profile

Louise Beattie | Modern Business For Solopreneurs and Small Businesses

It's hard because it feels like a temporary fix...

Published 6 months ago • 2 min read

The words hit me out of the blue.

"It's hard because it feels like it's a temporary fix."

I came across these words in an email from Shawn Twing, recounting his conversation with Copy Chief founder Kevin Rogers. They've been living rent-free in my mind ever since.

Because they capture exactly what many of us are feeling right now, particularly about AI and the rapidly changing business landscape.

Think about it. When was the last time you felt completely certain about your next business move?

For many of us running independent businesses, it feels like our clients have one foot perpetually out the door. We're trying to navigate AI tools but questioning every choice.

ChatGPT? Claude? Gemini?

Why invest time learning something today that might be outdated tomorrow?

Yet here's what's fascinating - and what completely shifted my perspective:

Most of the world isn't even in the race yet.

Major corporations are still debating AI policies. Elite marketing teams are using AI primarily for... email subject lines. Large agencies report their staff mainly use AI for basic Google-style searches.

What's even more striking is that they're missing the real breakthrough - using AI as a strategic thinking partner.

The latest AI models aren't just tools for basic tasks. They're sophisticated collaborators capable of deep analysis, creative brainstorming, and strategic planning. When you engage with them as partners rather than mere utilities, the possibilities expand exponentially.

This revelation changed everything for me.

While it may feel like technology is racing past us, most of the world is moving at a snail's pace. We have access to tools that can multiply our productivity by 100x for minimal cost, and more importantly, amplify our strategic thinking in ways previously unimaginable.

This isn't just an opportunity - it's potentially a once-in-a-lifetime advantage for small, agile businesses like ours.

Yes, there's uncertainty. Yes, the pace of change is dizzying. But perhaps that's precisely why this moment is so precious.

The tools are remarkable. You only need a few key ones to create significant impact. And when you learn to work with AI as a true collaborative partner, you unlock levels of creativity and strategic insight that put you miles ahead of the competition.

I'm curious about your thoughts on this. How are you navigating these changes? Have you experienced any breakthroughs in using AI as a thinking partner?

If you'd like to share your perspective, simply hit reply. I read every response (though I may not be able to reply to all).

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts,

Louise

P.S. I'd love to understand more about you and your business so I can tailor future content specifically to your needs. Would you take a moment to let me know which category best describes you?

​

​

P.P.S. If you know someone who might benefit from this conversation about AI and business opportunity, please feel free to forward this email to them.

​

Louise Beattie

​Forge & Flourish​

Thank you for being a valued citizen in this little corner of the internet. I appreciate your engagement and the opportunity to share insights with you.

If, at any point, my emails are no longer providing value, you can easily unsubscribe using the link below. This will remove you from all emails, including updates on paid courses, products, and memberships. Alternatively, update your email preferences to customise what you receive.

Receiving multiple emails from me? Reply with the email addresses I'm emailing you at, along with which email address you'd like to keep getting my emails at, and I'll be happy to merge your records together.

This email was sent with Kit, which I highly recommend. They have a new Newsletter Plan ($0/mo for up to 10,000 subscribers, sign up for free, no card required)

​

​Update Your Preferences | Unsubscribe​

113 Cherry #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205 (please note: this is not my private address, I am based in the UK; it's a reachable address provided by Kit)

Louise Beattie | Modern Business For Solopreneurs and Small Businesses

Founder of Forge & Flourish, Heroic Coach®, and dog lover with an insatiable curiousity, redefining success with AI

I help solopreneurs, small business owners and professionals build modern businesses that thrive in a post-AI world through smart AI use—amplifying their sovereign minds for more freedom and revenue, and lives that matter with greater time, connection, and purpose. Join a community of bold thinkers using AI to create lives they love.

Read more from Louise Beattie | Modern Business For Solopreneurs and Small Businesses

Newsletter Email: Value Translation Framework You know that moment when someone asks what you do and you hear yourself say "I'm a consultant" or "I'm a photographer" – and something inside you dies a little? The words feel like sawdust in your mouth. You watch their eyes glaze over with that polite-but-distant smile that screams 'next conversation, please'. Meanwhile, you're screaming internally: But I just spent three years helping a struggling tech startup completely restructure their...

1 day ago • 3 min read
morning stroll ai image of woman walking in the fields with her cocker spaniel

I’d been wrestling with a decision for days. You know the kind, where you think you’ve made it, then second-guess it half an hour later. I’d turned it over in my head in every direction. It was still unclear. Then I took Midge for a walk. No earbuds. No agenda. Just sky, the breeze, and soft rhythm of paws on grass. And somewhere around the field, the answer came to me. Simple. Clear. Settled. Not because I tried harder. But because I stopped trying at all. That walk reminded me (again) that...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read

Sometimes the clarity fades. Not dramatically. Not all at once. We’ve all been there, lost our way. But slowly. A plan that no longer feels alive. A rhythm that stops making sense. A sense that you’re “off”, without being able to name why. If you’re wired for responsibility (and most of us are), the instinct is to fix. To push harder. To get back on track, fast. But what if there’s nothing to fix? What if this moment, the doubt, the pause, the quiet, isn’t failure, but recalibration? I wrote...

2 months ago • 1 min read