G’day G’day mates,

Last week, I hosted a panel with 4 Australian-based entrepreneurs:

They were interested in going scaling their business across ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific.

I'm also pretty lucky to call them some of my closest friends.

While I asked about technology and trends, there’s only one thing they said was important to scaling a business in Southeast Asia:

Everything relies on relationships.

No one mentioned anything about AI. No one.

All the challenges they had with scaling their business across ASEAN was being able to manage relationships with investors, partners, collaborators, customers, and employees.

It was an interesting revelation.

But not surprising.

Too many entrepreneurs are so fixed on AI.

But while AI can free us from the burden of administration and operations, it can’t get rid of the human need of connection, identity, and belonging.

The #1 skill to building relationships is communication.

In particular:

• Writing.
• Persuasion.
• Public speaking.
• Cultural norms and standards.

AI can’t understand context.

That’s why I’m shifting my business to focus more and more on relationships and doubling down on acquiring communication skills that ChatGPT can’t do.

Let me be clear: I'm not Anti-AI.

AI is great. I use it everyday.

After the session, I took some time to reflect.

If you zoom out, every business problem is really a people problem.

And every people problem is really a communication problem.

That’s why the entrepreneurs who win in ASEAN aren’t the ones with the best pitch decks, tech stacks, or even capital.

They’re the ones who can sit across from someone in Jakarta, Manila, or Hanoi, and earn trust.

Because business happens at the speed of trust.

And trust compounds faster than capital.

So here’s my challenge to you:

Don’t just learn another AI tool this week.

Do this instead:

1. Write something that moves someone.
2. Have a conversation that deepens trust.
3. Practice telling your story until it lands.

The future will belong to those who can combine technology with timeless human connection.

Let’s Launch Together,

Michael ‘relationships beat robots’ Lim

***

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