#58 Me & My AI Avatar – How I Learned to Let Go of Old Mindsets

Happy Friday Reader!

What Happened This Week

I cloned myself with AI – and it changed the way I think.

TL;DR:

My live webinar crashed → cortisol through the roof
I almost repeated my old pattern (yep, a third recording)
Instead: I built my first AI avatar with HeyGen
My takeaway? Cloning's fine – if I call the shots

But let’s rewind a bit…

I’m writing this from my garage in Venice Beach – and yes, there’s now both a German and an English version of my newsletter.
(And congrats – you’re reading the English one! You’re officially tagged “English” now. You’ll always get the right version going forward. I like that.)

Why bilingual?
Because I’ve realized that how we relate to tech, especially AI – is deeply influenced by our culture, education, and environment.

After 13+ years in California as a German, I’ve come to see myself as a bridge-builder:
Between mindsets.
Between worlds.
Between different versions of myself.

The Crash

Last week: Mother’s Day, birthday cake, tech chaos – and right in the middle, a live webinar for Microsoft SkillHer with over 200 women.

I got up at 4 AM (!!), checked everything: lights, mic, slides, stable connection, Oura Ring on.
The first half? Amazing.

“Simone, your energy is incredible!”

Oh, thanks.

And then – minute 30: Boom. Frozen.
Camera off. Mic off. My face stuck in a not-so-Instagrammable moment.
I was still there – but no one could see or hear me.

My Oura Ring freaked out.
I smashed every key on my laptop – nothing.
Complete blackout.

Plan B: Activate

I joined via phone. Someone clicked through my slides.
On the outside: calm and collected. On the inside? Full panic mode.

The feedback?

“The most inspiring part wasn’t just your talk – it was how you stayed cool when it all crashed.”

Only... the recording was useless.
And I thought: Shit.

What my old self would’ve done? Record again.

So I did. Right after the session, adrenaline still high.

No audience, just me.

And that’s when it hit: talking into my own little Zoom box, no reactions, no energy.
Didn’t feel right.

So I turned the camera off. Just slides and voice.
Technically: flawless.

But then… feedback.

From my husband. From friends.
From my LinkedIn network:

“Simone, we want to see you – not just hear you.”

Wait, really?

Oh no... triple shit. (Because all I could think was: “Do I really have to record this a third time?!”)

Then came the DMs:

“Simone, people learn differently. Can you offer both versions?”

That stopped me in my tracks.

The moment my thinking changed

Yes, I could have recorded again.
But honestly?

By day three, I was drained. Empty.
And it was Mother’s Day. I had nothing left to give.

Ever felt that? When something just doesn’t spark anymore?

Then I remembered this tool I’d been paying for but never used: HeyGen.
No use case – until now. Classic, right?

This time, I thought: Now or never.

I grabbed my phone, shot a two-minute selfie video – full garage vibes.
And I remember thinking: Thank god I only have to do this ONCE.
(I seriously don’t know how influencers do this daily without breaking out in hives. Respect!)

I uploaded my audio from the previous recording. Click.
And bam: My avatar.

My voice. My look. My energy – just digitized.
Not perfect. But real - but without a smile.

For the first time, I realized: I don’t have to do everything myself to be authentic. I can let go – and still show up fully as me.

What do you think?

My Aha Moment: It’s not about the tech. It’s about letting go.

It’s honestly wild how easy it is to clone yourself these days.
And yet... it took me a year to even consider it.

If someone had asked me back then:

“Do you want to clone yourself?” – I’d have laughed. Hard.

And if I had been employed? The answer would’ve been a solid no.

Why?

Who owns the avatar?
What happens if I leave the company?
How would I be compensated as a digital face?

But as a solopreneur?

I get to say yes.
I get to define the rules.
And it’s still 100% me – just digital.

Your Garage Moment?

Recording #3? Push through, ignore the fatigue?
Or take the leap into something new – something that could unlock your next level?

If you could clone yourself, what task would you gladly hand over?
What do you never want to repeat a third time?

Maybe AI is your lever to scale – without burning out.
Start small.
Not perfect. Not public. Just for you.

Sometimes, honestly reflecting is the most future-ready thing you can do.

❤️ from Venice Beach

Simone

Creator of Future-Ready Woman