A simple way to save hours at work

As part of my training business, I’ve spent the past week talking to people in various roles at companies about AI.

One thing that’s become crystal clear — 99% of people out there don’t need sophisticated automations or “agentic solutions.”

We’re in the first inning of the AI era, and most people barely know how to use it.

What people need are simple things they can do tomorrow at work that will save time and make them more productive.

Here’s one place to start:

1. Imagine you’re hiring the smartest Harvard intern this summer.

2. Now open a Google Doc and write “what I do” at the top. This doc is the training manual for your “Harvard intern.”

3. List all of the tasks you do at work. Give it as much context as possible, just like you would if you were training a new hire.

4. List all the things that are tedious and take a bunch of time.

5. List all repetitive tasks you do — eg. weekly updates, monthly reports, etc.

6. Describe what a “perfect world” looks like for you at work. What would be easier? Where would you save time? What impactful work would you do but you can’t currently because you’re too busy?

7. Now download this doc as a pdf and upload into ChatGPT.

8. Include a prompt like this: “This doc describes what I do at work, challenges I face and where I want to save time and be more productive. You are going to be my personal intern, helping me save 50% of my time or more and making me better at work. What questions do you have for me?”

9. Answer the questions AI replies with.

10. Now tell the AI, “Your first task is to review the work I do and give me 3 simple ways you can help me save time. Go.”

11. Begin implementing the ideas it gives you, or ask for other ideas.

12. Tell the AI, “I want you to remember every detail of this conversation. Beginning tomorrow, I’m going to bring every task I have to you as a starting point and you will help me do my job better and faster. I will give you feedback and coach you along the way. What I need from you is to ask clarifying questions when you need more context.”

Close your computer and go home.

You now have an AI intern waiting to help save you time and make you more productive when you show up to work tomorrow.

Just like a human, the more you work with and coach AI, the more value it will deliver.

Thanks for reading — I hope this is helpful.

A few ways we can work together:

• 1:1 Coaching

• Team Trainings

• Group Cohorts

• Recurring Advising

If you’re interested, please reply to this newsletter or email me at [email protected].

P.S. I will be in Chicago doing a team training July 23-24. I may organize a meet up if folks are interested. If you’re in the area, let me know.

Cheers,

Teddy