Getting Started with AI for Your Business: 5 Things to Do This Week

You don't need to be technical

The biggest misconception about AI in business is that you need to be technical to use it. You don't. If you can write an email, you can use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini to save hours every week.

Here are five things you can do this week — no coding, no budget, no IT department required.

1. Audit your repetitive tasks

Before you touch any AI tool, grab a notepad and write down every task you do this week that feels repetitive. Email replies, report formatting, social media posts, meeting summaries, data entry. That list is your AI opportunity map.

2. Try one AI writing task

Pick the easiest item from your list — maybe it's drafting a social media post or rewriting a product description. Open ChatGPT or Claude (both have free tiers) and try it. You'll be surprised how good the first draft is.

3. Set a 30-minute learning block

Block 30 minutes on your calendar this week for AI experimentation. That's it. Use it to try prompts, explore a tool, or read one chapter of a guide. Consistency beats intensity.

4. Create your first reusable prompt

Take something you write often — a client follow-up, a meeting recap, a weekly update — and create a prompt template. Save it somewhere you can grab it fast. This one habit alone can save you hours per month.

5. Share what you learned

Tell one colleague or friend what you tried. Teaching is the fastest way to solidify learning, and you might inspire someone else to start their own AI journey.

Want more?

These five steps are just the beginning. For a complete system — including tool recommendations, department-by-department workflows, and an AI policy template — check out AI for Small Business: A Practical Guide.