Mastering the Digital Fluency Mindset

Hey, happy Saturday!

I'm currently at Frieze LA, one of the biggest art shows located just a short walk from our home at the Santa Monica Airport. My husband is a huge art enthusiast, and we both share a passion for supporting local artists who tell impactful stories, such as digital artist  Refik Anadol,  whom we recently met in his LA studio.

Despite concerns about AI in art, Anadol shows us a different side of the story, demonstrating how artists can collaborate with AI in harmony to advance the art world in unexpected and progressive ways.

This got me thinking about our topic in today's blog post: How can we all thrive in the AI-Driven Future of Work?

This week, I made a decision to hire my first AI intern, ChatGPT, for just $20 a month. I'm really happy with the choice, but it got me thinking about the future and what it holds for my two little girls. Will they still have the opportunity to work as interns in 10 years, or will AI have taken over those jobs?

Wait before you push the panic button.

Let me clarify my thoughts on this:

So, what do we do?

We gotta tap into our uniquely human qualities that robots can't replicate, like empathy, creativity or communication skills.

I call it a Digital Fluency Mindset, and you have to start cultivating it to stay ahead of the game.

Mastering the Digital Fluency Mindset

There are five key mindsets and skill sets to adopt to succeed in the future of work:

1. Human problem solver mindset: Take time to reflect on the problem you want to solve before using technology and use empathy and active listening skills to understand yourself and others.
2. Digital Detective mindset: Stay updated on the latest technology advancements, approach technology positively, and fearlessly dives into the vast sea of information.
3. Creative mind mindset: Nurture your innate curiosity and harness your creativity to develop new and unique ideas.
4. Playful Pioneer mindset: Be willing to experiment and explore new opportunities, stay up-to-date with the latest technology advancements, and have a positive attitude.
5. Brand of "ME" mindset: Build a strong personal brand inside and outside your organization, and improve your interpersonal skills, cultural intelligence, and professional network to stand out as an innovation pioneer in your subject matter.

So let's get actionable

Let me explain how I use these mindsets with ChatGPT as an example (but you can substitute it with any emerging technology):

The Human Problem Solver Mindset:

It's a good idea to stop for a moment and think about the problem we want to solve before we start using the latest technologies. In my case, I had too many operative tasks as a solopreneur and needed more time to think creatively and spend time with my kids. I also had a budget constraint, so I had to decide whether to hire real people, aka interns, or automate tasks via technology aka ChatGPT.

Digital Detective Mindset: 

Next, after an extended Internet search about the latest things about ChatGPT, I learned:

It's good at automating low-leverage tasks, the "doing," but not good at thinking.

Creative Mind Mindset:

So then, I connected the dots of all my findings and best use cases and started to brainstorm and came up with five creative ways how I can use ChatGPT as my intern:

1. Copywriter,

2. Trend and startup scout

3. Idea brainstormer

4. Graphic "prompt" illustrator,

5. and Babysitter (for fun bedtime stories with my kids).

Playful Pioneer:

So I started experimenting with ChatGPT and learned that specificity is key to unlocking good results. For example, as a trend scout, instead of asking for the latest technology trends, I asked for the latest technology trends in the healthcare industry for doctors who treat mental disease patients. Then, I let ChatGPT make a form for it, making my work much more efficient.

Brand of "Me" Mindset:

In just six weeks, I went from not knowing how to spell ChatGPT to being called by corporate clients to help curate expert learning sessions. By sharing my insights on LinkedIn and in my newsletter, I attracted other ChatGPT fans who wanted to connect to learn from each other. It's crazy how many new opportunities have come my way just by sharing my learnings!

To answer the question I asked earlier, I believe "real" interns will still have a place in the future of work, but not for tasks that AI can handle more efficiently. The key is for us humans to make us unique and find ways to collaborate with our AI Buddy to develop creative strategies for even better results. And this is true for everyone, whether you're an intern or a CEO.

👎🏼 Your turn:

So start today investing in your future career by developing your uniquely human skills. Time to reflect on how you can use ChatGPT as a 24/7 intern in your job. I'm excited to hear your ideas!

Speak to you next week!