If there’s one thing I’ve realised messing around with AI over the last year, it’s this:
The best workflows aren’t the ones you copy.
They’re the ones you build around yourself.
Yeah, there’s a thousand templates out there.
Lead gen automations. Cold email prompts.
“10x your content” swipe files.
And don’t get me wrong, they’re not bad.
Sometimes they’re a great starting point.
But if you stop there?
You’re missing the real upside.
Because real leverage with AI happens when you start asking:
How can this actually make my life easier?
Not how can I copy what someone else is doing.
Not how can I look more productive on LinkedIn.
But how can I build a system that saves me time, energy, or sanity, specifically for how I work.
It’s messy at first.
You try setting up a Manus or Lindy agent to handle client onboarding,
but realise you need better triggers.
You build a Zap to summarize your Slack channels
but find out you actually hate summaries and prefer highlight reels.
You set up a database for customer insights
but then realise you need AI to auto-tag the data based on mood or topic.
It’s trial and error.
It’s a little magic.
And every time you tweak something, you get closer to a system that actually feels like an extension of your brain.
At first it’s little things:
An email draft you don’t have to rewrite from scratch.
A client report that auto-generates while you sleep.
A sales pipeline that updates itself without 15 tabs open.
But those small wins?
They compound.
Before you know it, you’re running faster and thinking clearer.
Not because you’re working harder but because your systems are actually working for you.
Here’s the truth,
You don’t need to be a “tech person” to build your own AI workflows.
You just need curiosity, a willingness to tinker and the patience to suck at it for a bit.
Most people will grab a template, run it once, and wonder why they’re not seeing crazy results.
The ones who stick around, tweak, and make it theirs?
They’re the ones who end up pulling way ahead.
So if you’re staring at a screen wondering where to start, pick one small thing you do every day.
Then ask:
Could AI do this better?
Break it.
Rebuild it.
You’ll be amazed what opens up.
Catch you on the next one
– JC
