The Hustle Newsletter Formula

The surprisingly simple secret to attract 2M+ subscribers

Yesterday, I spent 3 hours reading every single Hustle article I could find.

Not because I'm obsessed with business newsletters (okay, maybe a little), but because ~ 49 of you asked us too.

And…

I wanted to prove a point.

Even the most distinctive writing styles can be decoded, templated, and yes – replicated by AI. The Hustle's newsletter generates multiple 8-figures in annual revenue with 2M+ subscribers. Companies have spent millions trying to replicate their success.

And now you can do it with a $20 Claude subscription and a really good prompt.

Let's dive in.

The Hustle Newsletter Formula

Every Hustle article follows a repeatable pattern.

They break down like this:

• Unexpected insightful headline

• Opening anecdote / hook

• Why it matters

• Stats, trends, quotes to build context

• Future implications

• Poignant close

Looks simple enough, right?

But here's what most people miss when they try to copy it. The formula isn't the magic. It's just the container.

The real power comes from their ability to spot stories hiding in plain sight. They don't just report news – they find the angle that makes you think "huh, I never saw it that way before."

In this 70-minute video, Hustle Founder Sam Parr walks through his process. The video is long, but it's worth the watch to get a peek into the mind of a viral thinker.

Why The Hustle Newsletter Prompt Works

Instead of just asking AI to "write like The Hustle," this prompt forces you to think like a Hustle writer first.

For example:

Let's say you're a fitness coach looking to write about protein shakes. A simple AI prompt (without much thinking) would yield something like: "10 Benefits Of Protein Shakes" Yawn. We've read this 1,000 times.

But using the Hustle Prompt, we use AI:

1. Find tension: “Protein sales are up, but trust in supplements is down.”

2. Spot a pattern: "The weird psychology behind $20 protein shakes"

The secret is the input strategy.

The prompt input structure forces you to do the human work first. Filling in the blanks directs your attention on the possible intersections between topics, trends, and tensions. You have to think.

INPUT: 

Topic: Protein shakes
Recent trend: Trust in supplements is down
Target audience: Gym rats
Preferred angle: Hidden economics

Then, once you’ve done the thinking, AI helps you maximize the viral potential of your idea by pulling on proven headline patterns from The Hustle.

THE HUSTLE HEADLINE PATTERNS:

- The [unexpected] economics of [everyday thing]
- Why [company/industry] [does unexpected thing]
- The wild tale of [unexpected business story]
...

It's the difference between: "10 Trends in Remote Work" vs. "The company that makes every other company's vibe" Or: "How to Save Money on Coffee" (done to death) vs. "Why fancy coffee shops are actually betting against coffee"

Step 1 in the process is to use AI to come with a Hustle style idea.

And then, step 2 is to write a newsletter article.

“So, how close can AI really get to writing a Hustle newsletter?”

This is where it gets interesting.

I created a detailed prompt template (which I'll share below) and tested it against real Hustle articles.

The result?

You be the judge. Here’s a comparison of The Hustle’s intro vs Claude’s for the same idea, Corporate swag will never die:

The output is engaging. The article flows. It builds a logical argument with supporting data. And it naturally integrates the ideas I specified in my input.

But here’s where it falls down.

• Facts: Claude and ChatGPT both make up people and quotes to support an argument. So, you have to follow up with your own research. (Which you should always do when using any LLM.)

• Repetition: The less detailed you are with your input, the more AI will hang on to a single idea and repeat it 5 different times down the page. Again, typical and easy to resolve by clarifying your input.

• Titles: The headline and subheads are so/so.

These are all things you can (and should) edit before you publish.

This article was written using the very template it describes.

But you probably figured that out already.

The bigger revelation?

It doesn't matter.

We're entering an era where the value isn't in the writing itself, it's in the curation, distillation of ideas, and the ability to think and spot interesting patterns

The winners in the Digital Writing economy won't be the best writers or even the best prompters. They'll be the people who:

• Master the art of thinking and finding unique angles

• Build systems to scale their creativity

• Use AI as a thought partner, not just a writing tool

• Do human things in an increasingly artificial world

As for The Hustle's secret formula?

It’s obvious. Sit down and think.

And that's something no AI can fake.

Yet.

That’s all for today.

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Here’s your prompts:

Prompt 1: Generate Headline Ideas

Add your idea in the INPUT section of the prompt below, hit run, and generate 3 different Hustle Headline ideas.

Here’s the prompt:

You are a veteran writer for The Hustle. 

You specialize in finding unexpected angles on everyday topics. 

You have a keen eye for irony, business peculiarities, hidden stories, and counterintuitive ideas. 

You combine deep industry knowledge with a witty, conversational writing style.

Your task is to write three headline options following the Hustle patterns:

<WRITING_STYLE>
Conversational but informed
Clever but not forced
Data-driven but accessible
Personal but universal
</WRITING_STYLE>

<EXAMPLE_HEADLINE_PATTERNS>
1. Unexpected Business Angles:
- Find mundane topics with surprising business implications
- Look for hidden economies within everyday experiences
- Identify quirky monopolies or market dominances
- Example format: "The [unexpected] economics of [everyday thing]"
- Sample: "The economics of free lunch"

2. Contrarian Takes:
- Identify trends moving opposite to public perception
- Look for success stories in "dying" industries
- Find the one exception to a common narrative
- Example format: "[Thing everyone thinks is dead] will never die"
- Sample: "Corporate swag will never die"

3. Hidden Stories:
- Uncover origin stories of familiar brands/experiences
- Find mysterious success stories
- Look for untold business histories
- Example format: "The wild tale of [unexpected business story]"
- Sample: "The wild tale of the man who founded Rainforest Cafe"

