The Flintstones or The Jetsons

"I was not my best self."

I was in the thick of it -- working in a toxic environment that drained me every single day.

As nonprofit leaders, we know this kind of place where the pressure is constant, the expectations are sky-high, and resources are scarce at best.

I was a marketer now responsible for writing grants, a skill I never had to master before.

I was surviving, barely.

And mentally, I was struggling -- lone gone.

The grind and the need to survive turned me into someone I didn't recognize -- I wasn't showing up for myself, let alone for anyone else.

I was frayed, in the worst way.

I was doing what I had to do just to get through the day, but I knew I needed to be more.

I wanted to be more.

I knew I was more.

This is how I discovered generative AI -- more specifically, ChatGPT.

I had a problem and this new, untested, unexplored technology was a solution.

It wasn't perfect, but it bought me time. And not in the way you think, it wasn't about getting work done faster.

It gave me time to recenter myself -- to hear myself -- to rediscover myself.

It offered mental space -- compartments -- glimpses of reality.

In the midst of this, I was learning grant writing and I was learning this tool. I was up nights in the underbelly of the internet figuring out this new thing.

My first grants were horrible, but they got better over time.

And so did I.

So much so, I knew this tool was ultimately not going to save me from the real solution, which was remove myself from the environment -- which I did.

⬆️

This is why I advocate for nonprofit leaders and AI.

Since doing this work, in almost every nonprofit leader I speak with, it's the same refrain - doing more with less and they are weary for it. Not because they don't love their missions, because they do.

How many of you have felt like you needed a lifeline?

Human capacity takes a hit in this line of work. I don't suspect it will change any time soon, but it's my mission.

I support nonprofit leaders in leaning on and implementing AI so it can save money, time and ultimately people.

Sanity is our most precious commodity.

So yes, sign me up for the soft life.

If I have to choose between The Flintstones and The Jetsons, I'm choosing The Jetsons.

Every. 👏🏾Single. 👏🏾 Time. 👏🏾

Shereese

Take a listen to a simulated podcast created from this intro you just read. This was created in Notebook. A great AI tool that helps you sort through your thoughts and create audio content from your notes. Try it here: notebooklm.google.com

What use cases come to mind for you? Reply back and let me know.

Prompt Share

Here is a fun marketing prompt to learn more about your audience.

Marketing Audience and Messaging

Act as a brand strategist, create a marketing strategy for a nonprofit [Define the mission] I'm [insert your role] responsible for [what do you do and why]. I need to [add additional information] so I can [provide why you need it].

Create three audience personas.

Include pain points, fears, desires, wants, and buying behaviors.

[after you get the response]

Create a conversation where the three personas [name them] have a conversation about how [organization] can serve them, touch on their pain points and provide a solution to their concerns about [mission of organization].

[after you get the response]

Based on these responses, what is the best marketing messages to reach these personas?
________

*Note: When giving AI context, be sure to provide why you’re asking, what you plan to do with the ask and what success looks like after implementation.

Let us know how this works for you.

Ask AICN

Do you have questions or face challenges related to integrating AI into your nonprofit's operations? We’re here to help! Each issue of our newsletter will feature a section where we address your queries and offer solutions to your AI challenges.

• Send Your Queries: Use the link below to submit any AI-related questions—from data management and AI deployment to ethical dilemmas.

• Stay Tuned: Keep an eye on our newsletter. We’ll select a few questions to answer in each edition, providing practical advice for your on-the-desk concerns.

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