Cubit's Blog

As a long-time soccer fan, I got a big kick (ha!) out of cheering on the US women’s soccer team to gold in the Olympics earlier this month. Surprisingly, rugby was my favorite Olympic event to watch, partly because I didn’t know any of the rules or strategy. Watching rugby reminded me of how fun it is to be a beginner – something I don’t do enough as an adult.

Rugby and Beginner’s Mind

In Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, Shunryu Suzuki says:

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s mind there are few.”

He emphasizes the importance of maintaining an open and receptive mindset, even as one gains expertise.

🙋‍♀️ This is me! Having run a small business for the past 15 years, I tend to dismiss ideas too quickly, especially if I tried them in the past and they didn’t work then.

When I’m working through a problem and want to access my beginner’s mind, I’ve been using ChatGPT. Here’s a real prompt from this past month.

Prompt Example with ChatGPT

Prompt:

I’m a small business owner, and one of my websites has had a 28% decline in users since March 2024.

Instruction: You are my SEO assistant, and your job is asking questions to help me figure out a prioritized list of things to check and changes to make to recover this traffic. What’s the first question you’d ask?

ChatGPT’s Response:

“Have you reviewed your website’s Google Search Console data to identify any significant changes in search impressions, clicks, or errors starting from March 2024?”

In less than a minute, I’ve gone from freaking out—“OMG! This website has had a 28% decline in traffic. I have to fix this NOW!”—to concretely defining the problem and digging into a tool with data that can diagnose the issue accurately.

Insights from Data Analysis

After examining the data, I found that the website’s impressions hadn’t changed, which means Google is still serving our website. So, we weren’t impacted by a recent Google algorithm update, which was my first assumption. Instead, it appears that the number of people clicking on my website is down, likely due to Google’s new AI summary display.

With this data-backed insight, I can return to a beginner’s mindset and brainstorm multiple solutions (some wild, some practical), ultimately finding a path to recover lost traffic.

Question for you: Do you have any problems in your business that you could approach with a beginner’s mind?

Quick Update from Cubit

TL;DR: Radius Reports will now be emailed to you only, rather than being both emailed and available for download on a webpage.

Why? We use Shopify to deliver radius reports, but Shopify has removed the functionality that allowed us to link to your custom radius reports on a webpage. My partner, Anthony, is working on an alternative method to link to your reports post-purchase. If you need help locating your radius reports, please reach out to Diana or me.

Thank you for reading, and here’s to tackling challenges with a fresh perspective!

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Introduction: Find the Richest Zip Codes in Your State!

Curious about the wealthiest neighborhoods near you? Cubit Planning’s IncomeByZipCode.com now provides updated lists of the wealthiest zip codes in each U.S. state, drawing on the latest Census data. This free, annually updated resource allows you to explore income trends across the nation and see how your area compares.

Our updated data is the perfect tool to stay informed about economic demographics in your state. Check out the wealthiest zip codes for your state below—there may be a few surprises!

Explore the Richest Zip Codes Across the U.S.

Whether you’re interested in learning more about wealth distribution in California, New York, Texas, or any other state, IncomeByZipCode.com has you covered. Here’s a quick look at the richest zip codes across all states:

Each state’s data is carefully updated to reflect the most current Census information available. Find out how your community ranks and explore how zip code income levels shape the economic landscape.

If you have any suggestions to make this resource even better, we’d love to hear from you! Simply reach out to us with your ideas.

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Self-Improvement Tip: Should You Have a Personal Board of Directors?

Taking a page from thought leader Shane Parrish’s Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results, which he stole from Jim Collins, let’s explore a unique concept: developing a “personal board of directors.” Just like a corporate board advises a business, a personal board of directors can provide you with mental models and behavioral guidance to help you navigate complex decisions.

These advisors don’t have to be alive or directly accessible; they can be historical figures, modern innovators, or thought leaders whose philosophies resonate with you. Building your personal board can be a powerful tool for growth. Here’s how:

1. Choose Inspiring Exemplars
Select people whose values, actions, and habits align with the person you aspire to be. For instance, do they show resilience, creativity, or wisdom? The goal is to choose people who “raise the bar” and challenge you to become a better version of yourself.

