These days, when Pete Srodoski meets with new executive coaching clients, ChatGPT allows him to get more details done faster.
Slodsky, who founded the coaching firm Roll with the Punches in 2021, would spend hours debating with clients what to include in strategy documents. Now, he uses ChatGPT to draft those documents with his clients in about 10 minutes.
With AI handling the initial framework, Slodsky and his clients can immediately begin fine-tuning strategic plans and key job descriptions.
“This allows us to dig deeper and go further and actually execute the plan and create actionable items,” he told Business Insider.
Pete Slodsky is the founder of Roll with the Punches. Kendrick Brinson of BI
Slodsky is one of three solopreneurs who spoke to Business Insider about how they’re using AI to streamline everyday decisions, like writing first drafts, formatting emails, and editing social media posts. They say the time and mental energy saved allows them to focus on the decisions that matter most to their business and customers.
“We want to make the most impact in these times,” Slodsky says. And AI can help with that.
Increased production and more family dinners
Georgia Fort, founder of Stories by Georgia Fort, is an independent journalist in Minnesota who started using AI about 18 months ago. She uses ChatGPT to format newsletters and social media posts, and OpusClip to edit videos for social media.
She estimates that using these services frees up 5 to 10 hours of her work week, which she can now use to write detailed reports, which is what she does best.
Ultimately, “the biggest effect is increased production,” Fort says. With the help of AI, she is now able to post more content on social media and publish a regular newsletter, something that was previously difficult to do.
Additionally, she says, AI can make it a little easier to find the work-life balance that many self-employed people struggle with.
“Best of all, it’s a meal that I can sit down and eat with my kids,” Fort says.
Worry less about details and prioritize high-level decision-making
Dusty Arab, owner of boutique marketing firm The Reinvention Co., says AI is integrated into nearly every aspect of the workday. So much so, “I don’t think I’ve ever posted this much quality content before,” she says.
Dusty Arab is the owner of The Reinvention Co. Celeste Noche for BI
For an Arab with ADHD, managing the constant decisions that a self-employed person has to make was a daunting task. She often worried about missing details, which distracted her from higher-order thinking.
She now uses Wispr Flow to take voice notes throughout the day on topics like client communications and content ideas. Then import them into Notion AI. Notion AI combines access to Claude, Gemini, and ChatGPT to help you turn your notes into briefs.
Arab uses a suite of AI tools, from ChatGPT to Notion AI. Celeste Noche for BI
“When we process brain dumps using AI, beginningthe deliverables are much better,” says Arab.
Her commitment to AI and being vocal about how she uses it has also paid off in other ways. Now, customers contact her specifically for advice on how to use AI. She often coaches people on how to use AI to delegate more effectively.
“With the raw notes in place, AI can be used to turn brain dumps into clear summaries, task lists, and handoffs that others can actually implement,” she says.
Leaders need to know when a personal touch is needed.
Slodsky shares his AI skills to help others. Kendrick Brinson of BI
Like Arab, Mr. Slodsky often introduces his clients to AI, particularly the platforms he uses: ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. Often, the reaction is one of “awe,” he says.
For example, one client told me last week that the time it takes to price a job is a major hindrance to his business. Srodoski taught the company to use ChatGPT to create a price list based on sales data from the past three years.
“He laughed and said it would cost thousands of dollars and weeks of labor to make it happen,” Slodsky said.
Pete Slodsky’s book. Kendrick Brinson of BI
While his clients are often enthusiastic about AI, part of Slodsky’s coaching includes highlighting decisions that leaders should not delegate to AI.
Recently, he had a customer who wanted to confront a vendor who was underperforming. The client was planning to use ChatGPT to draft an email, but Srodoski stopped him.
“Answer the phone and see how they react,” he recalls saying. During phone calls, Srodoski’s clients were able to explain themselves, empathize with the vendor, clear up misunderstandings, and create solutions.
“This is a leadership decision that you can’t make with ChatGPT,” says Srodoski.
