- What I tried: Uploading a workbook into a Custom GPT and having it guide me step-by-step through the process instead of just summarizing it.
- What I learned: A well-trained Brand AI can act like a teacher or guide, helping you think, reflect, and align decisions with your values—not just give answers.
- How you can apply it: Feed your AI a framework, book, or process and ask it to walk you through it interactively, not just explain it.
I had an interesting experience recently that shifted how I think about using a Custom GPT—or what I call a Brand AI.
I was meeting with a friend and business collaborator, Kevin from KYBREE, and we got into one of those bigger conversations. Not tactics. Not tools. The kind of conversation that makes you pause and ask, “What am I actually building here?”
We talked about scaling.
Do we want to scale? What does scaling even mean for the kind of businesses we’re building? In my case, the question was more personal: do I want something bigger than a lifestyle business?
Kevin recommended a book called The Science of Scaling. And if you know me, you know I’m not grabbing the hardcover—I went straight to Audible.
Early in the book, they mentioned a companion workbook. So I stopped the audio, downloaded the PDF, and opened it up.
Now, most of these workbooks follow a similar pattern. They walk you step-by-step through a framework. But instead of just reading through it or filling it out on my own, I decided to try something different.
I uploaded the workbook into a Custom GPT I had built for my spiritual practice—one that’s shaped around the teachings of Ram Dass — yes, I’m one of those woo-woo types.
And then I asked it to guide me through the workbook.
Not summarize it. Not answer questions about it. Actually walk me through it.
That changed everything.
Instead of rushing through the material, I moved through it intentionally. It asked me questions. It reflected things back to me. It helped me interpret the exercises through a lens that actually matters to me—my values, my purpose, the way I want to show up in my work. And yeah, we also took many tangential detours along the way, but we always came back to the workbook.
And what came out of that process was not just a scaling plan.
It was a plan that felt like mine.
Now here’s where it gets interesting.
One of the core ideas in the book is to set an “impossible goal” and an “impossible timeline.” Something so big and so fast that it forces focus and eliminates distractions.
But as we worked through the material, that part never really showed up.
So I went back and asked my GPT about it.
“Hey, what about the impossible goal and timeline?”
And the response was simple and honestly a little surprising.
“That’s not really for you.”
It pointed out something I hadn’t fully articulated myself. I’m not wired for giant, outcome-driven goals. I don’t do well anchoring everything to a specific result. I’m much more grounded in process. As I like to say, I work for work’s sake, not for the fruits of my labor.
So instead of forcing that framework, we adapted it.
What came out of that was something I now call:
Let’s see what happens.
Here’s what that looks like:
- Plan the work
- Visualize the work
- Do the work
And then, instead of gripping the outcome, I let it unfold.
When it’s done, I look back, assess, learn, and adjust.
Plan. Visualize. Do. Then reflect.
That’s my version of scaling.
And I don’t think I would have landed there if I had just read the book or asked AI to summarize it.
The real value came from letting the AI guide me through the process.
That’s the hidden power here.
Most people use AI to get answers.
But a Custom GPT—when it’s built well—can do something much more valuable. It can act like a teacher. A guide. A thinking partner that helps you move through a process in a way that stays aligned with who you are.
That’s a completely different experience.
So here’s a question for you:
What could you upload into your AI and have it walk you through?
It could be:
- A business framework
- A course workbook
- A set of SOPs
- A strategic planning document
- Even your own notes and ideas
Instead of asking, “What does this mean?” try asking, “Walk me through this.”
And as always, lead with your heart, finish with your brain. Let the AI guide the structure, but keep your judgment, your values, and your voice at the center of the process.
This matters because AI is not just a tool for faster answers. When used well, it becomes a tool for better thinking. And better thinking leads to better decisions, clearer direction, and work that actually aligns with the life you’re trying to build.