Why Better Today Than Yesterday

Hey {{first_name|friend}},

First thing: the name changed. This used to be Before You Sign Weekly. It's Better Today Than Yesterday now.

The old one was about car buying. That was fine, but it was too narrow. Most of what's actually in my head during the week isn't car deals — it's faith, my weight, the businesses, what I'm reading, and the AI I'm testing. So I changed the newsletter to match what I actually do all week.

It started with 14 subscribers. I thought about stopping. I didn't, because 14 people is still 14 people, and I'd rather keep writing and work it out than quit over a small number.

The format is simple: once a week I'll tell you what I'm doing, what's working, and what isn't. Take what's useful, skip the rest.

Thanks for reading the first one.

This week I read Ezekiel 37 — the valley of dry bones. God asks if the bones can live, tells Ezekiel to speak to them, and they come together and start breathing.

What stuck with me: the stuff that looks completely dead isn't always done. I needed to hear that this week.

(That one came from this week's Trafalgar Community Church newsletter. Their theme was 'God lives in the impossible.')

This Sunday Braden Corliss is preaching on John 15:5-8 — fruit from the true vine. I'll have notes next week.

Last thing. I'm praying for Jordan Peterson. He's one of my favorite authors, and from what I've read he's dealing with a serious neurological injury and a lot of pain. If you pray, say one for him and his family.

What I'm doing right now:

No supplements, no special program. I do it on the days I feel like it and the days I don't.

Weight this morning: 189.9. I started at 427, so being under 190 is a good marker. Still going.

I've been watching Wise Disciple on YouTube. It's apologetics — how to actually defend what you believe without sounding like a jerk about it.

Why it mattered to me: I usually know what I believe but fumble it the second someone pushes back. He's good at staying calm and answering the question instead of getting defensive.

Both businesses were slow this week. Roly Poly and Bob Poynter were both down. Not a crisis, just slower than I want, and I'm still working out why.

One bright spot, though, and it taught me something.

A guest came into Roly Poly who's going through chemo. He told us the treatment has made his appetite and taste unpredictable — but he could actually taste and enjoy his wrap. He went and found our website just to say thank you, and he called out Danielle by name: she got his order exactly right, was kind, and made him feel welcome. That's the job, done right.

The teaching part: he wasn't in our Rewards program, so we have no easy way to stay in touch with him. And that same day we didn't have a single app or kiosk order. What actually grows this place isn't a louder sale — it's people feeling known and coming back. Names, Rewards sign-ups, showing folks how to use the app. That's what I'm pushing the team on this week.

Two things I'm watching.

Fable 5. I got to use it before the government restriction pulled it, and it was the best AI I'd used. I'm waiting to get access again. Anthropic put out a statement on Fable / Mythos access.

The next OpenAI model. I'm watching the road toward GPT-5.6 to see if it's a real step up or just a bigger number. I don't know yet. Axios has a piece on where the rollout stands.

I'll write more once I've actually used these instead of just reading about them.

One thing I keep noticing: the name change, the slow businesses, the small list — none of it went the way I planned, and I'm still here working on all of it. I don't have it wrapped up in a tidy lesson. I've just noticed I'm less rattled by slow than I used to be. Still working out why.

One question I actually want answered: what's one thing you're trying to get better at right now? Spirit, body, mind, work — whatever it is. Reply and tell me. I read every one.

Keep getting better today than yesterday.

Tony Case