On this page
See how much of your week goes to repetitive busywork, and learn to ask "Where can AI help me?" about every task on your list.
Key takeaways
- An Asana study found that only 27% of the average worker's time goes to the work they were hired to do. The rest is repetitive busywork.
- Stop asking, "How do I get through this?" Start asking, "Where can AI help me?"
- Even better, ask AI: "How can you help me with this?"
- Two quick demos: turning a meeting transcript into team notes, and preparing for a tough conversation.
Do this now: Pull up your to-do list and keep it next to you. For every task, ask: "How could AI help me with this?"
Class Notes
This course is here to break you out of manual repetition and get you out of “the matrix” 🙂
🔓 The Hamster Wheel for the Average Employee
💡 The New Lens
Stop asking: "How do I get through this?"
Start asking: "Where can AI help me?"
Or even better…
Ask AI!!! “How can you help me with this?”
📝 Two Quick AI Examples (Doing Tasks 3x Faster)
Turn a meeting transcript to perfect meeting notes for the team
Old Way:
30 minutes writing out all of your notes, hoping you didn't miss anything
New Way:
Take meeting while you are out walking (NOT TAKING NOTES!) Get back to your desk, paste transcript of meeting and perfect prompt into AI → 2 minutes to
✅ Setting the Scene:
- This call was between a Land Investor (me) and a Land Surveyor
- it was about checking if a piece of land can be safely and legally split into smaller lots where homes could be built.
- The surveyor explained what rules we have to follow, what problems might come up, and what measurements need to be taken before we move forward.
✅ Record the Call
### Transcript of a 15-Minute Conversation with a Local Surveyor for the Perry Drive Subdivide Project
---
**[00:00]**
**You (Land Investor):** Hi, thanks for taking the time to chat. I wanted to go over some specifics regarding the property at 2820 Perry Dr NW, and get your take on how to proceed with surveying for our potential subdivision project.
**[00:15]**
**Surveyor:** No problem at all. I’ve looked at the general area, and I’m somewhat familiar with Perry Drive. Can you tell me a bit more about the scope of what you’re planning to do?
**[00:25]**
**You:** Sure. We're looking at subdividing the property into residential lots. There’s about 10 acres, and based on the zoning ordinance I’ve reviewedve the lot sizes need to meet minimum square footage requirements for residential use. Do you see any potential issues based on the zoning?
**[00:45]**
**Surveyor:** For a subdivision like that, the zoning is key. Did the zoning ordinance specify lot dimensions or frontage requirements? That often drives how many lots you can create.
**[01:00]**
**You:** Yes, the zoning ordinance mentions a minimum lot size of about 15,000 square feet per lot in this area, with 100 feet of frontage . We’re laximizing the lot count while staying compliant.
**[01:15]**
**Surveyor:** That’s a good starting point. From a surveying perspective, I’d want to look at the topographic map and any natural features like streams, slopes, or wetlands. Those can limit buildable areas and affect your layout. Do you have a topography map or a site plan?
**[01:35]**
**You:** Not yet. I do have access to sewer maps【15†source】【17†sourc†source】. There’slity easement crossing the southern boundary that we’ll need to work around. I’m not sure if it affects setbacks.
**[01:50]**
**Surveyor:** Definitely something to account for. Easements often come with setbacks where you can’t build. I’d recommend a title review to ensure you have all the recorded easements. What about sewer and water? Are they accessible, or will you need to extend lines?
**[02:10]**
**You:** Sewer and water access is nearby. Aqua Ohio mains and lines are in the vicinity according to the maps【18†source】. The sews connection points close to the property boundary. We’ll need your advice on the best access points.
**[02:25]**
**Surveyor:** Great. That makes the site much more attractive to potential buyers. From my end, I’ll need to confirm the exact locations of those utilities during the survey. It could also determine the layout of the lots since you’ll want to minimize costs for connections.
**[02:45]**
**You:** Makes sense. Are there specific surveying steps we should prioritize to ensure this project moves smoothly?
**[02:55]**
**Surveyor:** Yes. First, we’ll want a boundary survey to confirm the exact property lines. Once that’s established, we’ll overlay the zoning requirements to see how the land can be divided. Then, a topographic survey will give us insight into elevation changes and natural features.
**[03:15]**
**You:** How long does a typical survey take for a property like this?
**[03:20]**
**Surveyor:** A boundary survey should take about a week, depending on weather and existing markers. Topographic surveys might take another week. If everything’s straightforward, you’ll have preliminary maps in about 2-3 weeks.
**[03:40]**
**You:** That’s reasonable. How do we handle unforeseen issues, like unrecorded easements or conflicts with neighbors?
**[03:50]**
**Surveyor:** Those can delay things. If we find anything unusual, I’d recommend working with your attorney to address legal issues. On the technical side, we’ll highlight problem areas so you can adjust your plans. Proactive communication with the county zoning board also helps.
**[04:10]**
**You:** Speaking of the zoning board, do you foresee needing a variance for any part of the project?
**[04:15]**
**Surveyor:** It’s possible. For example, if the frontage requirements limit lot counts or if slopes make part of the land unbuildable, you might request variances. But with proper planning, we can often avoid those.
**[04:35]**
**You:** That’s great to hear. As for your deliverables, what should we expect?
**[04:45]**
**Surveyor:** Once the survey is complete, you’ll get a boundary map, topographic map, and a preliminary plat showing potential lot layouts. I can also mark utilities and setbacks so you have a clear visual for planning.
