Hey there,
Today, I want to share something wonderful with you. Imagine having a special tool that could save you hours of time every week. This tool could help you stand out at work and make you the person everyone asks for smart, new ideas. Sounds helpful, doesn’t it? That’s what AI can do for you.
But Here’s the Problem: Most of Us Only Scratch the Surface
You’re already using AI for quick tasks—maybe drafting a polite email or shortening a long article. And that’s wonderful! But here’s the catch: it’s like owning a luxury car but only ever driving to get groceries.
Most people stop after those small wins. They never ask:
- Could AI spot hidden patterns in this messy data?
- What if it helped me predict challenges before they become crises?
- Might it turn my rough notes into a polished report in minutes?
The truth is, AI isn’t just a “helper” for chores. It’s a creativity booster.
- The coworker who finishes projects early? They ask AI better questions.
- The teammate praised for innovative ideas? They use AI to brainstorm 10x faster.
- The “star” employee everyone admires? They’ve stopped doing busywork and started solving big problems.
Yet most of us never diving deeper. And that’s a real shame—because the magic happens when you treat AI not as a shortcut, but as a partner.
Treat AI not as a shortcut, but as partner to get ahead in your career
If you master these skills, your boss will take notice. Why? Companies desperately need people who can use AI to save time, cut costs, and spark innovation. Imagine:
- Being the person your team relies on for smart solutions.
- Earning praise (or even a promotion!) for your forward-thinking ideas.
- Spending less time on repetitive tasks and more on meaningful work.
As author Robert Greene once said: “The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.”
Let’s walk through this together—step by step. By the end, you’ll know how to unlock AI’s full potential, just like the most skilled users do.
Tip #1 Practice Tough Conversations Like Rehearsing a Play
Ask ChatGPT to pretend to be someone tricky to talk to—like a grumpy customer or a boss who worries about costs. Practice your conversation safely, just like rehearsing lines for a play.
Why It’s Helpful:
- No pressure! You can try different answers without worrying about mistakes.
- Get gentle feedback on how clear and convincing you sound.
Template:
“Act as [Role, e.g., CFO/Skeptical Procurement Head] at [Company Type, e.g., Fortune 500 Retailer]. Challenge me on [Specific Objection, e.g., pricing, ROI, implementation timelines]. After each response, rate my [Focus Area, e.g., persuasiveness, clarity] on a scale of 1-10 and suggest improvements.”
Example Prompt:
“Act as the CFO of a global logistics company. I’ll pitch our supply chain analytics tool. Push back on the $250K/year cost, demand proof of ROI from similar clients, and ask for a 15% discount. After each of my answers, critique how well I addressed your concerns about budget allocation.”
How I used it:
Before pitching a manufacturing client, I used this template to role-play as their CTO. ChatGPT grilled me on “Why not build this in-house?” and “How do you handle data sovereignty in Asia?” Result? I closed a $500K+ deal with zero concessions.
Tip #2 Bounce Ideas Back and Forth Like Chatting with a Friend
Chat with AI like you’re talking to a thoughtful friend. Share your problem, and let it ask questions to help you see it from new angles.
Why It’s Helpful:
- Talking through a problem often helps you find the answer.
- The AI won’t solve it for you—it’ll help you think smarter.
Template:
“Analyze these [Input: CRM notes/emails/call transcripts] from [Client Name/Industry]. Identify risks to renewal and 2-3 upsell opportunities based on [Specific Pain Points, e.g., feature gaps, support complaints]. Prioritize by potential revenue impact.”
Example Prompt:
“Here are notes from my last 3 check-ins with Client X (a healthcare SaaS company). They mentioned ‘slow API response times’ and ‘missing HIPAA audit reports.’ What risks does this pose for renewal? Suggest 2 add-ons we can propose (e.g., premium support, compliance modules) with estimated Annual Contract Value.”
My Story:
A retail client kept complaining about “too many false fraud alerts.” I pasted their emails into ChatGPT. It spotted an upsell path: “Their fraud team is overwhelmed. Offer AI-powered risk scoring ($30K/year add-on).” They signed within 2 weeks.
