Life is the New Luxury

Happy 2026 my friends.

I’ve read many “2026 predictions” articles in the past month.

Some I have really enjoyed. Others…not as much.

I’m not interested in concocting my own.

I created this newsletter last year because - as I began to use more ai tools and watch the world become infatuated and/or infuriated by them - it became incredibly obvious to me that our distinct and unique human traits would become more valuable than ever before.

In tech, the buzzword last year became “taste.”

This year, it’s shaping up to be “craft.”

Startups are hiring 200k salaried “storytellers” and every company now seems to be a media company. Except media companies.

Meanwhile, the brand/marketing/comms types cynically clap back at VC’s for just now appreciating the value of stories, narratives, and authenticity.

Simply put: there’s never been a cooler or better time to BE YOURSELF. Or even: BE YOUR BEST SELF.

That’s why people are obsessed with taste and craft…they come from a rare combo of authenticity and reps that has to be earned. No shortcuts.

For the past decade +, people have sacrificed themselves for attention and accolades. They’ve gone for quick hits, vanity metrics, and max optimization. Now, the algo’s and models can play that game faster and better than anyone can. Especially online.

AI is perfecting the art of being anything and anyone else, but it will never be YOU.

Only you can write and tell your story.

That’s why I try to stay in my lane.

To focus on what I know and love (sports, entertainment, and hospitality) rather than what’s trendy or what I think others will like.

I’m drawn to these areas because they have an inherent and irreplaceable analog component to them.

Nobody will ever watch a fully simulated Super Bowl.

An AI musician won’t sell out out the Hollywood Bowl.

VR Goggles can’t replace Vail’s Back Bowl.

To that end, Business Insider says “Offline is the new luxury.” 

Ill take it a step further: Life is the new luxury.

We live in a time where more and more daily mundane personal and professional tasks will be automated - which gives us no excuse but to go deep on what makes us tick, what makes us human, what makes us alive, and then create and give back on that behalf.

My ongoing goal with RP WEEKLY is to document and highlight those across the world who embody this ethos in the areas that I love.

If you know someone, don’t hesitate to reach out.

For now, I’m off to my honeymoon after spending the holidays with family and friends.

I’ll have a full report on the people defining Human-Proof Hospitality from our destination next week.

For now, enjoy the first 10 piece extra crispy of the new year:

RP WEEKLY!!!!