What is Generative Artificial Intelligence (A.I.)?
The most basic definition is the ability to turn input into new content. "Rather than merely analyzing data, generative AI produces new data in all forms of media – text, code, images, audio, video and more." (Fivetran - simply a definition source, not promoting the product)

So What Do I Do with It?
I've struggled to find a use for generative A.I. in my world. I've been keeping eyes and ears open for potential uses, and I think I've finally found some.

Create A Customer Avatar
I've heard this suggestion often. Feed your favorite A.I. program with cues about your customer to effectively build a model of your customer, then run blog ideas or queries through that avatar's reference point to try to find insights. This can be useful to consider your marketing plan and product options to interest your customer. This may be useful, but I haven't tried it yet. It still feels like too much work to invest the time to create. I find it's more efficient (and more human!) to comment and chat with potential clients to identify needs and pain points. 

Create A List or Pool of Potential Clients
Now we're talking! This idea got my attention. Ilise Benum has been studying and perfecting prompts to help business owners tap into finding clients to begin reaching out with brief "letters of introduction" as Jennifer Goforth Gregory calls them. I'm looking forward to Ilise cutting the learning curve for me in a class over the summer.

Improve Writing Productivity
Jennifer Goforth Gregory offers a self-study program to learn ways to use A.I. in your research efforts and writing posts, headlines, even social media posts. She includes a module on ethical use of A.I. in your work. I haven't put in the time to learn how to create cues to use A.I. this way yet. I also see mixed news about whether use of A.I. is really allowed in some situations or how we need to qualify the end product if A.I. is used. This feels a bit murky and evolving to me to invest time in just yet.

Day-to-Day Usage - Ease of the Mundane
I heard a brilliant suggestion recently - call on A.I. to calculate how to halve a recipe for you. Amazing! That's a use I can get behind to save me some math gymnastics! 

Another suggestion was to present your A.I. program with a list of tasks and ask for assistance to prioritize the items to plan your day. This can be especially useful if prioritizing is hard. (h/t to a podcast interview on The Deliberate Freelancer with Rachel Meltzer)

Which Program to Use?
I'm afraid this is an evolving response that's too hard to pin down. On a general search, I found as many as 15 options listed, and it doesn't include an option I aim to test out as recommended by Ilise Benum. The best bet here is use a search engine and track ratings by others for ease of use and effectiveness. 

How have you been using generative A.I. in your work or personal life? What's your favorite program?

Read. Write. Engage. is an all-human platform with only general search engines used for research. Let's Chat if you're looking for a friendly, spontaneous human to collaborate with!

Seasonal Schedule Changes

You can just smell the sunscreen, can't you? Beaches, travel, swimming, reading time - dialing life back a bit. As a mom, even of college kids, our year revolves around a school schedule. I was thrilled to discover "academic calendars" available as planners and not just for teachers! I adore a good planner.

Goals and Seasons
"Season" can mean different things at different times in your life. There are the calendar seasons and the "season" of your life - before kids/career focus, with kids, empty nest, maybe career change, and retirement to name a few. No matter which "season" you're talking about, each creates a different flow in your schedule.

Summer Season
My summer now begins in May with college kids. Finals tend to be the last of April or very beginning of May. I feel like I have a whole extra month now, or I can "plan early" ahead of those parents finishing school the end of May in AZ or June in many states. It's the perfect time for me to review my year's goals and tweak them for a new flow of the schedule. It's longer days and a lighter schedule. It's an opportunity to try new things!

January Goal Check
So how are those goals going! Still on track? Fell hard off the wagon? Focusing on some - feeling guilty about others? No worries! Change of season is a great opportunity for a "do-over" or reset of intentions! 

• What's still resonating with you from January or your original goal setting time? 
• Time to keep those goals going through the year or need to rethink them a bit? A small tweak can make a big difference to stick with your intentions!
• Had more time to ponder new goals and ready to add a couple?
• Life taking you in unexpected directions with different goals in order?

What Method to Use?
Just as at the beginning of the year, there are a ton of ways to consider your goal setting. It can honestly be overwhelming. I keep many in mind but select the best parts of each for my own mix.

• Every good plan begins with a brain dump or brainstorming session!
  • Get all of those random thoughts out of your head and onto paper or some digital note/goal system. Trello (or Asana or something similar) works great for this as I can add lists and cards (tasks), color code, and move them around to my heart's content.
  • You need to see patterns for your goals and plans.
• Eisenhower Matrix - we reviewed this earlier and there are a few different takes on the basic idea, but identify Urgent/Important goals and tasks. Kendra Adachi of The Lazy Genius calls the quadrants Now, Soon (schedule), Later (delegate), and Never Mind (eliminate). I love the simplicity!
• Have to/Hope to - this is another idea from The Lazy Genius in a podcast episode. Identify what you HAVE to do vs what you HOPE to do. Dial it back where you can and take a deep breath.
• Categories of goals or tasks
  • Jon Acuff is a goal guru - goals are his thing! He identifies focal points for goals.
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Relationships
    • Health
    • FUN (don't forget the FUN!)
  • April Perry of LearnDoBecome focuses on teaching systems to maximize your time and energy. Her system is based on David Allen's Getting Things Done. April's project focus:
    • Me
    • Family
    • Beyond​

Status Check
So how are you doing! I was a bit cautious to start the year. I didn't want to overwhelm myself with too many things in process. I kept about half of my initial goals that were doing well. The other half - maybe half of those I'm renewing and the other half I'm changing.

Some lend themselves better to the summer schedule and pace of things: stop work at 8pm for family/hobby time, and maybe this will be the year to start water aerobics!

I'd be happy to share ideas if you're feeling stuck in your goals or struggling to find what resonates with you. Let's help you achieve those business and personal aspirations -  Let's Chat!

Historic Phoenix Cemeteries

Ed Dobbins and Pioneers' Cemetery Association (PCA) have published a book April 2024 detailing the history of seven historic cemeteries in Phoenix, AZ. 

This is a story of a young territorial town that experienced explosive growth while needing a location to bury the dead. Four town blocks were set aside as a cemetery from 1871 to 1884 until it was ordered closed. Once the city incorporated, the cemeteries were re-opened between 1884-1893 as seven separate and distinct cemeteries until once again closed in 1914. 

It's a fascinating story of how early settlers struggled to maintain order, care, and respect in the burial of its citizens. There were many efforts to sell or repurpose the grounds as care and maintenance were often a low priority for the growing city. 

Ed provides a significant number of citations as he chronicles the heritage of the seven historic cemeteries now known as Pioneer & Military Memorial Park (PMMP). He also briefly shares the history behind the current caretakers, the Pioneers' Cemetery Association. 

This book is focused on the history of the cemeteries. PCA published another book July 2018, Pioneer and Military Memorial Park of Phoenix, which includes a variety of stories about those interred in the seven cemeteries. Copies are available on Amazon as linked or by contacting PCA for local pick-up. You can purchase your copy of the books through PCA's Gift Shop.  

Ed has a YouTube channel where he shares other stories of the history of Phoenix. It's a great way to learn about the history of early Arizona. 

I was honored to be a part of this project as proofreader and copy editor. I look forward to assisting you with your next project - Let's Chat!