170 Riders, 14K Layoffs, and One $15K Tractor: GSD Mode Activated

🚜 From AI to Tractors: Getting Sh*t Done, the Ritz Way

Every week feels like a full-blown marathon — juggling AI breakthroughs, Amazon launches, and running a physical business that’s growing faster than my coffee intake.

To give you some perspective: our riding school just passed recurrent 170+ riders.

Most equestrian schools average 40–100 riders, and even the biggest ones barely hit 300 after years in business. We’re not even a year old yet.

Here’s the takeaway — anything is possible when you’re focused.

Between Ritz Momentum, Amazon, and the ranch, it’s all about GSD — Get Sh*t Done (read my last newsletter?).

Our goal? A 7-figure business by our one-year mark (just 2.5 months away).

To keep things real — yesterday, I bought a tractor 🤣.

Not a Louis Vuitton. A tractor. And a side-by-side.

I’m still wrapping my head around it — but this is life when you’re the AI–Horse–Amazon–Product Research girl.

Oh, and a little win: I used AI to find a $25K tractor at $15K.

Efficiency is the name of the game. Whether you’re selling on Amazon or buying farm equipment, you can win in any business if you stay sharp, smart, and strategic.

Also, Happy Halloween. Click here!

💼 The Aftermath of Amazon’s 14,000 Layoffs

Two days ago, Amazon laid off 14,000 people across the U.S. — many of them brilliant, hardworking individuals who helped build the machine that keeps global commerce running. Jeffrey Cohen’s post about it really hit me. He reminded everyone that those who’ve been let go didn’t lose their value, drive, or expertise — they just got redirected.

Skills don’t vanish with a layoff.

The people who thrived in Amazon’s pressure cooker are some of the most resilient, resourceful, and action-driven professionals in the world. They know what bias for action means. They know how to dive deep, obsess over customers, and move mountains.

If you’re one of them reading this — your story isn’t over; it’s just shifting chapters. Many of the greatest success stories start with a detour that felt unfair at the time. Maybe that next chapter is your own business.

Maybe it’s building something that gives you control, freedom, and pride again.

And to everyone else still grinding — take this as a reminder: nothing is permanent. Build skills, build assets, and build something that’s yours. Because while corporations can close doors, entrepreneurship keeps them wide open.

🎯 Influencer SOP: How to Find, Qualify & Approach Like a Pro

A few people from my WhatsApp chat asked for this, so here’s the short and straight-to-the-point version.

When you’re looking for influencers, stop chasing follower counts — focus on views, watch time, and engagement quality.

Someone pulling consistent views (even on smaller accounts) beats a “big name” with fake engagement.

Check how long people actually watch their content and whether their comment section is active — even negative comments can be a good sign.

Hate drives reach; don’t take it personally, use it strategically.

Before reaching out, decide what you’ll pay — something like $20 per sale, evergreen (meaning they keep earning as long as the sales come in).

Track everything through your affiliate or attribution link so you can measure performance, not promises.

When you approach, don’t email. Comment under their posts, tag them in related content, and say something like:

That’s it. Short, real, and efficient. The influencer world is noisy — your offer needs to sound like business, not begging.

🛒 “Help Me Decide” — Amazon’s New Conversion Machine

One of my followers, Rania, spotted Amazon’s new “Help Me Decide” feature — and it’s a big deal.

It’s basically Amazon’s way of saying, “Let’s help shoppers stop scrolling and start buying.” 

This AI-driven assistant compares similar products side by side and highlights what truly matters — based on reviews, specs, and customer sentiment.

As an Amazon Prime Business account, I don’t even have access to it yet. But many of you should already see it live.

That tells me Amazon is testing it heavily on the consumer side before expanding.

Here’s the key insight: the algorithm is slowly shifting to rely 90% on customer behavior and only 10% on search. That’s not speculation — it’s based on how I’ve seen the algorithm perform across multiple categories.

So if your listing isn’t optimized for buyer psychology — meaning clear comparisons, strong reviews, and confidence-driven content — Amazon’s AI might literally help customers decide against you.

Hiring a High-Quality VA

Hiring a VA isn’t about offloading tasks.

It’s about protecting your focus. If you want real growth, you need people who think, not just follow instructions.

Here’s how I approach it.

Test initiative, comprehension, and follow-through. 

Most people only test skills. The best VAs see problems before you do and handle them without drama.

Run paid test jobs. This is your first filter.

You’re not paying for results; you’re paying for data on who’s worth keeping.

The right ones will ask smart questions, take ownership, and communicate clearly.

The rest just do the bare minimum.

Treat candidates like leads. You need a consistent lead flow of people applying so you never hire out of desperation.

Build your own hiring funnel — test, qualify, shortlist, hire slow, fire fast.

Pay for quality. A good VA costs $7–$12 an hour. The cheap ones will cost you more in time, mistakes, and frustration.

Be precise with expectations. Every role needs a metric tied to it — not “manage listings,” but “reduce listing errors by 100% within 30 days.”

Clarity attracts professionals. Vagueness attracts problems.

Systematize your training. Record Loom videos, document SOPs, and make every process repeatable.

That’s how you build consistency at scale.

And finally — don’t waste time on people who aren’t worth it.

You don’t owe your time to anyone.

You’re building a business, not running a charity.

🏛️ Government Shutdown: The Ripple Effect on Amazon Sellers

The ongoing government shutdown is doing more than just stalling politics — it’s quietly squeezing small businesses, including Amazon sellers.

With nearly a million federal employees furloughed and millions more facing delayed paychecks, consumer confidence is taking a hit.

Fewer steady paychecks mean fewer impulse buys — and that directly impacts marketplace sales volume.

Beyond that, SBA loans are currently not being processed, putting new and existing sellers in a bind when it comes to securing capital for inventory or expansion.

Add in delayed permits, stalled government contracts, and cautious consumer spending, and the result is clear: less money flowing into ecommerce.

This is the time to stay lean, strategic, and data-driven. Keep your marketing precise, your offers sharp, and your differentiation strong.

The shutdown will end — but the sellers who keep moving through uncertainty will own the demand that comes back.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Izabella