Editor's note: This is the second article in a series. Read the first article in this series.
ChatGPT has become our go-to tool for tackling work challenges and finding creative solutions. Last week, it helped me save time, avoid headaches, and even sparked a few "Aha!" moments.
If you’ve been curious about how AI can make your work life easier, these examples might inspire you to dive in.
1. Website challenges: Figuring out WordPress formatting
- Type: Formatting a tricky webpage element.
- Example: Ever struggled with WordPress and its endless menus? That was me last week while drafting our desktop training sales page. The elements weren’t cooperating, and after a few attempts with ChatGPT’s basic model, I hit a dead end.
Then I turned to ChatGPT’s advanced version, which suggested using a <style> block with CSS. Bingo! It even wrote the code for me. I plugged it in, and voilà—the page looked great.
- Result and Reflection: As someone who’s still getting comfortable with CSS, I couldn’t have come up with this solution alone. ChatGPT didn’t just save me time; it expanded my confidence with coding. (I’m discovering that sometimes the best ideas come from an AI brainstorming buddy!)
- Example: AI training isn’t always an easy sell, especially in industries like manufacturing and construction. So, I asked ChatGPT to list 25 potential concerns—both logical and emotional—and craft responses for each. The insights were so spot-on that I felt like I’d just peeked inside my potential trainees’ heads.
- Result and Reflection: I was surprised by the depth of perception shown throughout the responses. This list is now our “go to” resource for understanding how many people feel about AI.
And it’s become even more than that—we can look to it as a treasure trove for podcasts, blog posts and social media. I couldn’t have created results that were this comprehensive over many full days of work.
- Estimated Time Saved: 24-36 hours (and a lot of mental energy!).
3. Promoting a class: Heather Satterley saves the day!
- Type: Writing an engaging class description.
- Example: Here’s a fun story. I was prepping a talk for our Instructor Writer Coalition on “The Power of Partnership: How to Plan and Present a Joint Webinar.” Satterley (our group leader and all-around genius) asked me for a short description to send to members.
I was about to spend nearly an hour crafting it when Heather shared a game-changing tip: “Convert your PowerPoint to a PDF and let ChatGPT write the description for you!”
Curious (and maybe a little skeptical), I gave it a try. Minutes later, ChatGPT delivered a polished, professional description that needed only a couple of tweaks. I sent it off to Heather within just a few minutes – with time to spare!
- Result and Reflection: What could’ve been a tedious, time-consuming task turned into a quick, enjoyable win. Thank you, Heather, for the tip—and ChatGPT for the magic!
- Estimated Time Saved: 45 minutes (+ a happier afternoon).
4. Getting names right: Pronunciation help
- Type: Avoiding awkward missteps.
- Example: Names are important, and I never want to mispronounce one, especially during a call or webinar. Last week, I asked ChatGPT how to pronounce “Faisl,” and it not only explained but also spoke it aloud. No more guessing or awkward apologies!
- Result and Reflection: This wasn’t about saving time; it was about showing respect and empathy. ChatGPT’s pronunciation feature might just replace my dictionary app.
- Type: Researching hard-to-find documents.
- Example: If you’ve ever searched for PCI compliance documents, you know it’s like navigating a maze. I needed specific checklists for "SAQ" and "AOC" reports but couldn’t find them on the official website. ChatGPT stepped in, located the URLs, and guided me to the exact documents I needed.
- Result and Reflection: ChatGPT cut through hours of frustration. PCI compliance is complicated enough—having ChatGPT as a research assistant made the process much, much easier.
- Estimated Time Saved: 1-2 hours (to say nothing of furrowed brows and pick-up-put-down wasted time).
Perspectives
Yes, AI is here to improve your career, your business and your take home pay!
The examples I shared above from our Info Plus Consulting team are only a few of the ways AI has recently enhanced our workdays. Whether you’re troubleshooting tech, prepping for a presentation, or solving problems you didn’t even know you had, tools like ChatGPT are there to help.
The best part? The only limit is your imagination. When you embrace an "AI-first" mindset, you’ll save time, work smarter, and even discover solutions you might have never considered. Why not give it a try this week and see what surprises AI has in store for you?