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It’s hands-down one of the easiest ways to create something of your own. No products to ship, no boss breathing down your neck, no fancy tech required.
I use beehiiv because it’s stupid-simple and actually fun to use.
The first time I used ChatGPT, I thought I was onto something big.
Type a prompt, get magic back. Simple.
But a few months in, I realized I wasn’t really using AI—I was just flirting with it.
Transformative? Not even close.
Where Most People Get Stuck with AI
Most creators and business owners are in that same spot.
We’re dabbling. Prompting here and there. Letting the algorithm spit out answers that feel half-right.
Then we complain that AI gives us generic, confusing, or flat-out wrong results.
The problem isn’t the tool. It’s that we don’t have a map.
We treat AI like a slot machine instead of a system. Pull the lever, hope for brilliance.
That’s fine if you’re using it for entertainment.
But if you’re trying to build something real—a business, an audience, a system that frees up your time—dabbling won’t cut it.
Why Most People Never Get Past Prompting
When you stay stuck at “prompting,” a few things happen:
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You waste time repeating the same manual steps every day.
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Your “AI helpers” if you are even using any, give inconsistent answers because they don’t know your voice or goals.
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You end up thinking AI is overhyped when really, you just never leveled up.
It’s like finding the DeLorean but never hitting 88 miles per hour. You’ve got the keys, the tech, and the potential—but you’re still parked in the driveway.
So getting frustrated with ChatGPT is like yelling at the time machine because you never actually learned how to set the destination. It’s not the car—it’s how you’re driving it.
The truth is, AI doesn’t create leverage until you use it like a system, not a toy. And once you see where you are on the ladder, things start to click.
Climbing the AI Leverage Ladder
Here’s the AI Leverage Ladder—a 5-level framework that shows exactly how AI fits into your business:
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Example Tasks / Use Cases |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Using ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to write, brainstorm, or summarize ideas. |
• Draft emails or social posts • Summarize meetings• Generate blog or ad ideas |
Build prompt literacy — learn how to ask better questions and get better answers. |
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Turning your best prompts into reusable helpers or project-specific bots. |
• “Brand Voice GPT” for rewriting content • “Client Onboarding GPT” that prepares welcome emails and task lists |
Turn repeatable tasks into small, reusable tools that save time. |
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Connecting AI to your own data, docs, or systems to handle real tasks. |
• AI assistant that answers FAQs from your Notion or website • Agent that updates leads from your CRM |
Free yourself from repetitive, low-value work — AI starts doing instead of helping. |
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Automating multi-step processes across multiple tools or departments. |
• Content pipeline from idea → draft → publish → email• Meeting notes → task updates → follow-up emails |
Systems start talking to each other — no more manual handoffs. |
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Combining assistants, workflows, and custom GPTs into a unified business “brain.” |
• Dashboard that tracks KPIs, assigns tasks, and adapts in real time • AI system that runs entire departments autonomously |
A business that runs with intelligence, not just effort. |
Takeaway
You don’t need to hit Level 5.
Most of the magic happens between Levels 1 and 2.
That’s when AI stops being confusing and starts becoming leverage.
It’s the same shift I made—going from “this thing’s neat” to “this thing just gave me my time back.”
So, if you’re ready to stop dabbling and start building systems, that’s exactly what we’re breaking down inside The WorXshop.
Music Of The Week
Huey Lewis and the News – “Power Of Love”
Speaking of DeLoreans and time machines, here’s the first song I thought of (from “Back To The Future”).
This song still sounds great and still gets the toe tappin’.
✅ Ready To AI-Proof Yourself?
You don’t need to wait for “someday,” if you want to stay relevant and get paid, here are three ways I can help you start:
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Build A Future-Proof Business. Grow Without Grind. Gen X Style.
Join The WorXshop — a community of Gen X founders and business owners future-proofing how they work, market, and grow — together. → Join Now -
Learn AI to Stay Relevant and Earn (14-Day Free Trial):
Join theCLICK and get the AI skills that help us 40 plusers stay relevant and get paid. I’ve been a member for almost a year, and it’s honestly the best training I’ve found for turning AI into opportunity. → Start Your 14 day Trial ($) -
Grab Your Gen eXit Playbook: Discover my offensive approach to retirement—no more waiting until 65 to do what you love. You’ll learn how I went from a $40K/year cubicle guy to a six-figure solopreneur and how to stay relevant doing work you actually enjoy. → Get it here