Building Authentic Brands in the Age of AI

I'm Michael, and I help founders figure out how to not get completely f*cked by technology while actually building something real. While everyone's talking about AI this, personal branding that - most of the time it's just a bunch of BS.

My Philosophy

Between 2008-2018, I tried shitload of things: startups that didn't work out, VC-funded ventures, contracting, freelancing, bootsrapped my own SaaS' (that's plural), attempted dropshipping, print-on-demand, and more.

10+ years of learning "experience". I failed A LOT. But what I learned, I kind of knew all along:

I was looking for "Magic Pill" or a lazy way to make money. Passively.

Does "passive income" exist? Yes. Well... kinda. Not exactly "passive" - but it's possible.

It takes significant effort and knowledge to build something real that will generate income without you being there at all times.

I've learned that the only way to make money is to create value. To build something people would pay money for. Particularly businesses and business owners.

This brings me to my next point:

Technology should amplify human intelligence, not replace it.

That's it. That's the whole thing. But somehow we've got this backwards. Everyone's racing to let AI do their thinking for them. Those clowns are NGMI.

Today I provide consulting services, do contracting and run Povidom agency. We do video production and marketing for SaaS clients. Nothing fancy, just solid work that actually moves the needle. And I'm building my founder brand around this core principle: use the tools, don't become the tool.

In my Articles I experiment with blending AI and personal knowledge. Some of them are good, some of them are bad. But I'm learning and sharing what I learn. This entire website is an experiment. For example, I share my actual process in How I use AI to Write Content Like a Pro - no fluff, just what actually works.

I am not "AI Influencer" nor a "AI Guru". I am a founder who uses AI to build my business and share what I learn.

What I Stand For

Here's where I'm gonna piss some people off: I believe in personal autonomy over dependency. While half the internet's getting moist to fantasies about UBI and government solutions, I'm focused on helping individuals build their own wealth-generating systems. Through technology, personal brands, digital assets, IP ownership, solid reputation, and more.

Wealth-Generating Systems: Think of these as income streams that don't require you to trade time for money. Yes they take a lot of effort to build (and some effort to maintain and upkeep) - but those allow ultimate scaling. Digital products, content that sells while you sleep, businesses that run without your constant babysitting it... that's the goal. But it wont be that perfect.

Technology isn't just about convenience. Technology decouples your income from your time. And if you're not thinking about this right now, you're gonna have a bad time as AI and robotics dominate ALL industries. I shit you not, in 5 years, it's going to be too late.

The shift we're seeing today? It's not just technological - it's philosophical. How things are done is changing. We're deciding whether humans become more capable or more dependent. I know which side I'm on.

Authentic AI Usage: I use AI tools daily (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini) to leverage what I already do well. AI also helps me close gaps where I don't have the time or knowledge to do it myself.

But here's the thing: I refuse to let them do my thinking. As I've written about extensively in AI is Making You Dumber, AI should be your extension, not your brain replacement.

The moment you stop thinking critically - that's the moment you become expendable. And companies are figuring this out fast. They don't need employees who just prompt ChatGPT all day.

Founder's Brand Over Corporate Facade: People buy from people they trust, not from corporate politically correct pony shows. Your story as a founder - your failures, your insights, your weird perspective on things - that's your advantage. But it's NOT A TACTIC, it's your business idenity. You're not pretending or LARPing - you're being.

It has to be real. No more of this sanitized, focus-grouped bullshit. Consumers are tired of being fooled by corporate crap. I dive deep into this in The Untapped Power of the Founder's Brand.

Systematic Relationship Building: Through my Circle of Trust framework, I help businesses move beyond algorithm-dependent growth. Because let's be honest—depending on algorithms is like building your house on quicksand.

Real relationships convert into sustainable revenue. Shocking concept, right?

Circle of Trust is a framework I am building and expanding myself as I finetune it in my own business. It's a framework for building genuine relationships with your customers and clients. It's a framework for building a business that is not dependent on algorithms or external forces - yet utilizing multiple sources of attention. (more on attention later in my articles)

Digital Capitalism with Conscience: I believe in personal responsibility, building real value, creating systems that generate wealth. Everyone should own digital assets, build distribution channels, create businesses that work without them.

But—and this is important—do it with some fucking integrity. The internet's already full of enough scammers and get-rich-quick charlatans.

The intersection of personal autonomy and technological leverage is where the real opportunities lie. Most people are either tech-phobic or tech-dependent. Both positions are stupid.

Why This Matters Now

We're at a crossroads.

AI can either make us more capable or completely dependent. Social media can either build real relationships or trap us in vanity metrics .. OR WORSE... turn us into a dopamine addict of digital slop.

Technology can either create freedom or new forms of digital slavery.

I choose the path that preserves human agency while leveraging technological power. Call it contrarian, call it "old fashioned" ...I don't care.

It's the only sustainable approach.

Here's what I see happening: people are completely rejecting AI (dumb) OR completely surrendering to it (dumber).

Both extremes miss the point. The smart play is selective integration: use the tools that amplify your capabilities, ignore the ones that replace your thinking.

If you're a founder who wants to build an authentic brand, use AI without becoming brain-dead, and create sustainable wealth through technology... you'll find my content useful.

Everyone else can keep playing the optimization game while their businesses turn into commodity operations.

Beyond Business

When I'm not helping founders build their brands or analyzing the latest AI developments, I'm reading philosophy, esotrics, history, classic literature. Interesting ideas comes from interesting sources.

There is a lot of slop out there. Most of it is just noise.

I believe your business is a reflection of your inner self. The stronger and more autonomous you become as an individual, the more valuable your business becomes to the world. It's not some new-age BS ... it's basic cause and effect.