Win With What You Already Have
We don’t always have to chase the next AI tool. Most wins come from using AI to help you stand up the tools you already use every day—often at no extra cost: - Microsoft 365: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Power Automate - Google Workspace: Docs, Sheets, Slides, Gmail, Apps Script - Airtable and simple forms/CRMs Reality check: You likely touch Word/Docs, Excel/Sheets, email, and slides far more than any AI app. That’s where the leverage is—at work and at home. Use AI as Your Coach (Not Your Replacement) - Documents: Proposals, contracts, SOPs, checklists—standardize once, reuse forever. - Spreadsheets: Clean data, build simple dashboards, and document repeatable steps. - Presentations: Turn outlines into clear decks; you add stories and proof. - CRM & Follow-ups: Consistent replies and timing so every lead gets the same experience. - Automation glue: Power Automate or Apps Script to route forms → sheets/CRM → notifications—simple and durable. Most of this is low or no cost, and AI can guide you through setup step-by-step so you learn while you build. Lesson learned: Taking the “long path” (build the simple system first) makes learning shorter—because AI accelerates your understanding, not just the output.