2. Emulate Their Mindsets and Actions
Practice adopting their approach to problem-solving by asking, “What would _____ do?” This step helps cultivate the attitudes and skills you admire in them.

Your board doesn’t have to be flawless in all areas. Instead, seek individuals who embody skills or dispositions that you want to nurture. For example, Jason Cohen, known for his thoughtful approach to business and startups, and Steven Dubner, celebrated for his curiosity and boldness in asking tough questions, could serve as inspirations.

Do you have a personal board of directors? Let us know who’s on your list; we’d love to hear and learn from your perspectives!

Explore New Lists Updated with the Latest Census Data

Are you curious about the wealthiest places in your state? We’ve got an exciting new free resource for you! At State-Demographics.com, we’ve compiled lists of the richest cities and counties in every state, using up-to-date data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Now, you can easily discover where wealth is concentrated in your state.

Richest Cities and Counties by State

Check out your state’s demographics using the links below:

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these lists—did any places surprise you? Let us know how we can make this resource even better by replying to this post.

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Confidently Choose Your Next Best Location with Our Site Selection Analysis

Planning to open a new branch or office? Our Site Selection Analysis is here to help you make data-driven decisions that will maximize profitability and minimize risk. For just $999, you’ll gain insights into the best locations based on demographic and market data, ensuring your new location is set up for success.

Learn more about how we can assist with your next move: Site Selection Analysis.

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Summer Reads We Recommend

Summer is the perfect time to dive into new ideas. Here are three books that we’ve been reading, and we think you’ll enjoy them too:

1. Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos
   This book offers a fascinating look at Jeff Bezos’ thought process and business philosophy. It’s a collection of his annual shareholder letters, featuring recurring themes like Day 1 mentality, customer-centricity, and bold decision-making. Fun fact: Bezos got his initial start-up capital – $100,000 at first, then more – from his parents.
2. Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by Cal Newport
   In this latest book, Newport explores how to get more done without the constant pressure of burnout. His previous book, Deep Work, transformed many readers’ work habits, but will his message of doing less resonate during the AI revolution?
3. A Brief History of Intelligence: Evolution, AI, and the Five Breakthroughs That Made Our Brains by Max Bennett
   If you’re fascinated by the intersection of neuroscience and AI, this book by entrepreneur Max Bennett is for you. It’s a great summer read, highly recommended by Grit author Angela Duckworth on her podcast, No Stupid Questions.

Got any summer reading suggestions? Drop them in the comments below—we’d love to hear your recommendations!

Welcome back! I’ve got some exciting updates to share with you today that can help boost your business decisions with data-driven insights. Here’s a quick rundown:

TL;DR Summary:

• Point of Interest Maps: Now available as an add-on for your radius reports for just $50.
• ZipTarget Analysis: Learn how I improved my Google Ad campaign by 900% by targeting the right zip codes. You can do it too.
• 2023 Population Data: The U.S. Census Bureau has released new population estimates for cities and counties. Get them now on our state demographic sites.

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Point of Interest Maps: A Data-Driven Decision

I’ve been diving into Invent and Wander: The Collected Writings of Jeff Bezos lately, and one quote really stuck with me:

“Many important decisions we make at Amazon.com can be made with data… math tells us which is which. These are our favorite kinds of decisions.”

I couldn’t agree more! Data-driven decisions make life so much easier for small business owners like me. And guess what? Offering Point of Interest (POI) maps to our reports was one such decision.

After sending out post-purchase emails asking, “What else do you need?” the overwhelming response was a request for POI maps. So, we’ve listened!

Now Available: Point of Interest Maps for $50

For just $50, you can now add Point of Interest Maps to your radius reports. Get a custom map of key locations sent directly to your inbox within one business day. Need more details? Just reply to this post, and I’ll be happy to help!

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ZipTarget Analysis: Boost Your Ad Performance Like I Did

Another powerful quote from Jeff Bezos speaks to the art of decision-making:

“Not all of our important decisions can be made in this enviable, math-based way. Sometimes… judgment is the prime ingredient.”

In the world of targeted marketing, I’ve had to rely on both data and judgment. Earlier this year, my Google PPC campaign took a major hit, losing $289 in just one month. That’s when I realized that relying on Google’s data wasn’t enough. I needed to look at my own sales data.

