Hey there,

I'm writing this from the historic Sagamore Pendry Hotel in Baltimore's Fells Point neighborhood, where Peter and I are celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary this weekend.

What's remarkable about this stunning luxury hotel isn't just its waterfront views or impeccable service—it's the story of what could have been lost. This 1914 Beaux-Arts building, originally known as "Recreation Pier" and built by architect Theodore Wells Pietsch I, served as a landing point for immigrants and a social hub, before falling into such disrepair that it sat vacant for 15 years. The easier path would have been demolition.

Instead, visionaries like Kevin Plank (founder of Under Armour) saw the "good bones" beneath the decay. They invested $60 million and two years into restoration, preserving the building's soul while reimagining its purpose. The original ballroom was restored, the historic head house maintained, and the structure's maritime heritage honored throughout.

This restoration story has me thinking about productivity systems and a pattern I keep seeing with clients and community members:

Sound familiar?

The Problem with the Demolition Mindset

When our productivity systems feel broken, our instinct is often to bulldoze everything and start fresh. New app. New workflow. New habits. All at once.

But here's what I've learned after years of helping clients build sustainable systems: the issue usually isn't the foundation. It's rarely about having the wrong tools or fundamentally flawed processes.

Most often, the breakdown happens because:

1. We're doing too much - Overloading even the best system until it buckles
2. We're not using the system as designed - Creating workarounds that undermine the structure
3. We've outgrown parts of it - Needing renovation, not demolition

Renovation vs. Demolition: A Case for Preservation

The clients who experience lasting success aren't the ones who jump from system to system. They're the ones who thoughtfully assess what they have, identify the "good bones" worth preserving, and strategically renovate around their core needs.

This approach works because it:

• Builds on existing habits rather than requiring entirely new behavior patterns
• Preserves institutional knowledge embedded in your current systems
• Requires less cognitive overhead than learning something completely new
• Creates sustainable change that evolves with you

The Blueprint for System Renovation

The most successful system renovations start with these questions:

1. What are my actual goals? (Not just productivity for productivity's sake)
2. Where am I trying to go from here? (The destination shapes the path)
3. What are my current productivity patterns vs. what I want them to be? (Honest assessment of needs and wants)

When my clients take time to answer these questions before making changes, they build systems that support their best work for years—not just until the next crisis.

Like the architects who saw potential in the crumbling Recreation Pier, you might discover that your current system has a strong foundation worth preserving. The question becomes not "What should I replace this with?" but "How can I restore what works and reimagine what doesn't?"

Tech Corner: Gemini's New Features

Gemini Now Summarizes Your PDFs

Speaking of renovation, Google just rolled out a powerful update to Gemini that might help you extract more value from your existing content library.

Gemini can now automatically summarize PDFs when you open them in Google Drive. The AI creates summary cards with clickable actions based on the document's content—like "draft a sample proposal" or "list interview questions based on this resume."

This feature works in 20+ languages and started rolling out to Google Workspace users on June 12th. A similar feature for Google Forms will summarize responses to short-answer questions, highlighting key themes from submissions. Learn more at the link below.

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Gemini Now Supports Video Uploads

Google also quietly launched video upload capabilities for Gemini, allowing you to ask questions about video content or get descriptions of clips—perfect for extracting insights from recorded meetings or presentations. Learn more at the link below.

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On Deck for Me this Week:

• Preparing for a major launch with my client in the Disruption space
• Attending the 2025 Delaware Business Owner Summit in Dewey Beach
• Continuing work on clients' lead magnet GPTs and marketing funnels
• Law school work: drafting a response to a trademark office action for the legal clinic

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Your Turn

What system in your work or life feels broken right now?

Before you demolish it, ask yourself:

• What parts are actually working?
• What's the minimum renovation needed to make it functional again?
• Is the issue the system itself, or how you're using it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts—hit reply and let me know!

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Ready for systems that actually stick? Join us in the Systematic AF Club where we're building sustainable productivity approaches together. Get templates, community support, and practical strategies for making your systems work with your brain, not against it. Join the Club!

Until next Sunday,

Dr. Monica

P.S. Remember, you don't have to burn it all down to build something better. Sometimes the most powerful transformation comes from reimagining what you already have—whether it's a historic pier, a productivity system, or a way of working that just needs some thoughtful renovation.

Dr. Monica Rysavy Systematic You ​Founder & CEO ☎️ (302) 599-0030 📬 monica@systematicyou.com 📍 Wilmington, Delaware

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