When Everything Sounds the Same: Transforming 'Made to Stick' for an AI World
Why mastering old frameworks isn't enough when AI knows all the rules
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Open any LinkedIn feed right now. Notice something? Every post hits all the right notes. Polished. Engaging. Following all the "best practices." And yet, they feel… empty. Like perfectly tuned background music fading into white noise.
This isn’t random. As AI gets better at generating "engaging" content, the very techniques we’ve relied on to make ideas memorable have become part of the noise. Look closely at those posts. They’re simple. Unexpected. Concrete. Credible. Emotional. They tell stories. And yet… they all feel the same.
I’ve spent months studying this pattern, analyzing how traditional frameworks perform in a world where AI can generate "sticky" content in seconds. Here’s what I’ve found: while AI excels at replicating known patterns, it’s creating an unprecedented opportunity for human expertise to shine in ways that AI cannot replicate.
The Evolution of Sticky
Dan and Chip Heath’s SUCCESs framework transformed business communication. Their principles—Simple, Unexpected, Concrete, Credible, Emotional, Stories—gave us a powerful system for making ideas memorable. That wisdom still matters.
But scroll through today’s social feeds. You’ll see these principles applied perfectly… and yet something’s missing. The challenge isn’t just to make ideas stick—it’s to make them irreplaceable.
Think of it like jazz. The principles of melody and rhythm are constant, but standout artists don’t just follow them. They transform them into something uniquely their own.
Here’s how we evolve the SUCCESs framework for an AI-driven world:
Signature over Simple makes your ideas impossible to copy, even as competitors try to replicate your work.
Undeniable over Unexpected creates lasting impact when surprise tactics grow stale.
Contextual over Concrete ensures your ideas resonate where others rely on generic examples.
Craftsman over Credible showcases mastery when traditional credentials lose meaning.
Experiential over Emotional builds deep connections in a world saturated with surface-level engagement.
Symphonic over Stories weaves ideas that grow stronger over time while others fade into noise.
Each evolved principle can stand alone or work together in harmony. Use them to build something truly irreplaceable.
S: From Simple to Signature
Look at any industry blog. You’ll find plenty of "simplified" explanations: three-step processes, five-point frameworks, and basic breakdowns. While these serve a purpose, they’re also becoming background noise—content AI can churn out in seconds.
The Expertise Extraction Matrix helps you capture complexity in a way that creates clarity without losing depth:
Map the deep patterns in your methodology.
Identify unique combinations of insights.
Create teaching layers that preserve nuance while building understanding.
Why This Matters: When everyone else is oversimplifying, your ability to preserve and communicate complexity becomes a competitive advantage.
U: From Unexpected to Undeniable
Trending posts often rely on "surprising statistics" or "counterintuitive insights." They grab attention for a moment… and then vanish. Instead, what’s emerging is the power of recognition—those moments when expertise crystallizes into undeniable clarity.
The Truth Cascade Method helps you:
Build insights that feel inevitable once revealed.
Structure knowledge to create genuine “aha” moments.
Document perspective shifts that only experience can provide.
Why This Matters: In a world of manufactured surprises, authentic revelation becomes unforgettable.
C: From Concrete to Contextual
AI handles examples and case studies with technical precision, yet they often feel hollow. The missing element? Context—understanding not just what works but why and when it works.
The Depth Demonstration System helps experts:
Document contextual decision-making.
Illustrate how principles adapt to different scenarios.
Transform experience into teachable insights.
Why This Matters: While AI can generate examples, only human expertise can navigate the nuanced realities where those examples live.
C: From Credible to Craftsman
Every expert profile seems to lean on the same signals: degrees, certifications, years of experience. But in an AI world, traditional markers are losing their impact. What matters now is documented methodology—your unique way of working.
The Mastery Map Framework guides you in:
Capturing your unique decision-making process.
Making implicit knowledge explicit.
Building systematic approaches to complex challenges.
Why This Matters: As AI democratizes information, your unique methodology becomes your strongest credential.
E: From Emotional to Experiential
Surface-level emotional appeals are everywhere—from inspirational quotes to feel-good stories. They’re engaging for a moment, but they rarely create lasting impact. What’s missing is the opportunity for the audience to experience those emotions firsthand.
The Immersion Insight Method helps you:
Design experiences that let your audience live the idea instead of just hearing about it.
Build interactive moments or sensory touchpoints that deepen understanding.
Create narratives that move beyond storytelling to active participation.
Why This Matters: When your audience can truly feel the impact of your idea through action or reflection, the connection becomes transformative rather than transactional.
S: From Stories to Symphony
Stories have been the foundation of effective communication for centuries, but in a world of constant storytelling, they can become repetitive. What’s needed is the ability to connect individual ideas into a larger, cohesive narrative that grows stronger over time.
The Narrative Harmony Framework helps you:
Link your ideas to broader trends and patterns in your field.
Show how your concepts evolve and interconnect over time.
Build layers of meaning that resonate on multiple levels.
Why This Matters: A symphonic approach ensures your ideas don’t just stand out in the moment—they become enduring parts of a larger conversation, shaping the future of your industry.
Implementation System
Here’s how to start applying these evolved principles:
Audit your current content and methodology.
Identify areas where AI could replicate your approach.
Apply these new principles to those areas first.
Document your actual decision-making process.
Test with your audience and refine.
Watch for these common patterns:
Resistance to documenting complex thinking.
Over-reliance on traditional frameworks.
Hesitation to share deeper expertise.
Make Your Ideas Irreplaceable: A Simple Framework Prompt
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