My Turnaround Story: From Loss to Profit

By analyzing zip codes from my Shopify sales data and matching it with detailed business demographics, I found the sweet spot for my ads. The result? A failing campaign turned into a $2,341 profit within just 30 days, all while cutting my ad spend by $200!

Now, I’m offering to help you achieve similar results with our new ZipTarget Analysis service. Learn more here, or feel free to reach out with any questions!

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2023 Population Data for Cities & Counties

The U.S. Census Bureau has just released the 2023 population estimates for most cities and counties. If you want to skip learning how to use the Census’ website, you can get the 2023 estimates for free on our state demographic sites as well as in your Demographics By Cities and Counties Reports and Custom Data Requests. The 2023 data for counties are currently live, and we’re working on adding the same data for cities. 

What’s Available Now?

• 2023 population data for counties is live on our site.
• Data for cities is being added as we speak.

If you’ve ordered a 2022 Demographics By Cities report, don’t worry—we’ll be sending you an updated version with the 2023 data soon.

When Will the Rest of the 2023 Data Be Released?

By December 2024, we’ll have the full 2023 detailed demographics for all geographic areas, including zip codes. Stay tuned!

ChatGPT was down a couple of days ago, and I thought “I should take the day off, because I can’t get ANY work done.” I remember thinking the same thing about the internet in the early 2000’s.

It’s scary how fast ChatGPT has gone from a fun app to a tool that I can’t work without, similar to the internet. But I’m not scared of ChatGPT, because it’s not true artificial intelligence. It’s a word prediction tool…like the predictive text feature on my iPhone…but WAY more powerful. 

As a daily Hacker News reader, I felt well read on AI and large language models (LLMs). But I didn’t grok how LLMs worked until I attended this year’s Texas Data Day. Here’s what I learned.

ELI5 (Explain Like I’m 5) Metaphor for LLMs:

Imagine you have a room filled with different kinds of toys: cars, dolls, balls, and blocks. Each type of toy can be sorted and grouped based on its features, like shape, color, or size. Think of your room as a big space where each area is reserved for a type of toy based on these features.

Turning Data into Vectors:

Because computers are good with numbers, we turn data, like toy characteristics, into numbers. For example, a car might be [1, 4, 7] based on its type, color, and size.

The Space (aka Your Room):

These numbers place toys in a “vector space,” where similar toys are closer. So, cars and trucks, both with wheels, might be near each other.

Training the LLM: 

Computer scientists teach the LLM by showing it MANY examples of rooms, toys and their features. Then the model recognizes patterns, like toys with wheels, are similar.

Why It’s Useful:

When done, LLMs can do cool things like understanding and grouping new toys it hasn’t seen before. For instance, it recognizes that cars and trucks are similar because of their wheels, aiding in tasks like organizing toys or suggesting new ones similar to those you like.

It’s probably not a surprise, but I used ChatGPT to write the above metaphor and produce the images.

So What About Hallucinations?

Hallucinations are when LLMs return words or images that don’t make sense. Zooming into the images above, you’ll see good examples – things that kind of look like toys but not really.

Hallucinations are no reason to not use LLMs. They just mean that a human needs to apply a common sense check of the output…just like you’d do with any other tool.

So let’s go back to ChatGPT as a tool that I can’t work without. I mean, I could, but I don’t want to. Because working with ChatGPT is fun. It’s fun when it hallucinates, and I can feel superior in my highly evolved human intellect. It’s fun when it gives me tone-deaf advice, and I can tell it to f*** off and no one’s feelings get hurt. It’s fun when it catches my grammatical errors and keeps me from feeling dumb. And it’s really fun when ChatGPT saves me hours of work, and I feel like a superhuman at the end of the day.  

If you haven’t incorporated ChatGPT, Gemini or other LLM into your daily workflow, here’s how to get started:

1. Open https://chat.openai.com/ in a new tab

2. Keep ChatGPT open whenever you work or play online.

• In addition to googling for answers, ask your question of ChatGPT. And let me know if you run into anything scary.

If you have adopted an LLM into your daily workflow, send me your favorite tasks to complete more efficiently. I’m putting together a list to share as this one is long enough as is.