Smarter, Not Harder: How AI Is Helping Small Biz Owners Work Differently

WARNING: This post is 100% POV. Research is taking a rest day.

Lately, I’ve been deep in convo after convo about AI. Not exactly groundbreaking in 2025, I know, but it hit me: I’ve never actually talked about it here. That changes today. This is the first, but definitely not the last time I’ll be ranting about robots. (Lovingly.)

THE INTERVIEWS

I recently helped an HR pal interview some marketing candidates (because yes, that is my version of a fun time). One of the questions I asked everyone was: “Do you use AI, and if so, how?”

Not a trick question, promise. I assume everyone is and should be using AI in some capacity. Most said they use it for proofreading (solid), but my fave responses came from the ones who admitted they used AI to prep questions for the interview itself. Matrix: activated.

THE BUSINESS GROUP

After launching Candorly, I joined a women’s business group (shoutout to Lani and the absolute dream team at BWC), and our AI convos are chef’s kiss.

• An interior designer uses it to create realistic mockups of clients’ homes.

• A therapist uses it to automate bookings, cancellations, and reminders - hello, more time for actual therapy.

• And my favorite? A product manager who uses it to build her dream client avatar. Manifest that sh!t.

THE PALS

You know those hilarious videos where friends make PowerPoints to explain what they actually do for work because no one ever really knows? Yeah, this AI convo was kind of like that… but better.

My friends have wildly different careers, and hearing how they use AI was oddly comforting (and a little genius). The winner? My stay-at-home-parent bestie. She told ChatGPT what’s in the fridge and what her picky kid refuses to eat… and got a custom meal plan plus a grocery list. She even got to drink her coffee hot.

THE MARKETING CONSULTANT (aka Me)

If I had to define my relationship with AI in one sentence: it’s my overachieving, slightly chaotic intern. It…

• Summarizes meeting notes

• Syncs tasks into my project management tools

• Polishes my blog rambles when I get too rambley

• And when I need a break? Playground helps me design stuff for the dreamy Etsy shop I swear I’ll launch someday

THE FREE IDEAS

Look, I can’t help myself. I see your career and instantly think of how I, and AI, could save you hours (and headaches). So here’s a freebie roundup of niche-but-golden use cases:

• Salon Owner: Personalized Marketing
  Use AI to analyze client data (hey, foil queen) and send tailored rebooking nudges. Mailchimp + AI = fewer empty chairs, less awkward small talk.

• Restaurant or Bar Owner: Reputation Management
  Let AI monitor reviews and flag shady ones so you can respond gracefully before it becomes a Yelp horror story.

• Financial Planner: Intake Form Automation
  Create smart, adaptive forms that feel more like a warm-up chat and less like an interrogation.

• Accountant: Simple Explanations for Clients
  Use Grok or ChatGPT to translate IRS speak into human, because not everyone knows what the hell a “deductible business expense” really is.

• eComm Anything: SEO Magic
  Teach your AI buddy to zhuzh up product descriptions and blog posts so Google loves you more (and you can maybe cut back on that ad spend).

So tell me: What’s your favorite tool or prompt?
Shoot me an email and I’ll feature the best of the bunch in the next blog post: Your Fav AI Prompts.