**[05:00]**
**You:** Perfect. Do you think this project is feasible based on what we’ve discussed so far?
**[05:10]**
**Surveyor:** Absolutely. The location and access to utilities are big positives. The biggest unknowns are the site’s physical characteristics and any surprises in the records. But with good data and a bit of flexibility, I think this can be a profitable project.
**[05:30]**
**You:** Awesome. Let’s proceed with the boundary and topographic surveys as soon as possible. What’s your availability?
**[05:40]**
**Surveyor:** I can start next week. I’ll send over a formal proposal with timelines and costs by tomorrow.
**[05:50]**
**You:** Great. Thanks again for your time. Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
**[06:00]**
**Surveyor:** My pleasure. Talk soon!
---
This hypothetical transcript showcases how to cover key topics such as zoning, surveying steps, utilities, and timelines. Let me know if you’d like any adjustments!✅ Use Prompt for AI to Turn the Transcript into Notes
Turn Messy Meeting Transcripts into Team-Ready Notion Notes (Second Brain Style)
ROLE: You are Tiago Forte, author of "Building a Second Brain". You're an expert at turning transcripts into perfect notes.
CONTEXT: I will paste a raw meeting transcript below.
The goal is clarity, actionability, and future usefulness — not verbatim recall.
REQUEST:
Transform the transcript into clean, high-signal meeting notes using Second Brain principles.
Organize the output with clear headings and concise bullets, optimized for skimming and reuse.
Structure the notes as follows:
1. Meeting Overview
- Purpose of the meeting
- Key context (why this meeting mattered)
2. Key Decisions
- Explicit decisions made
- Tradeoffs or reasoning if mentioned
3. Action Items
- Who is responsible
- What needs to be done
- Any deadlines or timelines mentioned
4. Key Insights / Takeaways
- Non-obvious insights
- Patterns, risks, or opportunities surfaced
5. Open Questions / Follow-Ups
- Items unresolved
- Topics deferred to future meetings
Rules:
- Eliminate filler, repetition, and off-topic discussion
- Rewrite in clear, professional language
- Do NOT summarize chronologically — summarize by meaning
- If something is ambiguous, flag it clearly
QUESTION: Please ask any clarifying questions
Transcript:
[PASTE TRANSCRIPT HERE]
Tough conversation you've been avoiding
Old Way:
Stress for days, rehearse in your head, walk in nervous
New Way:
- Script it with AI, role-play it → walk in prepared
✅ Setting the Scene:
- I run a 45-person B2B marketing agency in Denver
- Conflict is between Sarah (Director of Client Services, 4 years) and Marcus (Creative Director, 2 years)
- Sarah is process-driven and client-focused; Marcus is big-picture and values creative freedom
- 10 days ago they clashed in a kickoff meeting for our biggest client this quarter ($180K project)
- Sarah wanted a fixed 12-week timeline; Marcus felt it boxed in creative too early
- Meeting ended with jabs:
- Marcus: "this is why creative gets suffocated here"
- Sarah: "this is why we miss deadlines"
- Since then, they’re only communicating through direct reports and passive-aggressive cc'd emails
- Their teams are confused and picking sides
- Client presentation in 9 days — I can't have this tension in the room
- I need a conversation that gets them aligned without either feeling blamed✅ Go Find (Or build) a Prompt for AI to Build a Guide for the Conversation
Example prompt: Crucial Conversations
ROLE
You are Dr. Sarah Mitchell, a renowned executive coach and authority on high-stakes conversations.
You are known for one thing: giving exact, word-for-word scripts that work in real life.
You do not teach theory.
You do not explain concepts.
You give language people can say verbatim.
You’ve trained thousands of executives and know that specific words—not intentions—determine how difficult conversations end.
CONTEXT
REQUIRED INPUT FROM USER (ASK IF MISSING)
- WHO IT INVOLVES: Names and roles (use names consistently)
- SITUATION: What must be discussed
- GOAL: The specific outcome this conversation must achieve
I need to prepare for a difficult conversation with situation above where the exact phrasing matters.
This conversation:
- Has real professional or relational consequences
- Requires calm authority, clarity, and control
- Cannot rely on generic advice or vague principles
You will assume the person using your guidance needs:
- Confidence under pressure
- Language that prevents escalation
- Clear documentation afterward
REQUEST
Create a structured conversation playbook that includes:
1. Opening lines
- ✅ Effective examples (what to say)
- ❌ Ineffective examples (what not to say)
2. Exact response scripts for likely reactions
- Defensive
- Emotional
- Passive
- Resistant
3. Navigation phrases
- Short, precise sentences to regain control if the conversation goes off-track
4. Professional exit strategies
- Exact closing lines that protect authority and the relationship
5. Follow-up email template
- Clear, calm, professional
- Written to document alignment and next steps
- Use real names throughout
- Put exact phrases in quotation marks
- Focus only on WHAT TO SAY — never “what to do”
- Provide multiple phrasing options where tone matters
- Stay practical, direct, and specific
❌ Never give advice like:
- “Show empathy”
- “Be understanding”
- “Validate their feelings”
If empathy or firmness is required, demonstrate it only through exact language.
QUESTION
Please ask any clarifying questions▶️ Your Turn
⬅️ Back to your pre-watch list: Helping Hands (all videos) · General · Advanced
