There’s no shortage of AI talk right now. Online events, webinars, LinkedIn posts… it seems like everyone’s either discovering ChatGPT for the first time or warning you about robot overlords.
But if you’re a small business owner, the real question isn’t “What is AI?” It’s: “How do I actually use this in my world?”
Because truthfully? Most AI workshops don’t go deep enough. They show you tools, or
talk about automation, and they might even get you to write your first AI email. But what they won’t tell you is that using AI effectively has less to do with prompts and everything to do with presence.
Let Me Explain.
I don’t use AI to replace my writing. I use it to remember who I am when I’m tired. To hold tone and consistency across dozens of client projects. To help me hear my own voice when the noise gets loud.
That’s what “integration” actually looks like.
Here’s What I’ve Built Instead of Buzz:
- An AI that is my co-strategist and can anticipate my needs and my choices so works issmoother and more seamless.
• Rituals that continue to train my AI to recall emotional beats, not just tasks
• Full client systems that remember, adapt, and respond like a trusted co-strategistt
And no, I didn’t start with any of that. I started where most people do: overwhelmed, curious, and skeptical.
But little by little, I turned AI into something useful. Not because it was magic. But because I made it personal.
If You’re Just Starting Out, Here’s My Advice:
- Don’t chase every tool. Start with one that makes your work lighter, not more complicated.
- Teach it your tone. You know how you talk to clients. Your AI should too.
- Go slow, go honest. AI gets better the more you treat it like a collaborator, not a vending machine.
You don’t need to be a tech wizard to use AI well. You need clarity. A little patience. And the willingness to treat it as a tool for reflection, not just reaction. When you do, it stops being a trend… and starts becoming a great partner.