Tip #3 Talk Out Loud Like You’re Phoning a Friend
If your AI has a voice feature, just talk to it like you’re chatting with a neighbor over the fence. Say what’s on your mind, and listen to its replies.
Why It’s Helpful:
- Saying things out loud helps your brain work differently than typing.
- Hearing a friendly voice respond can spark “aha!” moments.
Template:
“I just met with [Client Role/Company]. They mentioned [Key Issues, e.g., ‘slow reporting,’ ‘integration delays’]. Turn this into a [Output: QBR/executive summary] highlighting [Focus Areas, e.g., risks, ROI gaps]. Include 1-2 proposals to address their unspoken needs.”
Example Prompt (Spoken):
“Hey ChatGPT, I just spoke with the VP of Operations at a telecom client. They said, ‘Your reporting takes too long,’ and ‘We’re worried about scaling costs.’ Create a 3-slide Quarterly Business Review summary focused on operational inefficiencies, and propose a cost-optimization audit as a next step.”
My Story: After a chaotic call with a fintech client, I told ChatGPT: “They’re angry about onboarding delays and hinted at compliance risks.” It drafted a QBR slide titled “How Delays Could Impact Their $50M Funding Round”—which became the backbone of our recovery plan.
Tip #4 Learn New Skills Like Having a Patient Teacher
How It Works:
Ask ChatGPT to teach you something step by step—like writing clearer emails or learning basic computer skills. It’ll give you small tasks and cheer you on.
Why It’s Helpful:
- It breaks big tasks into bite-sized steps.
- You learn at your own pace, without feeling rushed.
Template:
“Help me translate [Technical Feature, e.g., ‘real-time analytics’] into a [Target Audience, e.g., CFO/CIO]-focused story about [Business Outcome, e.g., ‘reducing revenue leakage’]. Use this analogy: [Optional: e.g., ‘Like a smoke detector for financial risks’].”
Example Prompt:
“Turn ‘AI-driven customer segmentation’ into a 30-second pitch for a retail CEO. Focus on reducing cart abandonment rates. Use an analogy like ‘It’s like having a GPS for your shoppers’ lost revenue.’”
My Story: I rewrote a product-heavy deck into a story for a pharma CEO: “Our API monitoring isn’t just about uptime—it’s about protecting the $2M/day cost of delayed drug trials.” ChatGPT helped me replace jargon with CEO-speak, and we landed a 7-figure expansion.
Tip #5 Solve Problems Like Playing a Puzzle Game
How It Works:
When you’re stuck, ask ChatGPT to pretend to be someone wise (like a gardener, librarian, or even a famous inventor). Their “advice” might help you see your problem in a whole new way!
Why It’s Helpful:
- It’s fun! Thinking like someone else can shake loose fresh ideas.
- Perfect for when you’re too close to a problem to see the answer.
Template:
“Pretend you’re [Stakeholder Role, e.g., Legal/Procurement] at [Company Type]. We’re stuck on [Sticking Point, e.g., contract terms/pricing]. Suggest 3 compromises that address their [Core Concern, e.g., ‘need for flexibility’] while protecting our [Priority, e.g., ‘ACV’].”
Example Prompt:
“Act as the Head of Legal at a bank. We’re deadlocked on liability clauses in our SaaS contract. Propose 3 solutions that limit their risk without exposing us to unlimited damages. Focus on middle-ground language about ‘caps per incident.’”
My Story: A deal with an energy giant stalled over SLAs. ChatGPT role-played their procurement lead, pushing: “What if outages hit during peak demand?” We proposed “credits tied to revenue impact” instead of flat penalties. They signed the same day.
Your challenge this week? Pick one tip from this email and use it in a way that surprises you. For example:
- Role-play a conversation you’ve been avoiding.
- Ask AI to analyze a problem “as a detective” would.
- Dictate your roughest draft aloud and let ChatGPT polish it.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s progress. Every time you experiment, you’re not just learning AI… you’re retraining your brain to think bigger.
The “star” employees, the innovators, the ones who get noticed? They’re not geniuses. They’re just people who decided to dig deeper.
You’ve got the tools. Now go make your magic.
Best, Gaurav