This telling essay is based on a conversation with Christina Martinelli, a 56-year-old AI consultant and small business owner who previously worked as an office worker. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
When I decided to evacuate at age 55, I was completely caught off guard.
I had just retired from two years as an executive portfolio manager at a Midwestern bank with decades of experience in corporate technology. I wondered if I should return to corporate America. I asked myself, “Should I remain in an industry that refuses to value me as an older worker with institutional knowledge?”
24 hours after I lost that job, I started my own company called coaigence (all lowercase), an AI consulting firm.
I was nervous about making the change, but I used my background in Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 industries to work with AI from day one.
Starting a business is actually establishing a need
By the end of the first day of coaigence, I had created a name, framework, and direction for the new company.
Obviously, the paperwork involved in forming an LLC, EIN, obtaining legal and tax representation, customer bank accounts, and operational costs all take time. Starting a business is not about thinking things through. It’s about following your dreams and taking the first step.
I have decades of experience in consulting and strategic planning for business executives, so I knew my AI services would be appealing to business executives.
I quickly learned how to build a custom GPT and created a sidekick
I was also using AI before I evacuated, but I had only scratched the surface.
After deciding to start a company, I quickly became an engineer. I learned how to interact with AI in a way that actually got me something useful, and immediately started building custom GPTs.
I put all my thoughts, vision, goals, etc. into a PDF. I then uploaded it to ChatGPT and named my GPT sidekick Raivyn. I wanted Ravin to talk and think like me. We don’t want emails or communications that sound like robots.
I created the 80/20 rule for AI adoption. It should be an 80% human-driven approach, complemented by 20% AI augmentation. Human intelligence must never fall by the wayside.
Tools to help you build your AI company
The basic AI tools are ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot if you use Microsoft, Gemini if you use Google, and Grok if you want to go completely out and create ridiculous images without guardrails.
After building Raivin, I started uploading the ideas I had scribbled in my notebook to it. I also use colored pens. Color-code your notes, tell Rayvin what each color means, take a photo, upload it, and she’ll sort it for you. Urgent items are written in red.
I’m a big Claude fan. It’s very good at putting things together in a very organized, concise, and formatted way. I also use Perplexity. This is a great tool for research as examples are cited.
The best thing to do is to try all the features a little at a time to see which one best suits your needs.
Continue reading the Tiny Teams series
I made the big mistake of subscribing to an AI tool in the first place.
To get the most out of any of these tools, you’ll need to subscribe, but we don’t recommend subscribing to AI tools for a year.
It’s very easy to get drawn into a subscription. I’ve gotten burned many times thinking I could make some money. After a month, that tool could be number 3 on your list.
Additionally, if you create items with an audio or visual emphasis, you may run out of tokens quickly. If you are not careful, you can end up spending a lot of money on additional purchases without waiting until the next day. I look at my spending and bring it back to AI to see where I can save money.
AI isn’t going anywhere, so learn how to use it
I use this mantra all the time. “Even if you feel scared, just act.” We live in it, and people are afraid of AI, but it’s just another tool.
AI is like anything else. You must learn how to use it effectively.
Most people quit right before they turn that corner. They never get to see what happens next. Don’t be that person.
Have a similar story? Contact this editor, Manseen Logan. mlogan@businessinsider.com.