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Happy Friday Reader!

I did it! I finally announced my partnership with Bitkom - a huge milestone for me, not only for my business but also for women in Germany. It marks the launch of the first official German Digital Fluency management course and certification aimed at accelerating the careers of even more women.

I also want to thank you for all the lovely messages I received and to all the beta testers who signed up following my last newsletter about the free 5-day mail course & index, "Digital Fluency Bytes." I promise to send it to you on the list soon, but I'm still "fighting" with the tech automation in the background, which I totally underestimated. Email marketing automation is new territory for me, but each day I spend mastering ConvertKit brings me closer to becoming its queen :-) Stay tuned, and for those who still need to sign up, you still have a chance.

Since I dedicated so much time this week to implementing my email marketing automation, I thought I'd share insights on "How I started to integrate AI into my job role," a topic many of you seem curious about.

Let's get our thinking juices flowing, shall we?

Time to Tune In ❤️

After recommending an AI seminar to a friend last week, I received this response:

"I'm HUNGRY (yes, she wrote it all in capital letters) for a way to incorporate AI into my job role, but so far, none of the seminars I've attended do the job for me; it feels like these AI gurus don't understand my work."

It made me reflect on why I rarely share the AI tool stack I use: What works for me may only work for some!

My friend rightly noted that nobody understands your job better than you do.

Have you taken the time to sit down, tune in, and write down all the tasks you juggle?

Ready to Gear Up 🧰

If you're like me, juggling numerous business tasks and invisible work at home, you may need to remember everything you manage.

So, I recently took time to think through my tasks and found a skills list on the Internet from Julia Saxena, another course creator, which closely matched most of mine.

As a solopreneur, I wear many hats — from email marketing and sales to operations, facilitation, and course curriculum. I tackle it all, though some tasks are smoother than others.

Inspired by Cassie Holmes' fantastic book, "Happier Hour: How to Beat Distraction, Expand Your Time, and Focus on What Matters Most", I started tracking not just what I do and how much time I spend on each task but also how these activities make me feel.

Here's a snapshot of my day yesterday:

• 6-7 AM: Emails / LinkedIn posts (a bit tedious)
• 7-8 AM: Kids' breakfast (love it)
• 8-9 AM: Commenting on LinkedIn (love it)
• 9-11 AM: Bitkom interview (loved it)
• 11 AM-12:30 PM: Tennis (love it)
• 12:30-1 PM: Quick lunch (efficient)
• 1-4 PM: Deep dive into email marketing automation (initially daunting, but ultimately fulfilling)
• 4-4:30 PM: Kids back from school, quick break (a bit stressed, but nice to have a quick break)
• 4:30-6 PM: Curriculum masterclass (love doing it)
• 6-8:30 PM: Family time (no digital devices, focus on the present and listen feels good)

Next, I delved even more deeply, analyzing each task step-by-step. It is a tedious job if you are busy, but it is the only way to start your AI adoption journey.

Put your Power Play on 🕹️

Let's take, for example, writing my daily LinkedIn posts:

1. Ideation: I thrive here, capturing ideas daily in my knowledge database "Keepsake Box."
2. Copywriting: Getting the first draft down is challenging, often having "writer's block'.
3. Editing: As a non-native speaker, I need support here, feeling unconfident.
4. Creative Images: Good at brainstorming creative image ideas but need help implementing.
5. Scheduling: Automation is essential; I no longer want to do it manually.
6. Evaluation: Analyzing data is tricky; I could use help.

Here's a simplified breakdown of how I integrated next Gen AI tools and automation into my workflow to streamline and enhance my tasks:

• Brainstorming Content Ideas: I excel at capturing spontaneous ideas while reading, supported by an automated Readwise​ and ​Notion​ AI system which I call "Keepsake Box." This knowledge system effortlessly provides me with creative sparks as needed. I now spend two hours weekly brainstorming.
• Drafting Initial Content: Drafting in English is challenging for a non-native speaker. I use ChatGPT Plus and created a customized "GPT" to match my writing style for LinkedIn posts, reducing the need for constant adjustments. This setup now helps me write a post in 5-15 minutes.
• Editing: I rely on Grammarly Business to polish my posts with AI. It boosts my confidence and helps me ensure my writing is clear and professional, which is crucial for my audience of busy professionals. It typically takes me about 5 minutes per post.
• Creating Images: I generate initial images using ChatGPT Plus, tailored to my brand's style, and refine them with AI tools in Canva Business. This process takes about 5-10 minutes per image.
• Scheduling: I create and schedule batch content using LinkedIn's automation tools to optimize my time. Other systems like Taplio are fantastic but too costly and complex for my needs.
• Evaluating Performance: I use Shield AI for analytics to understand what resonates with my audience and to guide content repurposing. LinkedIn Analytics is a good alternative for this purpose.

My AI tool stack saves me a lot of time, ensures I maintain a high-quality standard in my work, and finally gives me the confidence to post on LinkedIn, which I never had before.

Now that you know you must consider your job tasks first, I hope my tool stack inspires you to craft your personalized AI toolset that fits your needs and workflow.

Ready to Accelerate 🚀

Now it's your turn.

Before diving into another AI seminar or testing out new, random tools recommended on LinkedIn, consider these steps first:

1. Document Your Job Tasks: Know what you do.
2. Track Your Activities: Understand how you spend your time.
3. Assess Your Happiness: Reflect on what brings you joy and what drains you.

AI can significantly enhance your productivity and job happiness if integrated thoughtfully.

❤️ from Venice Beach

Simone

P.S. I will be hosting a free webinar on June 12th for my German readers titled "Digital Fluency: 4 Schritte, wie Frauen in Zeiten von KI digitale Kompetenzen meistern"