Notes from
the desk.
Practical, jargon-free writing on using AI in a small business. Free for everyone.
Strategy · 2026-10-14 · 1 min read
Where small teams should start with AI
Skip the grand strategy. The best first AI project is small, boring and repeated every week.
strategy
Workflows · 2026-10-07 · 1 min read
Five questions to ask before you automate anything
A quick checklist that saves you from automating the wrong thing, or the right thing badly.
automation
Workflows · 2026-09-30 · 1 min read
What a prompt review actually finds
Most AI answers go wrong for the same four reasons. Here is what I look for in the first ten minutes.
prompts
Strategy · 2026-09-22 · 1 min read
Choosing AI tools without the hype
A new tool launches every week. A simple way to decide which ones deserve your attention and budget.
tools
Strategy · 2026-09-12 · 1 min read
What AI really costs a small business
Subscriptions are the smallest line. A realistic look at the full cost, and how to tell if it pays back.
costs
Privacy and data · 2026-09-03 · 1 min read
Keeping customer data safe when you use AI
Five simple rules that cover most of the privacy risk for a small business using AI tools.
privacy
Working together · 2026-08-25 · 2 min read
What to expect in your first session
How a one-to-one AI consulting session works, what to prepare and what you take away.
sessions