with it or getting replaced by it?"
💡 Inspiration of the week
Claude Code, and working with AI through the terminal.
I've been using Claude (the AI you're probably reading about everywhere) in the browser for months, more than 1,5 year.
But this week I set up Claude Code, which basically means I'm running Claude directly from my terminal, like a developer would.
Why does that matter?
Because now Claude has access to my actual files. My folders. My projects. I can give it context about what I'm working on, and it can help me build, edit, write, and automate things in real time.
How I'm using it:
- Connected to Telegram - I can chat with Claude Code through Telegram while my laptop is running. It has access to my files and tools. That's wild.
- Connected to Webflow - it can interact with my website projects, create new pages, edit content.
- Connected to Notion - it can access my docs and databases. Notion is my "head quoter" for working with AI.
And the craziest part? You can connect it to almost anything through something called MCP (Model Context Protocol). Social media, ad platforms, design tools, the list keeps growing.
Why this matters for you: If you're a freelancer or solopreneur, this is the moment to learn how to work WITH AI agents, not just chat with them. The difference between asking ChatGPT a question and having an AI agent that lives in your workflow and has access to your tools.
It's crazy for me. Exciting and still cannot believe of possibilities that are going with these tools.
🔧 Tool of the week
Claude Code + Gemini CLI - your AI co-pilot in the terminal.
Here's the practical breakdown, if you want to set this up yourself.
Claude Code:
- You need a Claude Pro or Max subscription ($20 or $100/month)
- Install it via terminal - full setup guide: Claude Code Docs
- Once installed, you give it access to a folder on your computer, and it can read, write, and edit files
- Connect external tools via MCP servers (Webflow, Notion, Google Drive, social media, and more)
Gemini CLI:
- If you have a Google/Gemini subscription, you can also run Gemini from the terminal
- Install guide: Gemini CLI
- Similar concept, AI that works with your local files
What makes this powerful:
- It's not just chat anymore. These are agents that can DO things
- Claude Code can browse the internet, edit your code, manage files
- You can build automations, generate content, create landing pages, all from one place
- I bought the $100/month Claude Max plan specifically for this. For me, it's the best investment I'm making right now.
I'll be sharing more about how I use this in the coming weeks as I go deeper. This is just the beginning.
📈 Business development
Alright, I need to be honest here.
The solopreneur era is not a trend. It's becoming the default.
Between Jack Dorsey firing 4,000 people and me sitting in Ho Chi Minh City running my business from a terminal, I keep seeing the same pattern everywhere:
One person. A laptop. AI tools.
And the ability to do what used to require a team.
I'm not saying teams are dead.
But I am saying that the barrier between "freelancer struggling alone" and "solopreneur running a real operation" is getting thinner every week.
This week I had a conversation with a coach who proposed we build a program together.
Combining his mental performance work with my marketing and AI knowledge. And while I'm still figuring out the details, the conversation opened something up for me:
I want to teach this. Not just do client work.
I want to help other solopreneurs set up their AI stack, build their offer, and stop doing everything manually.
I've been through the chaos. I know what it feels like. And now I'm finding tools that actually make it manageable.
Where I am: Building, testing, learning every day. Finishing a client project. Setting up my AI infrastructure.
Where I want to be: Running workshops and programs for solopreneurs who want to use AI to build freedom.
Next step: Launching my first small group workshop in the next few weeks.
Are you using any AI tools in your daily work?
Hit reply I want to know what your stack looks like.
🎧 DJ Journey 🌏
No gig this week - i've been grinding on work mode.
It's very nerdy time for me.
But I want to share a set that's been on repeat last days.
Check out Aware, their sound is absolutely beautiful.
Deep, melodic, hypnotic.
[🎵 Aware on YouTube]
That's it for this week.
The world is moving fast.
Make sure you're moving with it.
P.S. If you'll set up Claude Code or Gemini CLI this week, send me a screenshot! I'd love to see it ;]
💬 Any thoughts or reflections? Text me back!
Thanks for being here.
Have a good week and see yaa next Sunday ✌️
Bart
