playing favorites

A newsletter about creating work and telling stories to resonate deeper

I’m Jay, and I believe in resonance over reach, so I teach experts, execs, and entrepreneurs to stand out through stronger ideas and storytelling. My mission is to help people make what matters to their careers, companies, and communities — because when you matter more, you can hustle for attention less.

Ideas for crafting original, memorable content

-Consistently-

You’ll walk away feeling inspired and empowered to create work that could only come from you — so you can compete on the impact of your ideas, not the volume of your content.

Join thousands of entrepreneurs + creators, plus marketers from brands like these:

What Subscribers Say:

“You are such a good writer you make me sick.”

— Mark Schaefer, 9x author + brand consultant to Adidas, Microsoft, Pfizer, & more

“I’ve been journeying with YOU since 2015. Never unsubscribed. Feel like YOU’RE my coach in creating what I love.”

— Sherene Strahan, content marketing freelancer

“Wow, YES! This resonates so deeply. Direct hit.”

— Stew Fortier, entrepreneur, writer, cofounder of TypeAI

 “You ever see/hear/experience something that changes the way you look at the world forever? When I first heard Jay Acunzo say “Marketing is no longer about who arrives. It’s about who stays,” it was like a piece of my brain that I couldn’t access before was unlocked.

His newsletter is a MUST for people who view their jobs as something more than simply “selling stuff” or “filling the funnel.” That’s a byproduct of what they really do: serve their audiences.”

- Adam, subscriber since 2019

“You don’t know me, but I feel like we’re old friends. This is proving absolutely invaluable. Here are something I’ve thought over the last few days: Oh my God, Yes! Why hasn’t anyone done this before? Why am I just finding out about this now? This is amazing! This is EXACTLY what I need. Can I be in love with content?!”

- Matt, subscriber since 2020

“Thank you for this newsletter!!! What I enjoy about you and your work is you are real. You speak honestly and are not out for the numbers but want to connect and create. I feel your passion in your words. Following you on social media and reading your newsletters each week keeps me grounded and from bonking my head into the wall.”

- Hadley, subscriber since 2018

“I read your latest Playing Favorites. It's been a long while since anything moved me the way your words did. And if that isn't art, I don't know what is.”

— Akshaya, subscriber since 2021