From Fear of AI to $30K on a Beach: My Unexpected Journey into Authority Through Content

I was sitting on a porch in Hawaii when the CEO of WalletConnect asked me for a quote.

Not for advice. For code. I’d built a small Flutter library for Koala Wallet, and it had caught their eye.

That conversation? It turned into a $30K contract over six months—working just two hours a day.

But here's the twist: it wasn’t luck. It was content. The code was content. The library was content. And the conversation it created led to trust, which led to opportunity.

Before this, I’d walked away from AI entirely. I was scared. Scared it would replace me. But then I started using AI to help me share what I was building. And I realized: content doesn’t have to be polished or perfect—it just has to be you. That moment in Hawaii proved it.

The “Content Creates Conversations” Framework

Here’s how I now help others create life-changing content with AI (and how I’ve done it for myself):

1. “Live a Life Worth Sharing” → Talk to your phone

   1. Your work and LIFE is content. Document it! Just talk into your phone in the car if you have to (That’s what I do!) =D

   2. A project, a phone call, a moment with your daughter—it’s all fuel.

   3. Create content from the greatness you ALREADY do!

2. Use AI to Ghostwrite Your Stories in YOUR Voice → Feed it your transcripts

   1. Take those voice notes from your car and hand them to AI.

   2. Make AI into your professional Ghostwriter by feeding it YOU.

   3. POST IT!!! Even if it’s not perfect!

3. Let That Content Spark Conversations → Send them DMs!!

   1. Stay OPEN (this one was HUGE for me… I thought I was above this for a time. I am not. No one is.)

   2. If someone LIKES your content, send them a message.

   3. If someone replies to your content, send them a DM. =D

From $1,500 Grinds to $30K Clients

Now I’m landing high-trust clients, walking away from red flags, and using AI to scale my voice across podcasts, posts, and even BOOKS! WOO!

Want to write a book or turn your expertise into game-changing content?

Get started in 15 minutes with my free guide on How to Get AI to Sound Like You

Your AI Coach,
Sterling Long

P.S. This post was written (in 10 minutes) from a transcript and a prompt called “The Epiphany Bridge” prompt that I’ve provided in the resource above. If you’re on the edge, imagine what life would be like if AI helped you tell your stories, in your voice, and shared your expertise!