Where to Start
Whether you're using ChatGPT for the first time or building your third automation, everyone needs the same foundation. This is it.
What you'll understand after this:
- The actual difference between AI and automation
- Which tools do what (and which ones you actually need)
- How to think about AI in your specific context
- Where to focus first (based on where you are now)
Take your time. There's no rush. You're exactly where you need to be.
The Reality Check
AI isn't coming. It's here. Your competitors are using it. Your kids are using it. The question isn't if you'll use it, but how.
The Numbers Tell a Story:
- 75% of businesses will use AI by 2025 (IBM)
- Only 22% of AI professionals are women (Stanford AI Index)
- $15.7 trillion will be added to global economy by AI by 2030
- 85% of customer interactions will be managed without humans by 2025
What This Means for You:
Everyone has a different entry point. Maybe you're a designer who needs to speed up mockups. A consultant drowning in proposals. A founder trying to do marketing without a marketing team.
The tools exist. But nobody's telling us how to actually integrate them into our already-full lives. How to use them without losing what makes our work human.
That's what this is about. Not the hype. Not the fear. Just practical foundations for wherever you're starting from.
What matters for us:
- Tools that work with our existing workflows
- Solutions that enhance (not replace) human connection
- Systems we can trust with sensitive client work
- Technology that respects our values
🎯 The goal: Use AI to do more of what matters, less of what doesn't. On your terms.
AI vs. Automation
This distinction matters because it determines what you can actually do with each tool:
Automation follows rules
If this, then that. Same result every time. Perfect for repetitive tasks.
Example: New form submission → Add to email list → Send welcome sequence
AI understands context
Can interpret, adapt, and create based on what's needed. Different every time.
Example: Read customer email → Understand tone and need → Draft appropriate response
The magic happens when you combine them:
- AI understands what your customer is asking about
- Automation handles the repetitive tasks based on that understanding
- You focus on the high-value work only humans can do
💡 Key insight: You need both. AI to handle the complex, nuanced work. Automation to handle the routine. Together, they free you up for what only you can do.
The AI Landscape: Who Does What
Think of AI tools like hiring different types of help for your business:
💬 Chatbots = Your Receptionist
Answers common questions, books appointments, captures leads. Great for first contact, but limited to what you've taught them.
Use when: You get the same 10 questions over and over
🤖 AI Agents = Your Smart Assistant
Can actually DO things: research competitors, write proposals, update spreadsheets. They understand goals, not just commands.
Use when: You need help with multi-step processes
🛠️ AI Tools = Your Specialists
Focused on one thing done really well: Jasper for marketing copy, Midjourney for images, Descript for video editing.
Use when: You have a specific task that needs expertise
🧠 AI Copilots = Your Thought Partner
Work alongside you in real-time: GitHub Copilot for coding, Notion AI for writing. They suggest, you decide.
Use when: You want to work faster, not be replaced
🎯 Reality check: You don't need all of these. Start with ONE that solves your biggest time drain.
Start Small, Win Big
Here's what actually works (learned the hard way):
❌ The "AI Everything" Trap
"I'm going to AI-ify my entire business!" Six months later: Nothing works, team is confused, customers are frustrated, you're back to the old way.
✅ The "One Win at a Time" Method
Pick ONE task. Make it work. Learn what's possible. Build confidence. Then expand.
Your First AI Win Checklist:
☐ Takes you 30+ minutes per week
☐ Has clear inputs and outputs
☐ Doesn't require perfection (70% good is fine)
☐ You could explain it to someone else
Perfect First Projects:
- Email responses: Let AI draft, you polish and send
- Social media posts: Turn one idea into 5 variations
- Meeting notes: Record, transcribe, summarize automatically
- FAQ answers: Build a knowledge base from repeat questions
The 2-Week Rule:
If you can't see results in 2 weeks, the project is too big. Break it down or pick something else. Momentum matters more than perfection.
Myths That Hold Women Back
Myth: "I need to understand how AI works"
Reality: Do you understand how your car engine works? No. Do you still drive? Yes.
You need to know what AI can do, not how it does it.
Myth: "AI will replace me"
Reality: AI is terrible at: strategy, empathy, relationships, creativity, and knowing what actually matters to humans.
AI amplifies what makes you unique, it doesn't replace it.
Myth: "I need to code"
Reality: Most AI tools are built for non-technical people. If you can use Google Docs, you can use AI.
The best AI users aren't coders - they're clear communicators.
Myth: "It's too expensive"
Reality: ChatGPT is free. Claude is free. Most tools have generous free tiers. Start there.
You can build real solutions for less than your Netflix subscription.
Myth: "I'm too late"
Reality: We're in the "flip phone" era of AI. The iPhone hasn't been invented yet. You're actually early.
Starting now puts you ahead of 95% of businesses.
💪 Remember: Every expert was once a beginner who didn't quit.
Your Next Steps
Week 1: Get Comfortable
Day 1-3: Create a free ChatGPT or Claude account. Ask it 5 questions about your business. No pressure, just explore.
Day 4-7: Try one simple task - maybe drafting an email or brainstorming social media posts. See what happens.
Goal: Remove the intimidation factor. It's just a tool.
Week 2: Find Your First Win
Identify: What task do you dread that takes 30+ minutes?
Experiment: Can AI help with any part of it?
Iterate: It won't be perfect. That's okay. 70% automated is better than 0%.
Goal: Save yourself 1 hour this week.
Week 3-4: Build Momentum
Expand: Add one more AI tool to your workflow
Connect: Find one person also learning AI (hint: our community)
Document: Write down what's working. You'll forget otherwise.
Goal: Make AI part of your routine, not a special event.