Only one plan...

An Intelligent Flow - An AI Newsletter

Author

IAN FORD
May 15, 2026

Read time: 3 minutes

“Only one plan, that's to rise to the top.” - Lil Kim & Lil Ceasar “Crush On You (Remix)’ — I took this line from a classic… from my high school years. This song was and still is a banger. Back then, I didn’t know what they were talking about. And now it seems so inappropriate for a teenager to be listening to this stuff. But that’s not the point. The plan is simple… keep rising… to the top.

Welcome, AI Enthusiasts…

So yeah, I’m switching up the newsletter format a bit. Instead of dropping 3 random tools with quick blurbs, I’m locking in on one tool I’m REALLY using every day and breaking down how I actually use it. This is for techies and non-techies—just real-life AI productivity, no fluff. I’ll show examples that feel real, not theoretical.

ONE TOOL, HUMANIZED & APPLIED

So I stumbled onto Apollo.io a few months ago, and honestly? This tool is dangerous—in the best way. It’s been one of my lowkey secret weapons, and I’ve almost been hesitant to talk about it publicly. But whatever… no gatekeeping over here. Apollo calls itself an AI sales platform built for smarter, faster revenue growth. In plain English? It helps you find people, reach out faster, and stop wasting time shooting in the dark.

Officially, Apollo.io is packed with AI-powered sales tools—email writing, lead sourcing, prospect research, call summaries, all that. It uses AI from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google Gemini to help businesses connect with people more effectively. Cool. Respect.

But let me tell you why I use it.

The Apollo Chrome extension is elite. You pull up somebody’s LinkedIn profile, hit the extension, and boom—it often reveals business emails and phone numbers tied to that profile. YES. Real contact info. Suddenly LinkedIn stops feeling like a digital yearbook and starts feeling like access.

Apparently it only works on Chrome and Edge, but that’s all I need. This tool has helped me directly connect with people at major brands, companies, and organizations I probably wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Now look, the CEO of The Coca-Cola Company probably isn’t replying to everybody. But I will say I’ve personally seen around a 15–20% response rate from cold outreach using Apollo data. That’s real motion.

If you run a brand, agency, startup, event series, or anything that depends on relationships and partnerships, this tool is a cheat code. And the wild part? The contact feature is free. FREE.

And honestly, I know I’m barely scratching the surface of what Apollo can do. I’m using it like a crowbar, while other people are probably building empires with it. If you use Apollo in deeper ways, definitely put me up on game.

BUILT BY US: MELA AI

Created by Lily A and Lily T, Mela AI is a growing AI ecosystem focused on personal growth, connection, and productivity. Its flagship platform helps users improve wellness, finances, and relationships through AI-powered coaching while matching people with compatible communities and opportunities. By blending AI with community-building and practical everyday tools, the founders are building technology centered on human connection, accessibility, and real-world impact. I’ve met both of these young ladies, and they are dynamic and dope.

AI-GENERATED FUN

Who’s the best dancer in this picture?…

Artist: J Slay Art

Help me keep this newsletter as dope as possible. Take a minute to hit this survey and let me know what’s working and what needs a remix… reader survey.

Written by Ian Ford & Christine White.

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