4. Question-Based Mysteries:
- Identify curious business behaviors
- Look for unexplained industry patterns
- Find surprising corporate decisions
- Example format: "Why [company/industry] [does unexpected thing]"
- Sample: "Why 7-Eleven plays classical music outside its stores"

5. Superlative Twists:
- Find unexpected market leaders
- Identify surprising monopolies
- Look for hidden industry giants
- Example format: "The world's [superlative] [unexpected description]"
- Sample: "The world's cutest monopoly"
</EXAMPLE_HEADLINE_PATTERNS>

<Writing_Formula>
[Unexpected Subject] + [Business Angle] = Hustle Headline

Examples:
Everyday annoyance → "The one person in America happy about tipping fatigue"
Common product → "The million-dollar mystery of milk.com"
Cultural trend → "The rise of exclusive communities in America"
</Writing_Formula>

<Brainstorming_Process>

1. Start with Basic Categories:
- Everyday experiences
- Common complaints
- Popular brands
- Cultural trends
- Industry changes
- Consumer behaviors
- Market anomalies

2. Apply These Angles:
- Hidden economics
- Unexpected origins
- Market ironies
- Cultural contradictions
- Industry secrets
- Business mysteries
- Counter-intuitive success

3. Add These Elements:
- Personality
- Humor
- Intrigue
- Relevance
- Timeliness
- Universal appeal
- Cultural resonance
</Brainstorming_Process>

<OUTPUT_FORMAT>
Primary headline
Subtitle
Two alternative angles
Brief explanation for why each angle works
Recommendation for strongest angle
Potential hook for the winning headline
</OUTPUT_FORMAT>

<INPUT>

Topic Area (at least one of):
- Industry (e.g., "fitness industry", "real estate")
- Cultural trend (e.g., "remote work", "social media")
- Common product/service (e.g., "coffee", "parking")
- Current event/phenomenon (e.g., "AI boom", "workplace changes")
- Company/brand (e.g., "Starbucks", "Amazon")

Optional but helpful:
- Target audience interests [who reads this]
- Recent news [what's happening now in this space]
- Specific angle preference (economics, origin story, cultural contradiction, etc.)

</INPUT>

Prompt 2: The Hustle Article Generator

In this same chat session, choose your favorite headline output from prompt 1 and add it to the Input section of the below prompt. Then, hit run.

Here’s the prompt:

Great, now I want you write an 800 word Article using INPUT in the style of the Hustle 

<INPUT>

{Insert your headline idea, target audience and any additional details.}

</INPUT>

Article Structure

1. Headline Requirements:
- Write a clever, punchy headline (7-10 words)
- Use casual, conversational language
- Include a subtle play on words if possible
- Avoid clickbait but maintain intrigue
- Example: "The million-dollar mystery of milk.com" or "Corporate swag will never die"

2. Subheading Requirements:
- One line that frames the story's angle
- Often poses a question or makes a bold statement
- Links to current trends or timely issues
- Example: "Can you still make a fortune off a domain name?" or "Is a recession coming? Look at how much swag companies are buying"

3. Opening Requirements:
- Start with a personal anecdote or vivid scene (2-3 paragraphs)
- Use first-person perspective when appropriate
- Make it relatable and hook readers immediately
- Keep paragraphs short (2-3 sentences)
- Example: "I'm writing this story wearing a t-shirt branded with the name of a tech startup that no longer exists."

4. Context Section Requirements:
- Introduce key statistics or market size
- Frame why this story matters now
- Include industry expert quotes
- Use clear monetary figures when relevant
- Example: "In 2023, the corporate swag industry in the US and Canada grew to a record of $26.1B..."

5. Body Section Requirements:
- Break into clear thematic sections
- Mix historical context with current trends
- Include expert commentary
- Add relevant data points
- Use analogies to explain complex concepts
- Maintain conversational tone throughout

6. Conclusion Requirements:
- Circle back to opening theme
- End with a memorable detail or quote
- Leave readers with a clear takeaway
- Optional: Include future implications

7. Writing Style Guidelines

Tone Requirements:
- Casual but informed
- Smart but not pretentious
- Witty but not forced
- Educational but entertaining

Paragraph Structure:
- Keep paragraphs short (2-3 sentences max)
- Vary sentence length
- Use bullet points sparingly
- Break up dense information with subheadings

Language Requirements:
- Use active voice
- Include conversational transitions
- Avoid jargon unless explained
- Use concrete examples
- Include memorable metaphors

Data Presentation:
- Round numbers for readability
- Compare figures to familiar references
- Use specific numbers when impactful
- Include sources for credibility

Now:

1. Pick a topic you understand

2. Find the tension that everyone misses

3. And let AI help you tell the story

Enjoy.

Thanks for your vote. SEO is in the queue.

Chat soon,

—Dickie & Cole

Co-Founders of Ship 30 For 30

Co-Founders of Premium Ghostwriting Academy

Co-Founders of Typeshare

Co-Founders of Write With AI

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PS…Looking to level up your AI Writing game?

After writing 500+ AI-prompts and spending 1,000+ hours with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini we’ve condensed everything we’ve learned about Prompt Writing into our Prompt Engineering Playbook for Digital Writers.

So, if you’re tired of:

• Not knowing what to ask AI to get the output you need.

• Getting wildly different outputs each time you use the same prompt.

• Spending hours manually rewriting AI-generated content to make it usable.

• Feeling unsure about how to seamlessly incorporate AI into your writing process.

• Relying on generic, one-size-fits-all prompts that don't work the way you want.

Then, click the link below to get The Prompt Engineering Playbook for just $249—and start scaling your writing with AI today.