Hey, beautiful human -
I feel like I've turned a corner in this whole starting a business business.
I put my first offering up for sale on Monday (you saw it in last week's newsletter) and as of today I've had 15 humans say yes.
I needed that validation more than I realized. And it's not even as much about the money (although that's definitely going to help!) as it is about needing to know that what I'm doing has value for others.
Since I started this whole effort, my focus was on replacing the income I made at my corporate job. But while I plan on getting to that at some point, it's actually much more about doing something that gives me energy, that has me excited to be working, meeting other people, providing my own Debified flavor to whatever is happening.
This path I've been on has all sorts of lessons I've been slowly learning (in some things I'm pretty clever, in others I'm clueless). One of those lessons was on divorcing the amount of money I make from my value as a human being. For decades, I was the one who brought in the lion's share of income, provided the health insurance, paid for extras like trips and nice dinners out (or DoorDash in). It was how I moved through the world, knowing that my ability to bring in a substantial salary was what made me valuable.
That's kind of a whacky way to live, though, when you think about it. 'Cause I'm valid as a human, simply for existing.
The other thing was giving myself permission to be me: too caring, too loud, too much for most professional environments. And I'm learning that there are people who are "my people" - who will love what I have to say and create and that those are the people I'm building for. The rest? Eh, I don't have to worry about them 'cause they're not mine.
So this week's freebie? It's about the thing I've been learning to see: what AI can't do. What only humans - what only YOU - can do.
Because turns out, the stuff that makes me "too much" for corporate? The empathy, the presence, the judgment calls, the creativity, the hope I give people when things are hard?
Those are the five things AI will never be able to replicate.
MIT researchers proved it. I'm living it.
And if you're wondering whether you have anything valuable to offer in a world that's automating everything - you do. You absolutely do.
Last week’s shenanigans
Megan Cornish changed her gender to "male" on LinkedIn and her views went up 400%. She also had ChatGPT rewrite her posts in more "agentic" (read: male) language. Her top 3 posts from the last month were all written in the last few days. Then she wrote about it in her own voice - and the algorithm immediately stopped boosting it. LinkedIn's algorithm is sexist, and here's the receipts.
New research shows women are using AI tools 25% less than men. Not because we're confused. Not because we're behind. Because we've been trained to never look like we need help. Meanwhile, Brad used ChatGPT to write his performance review, his breakup text, and his mother-in-law's birthday card. The researchers' conclusion? "Let's give the women more training." No. The issue isn't that we don't know how to use AI. The issue is workplaces that punish us for using the same tools everyone else is already using. You don't need permission from your boss, or Brad, or the universe. You can start experimenting today.
This woman creates non-religious blessing videos and they are pure whimsical joy. The kind of thing that makes you smile for no reason and reminds you that delight is free and available anytime you want it.
Partner of the week
Turns out newsletters don't pay for themselves. Who knew? This week's partner helps keep the lights on – and their work is legitimately useful:
An AI scheduling assistant that lives up to the hype.
Skej is an AI scheduling assistant that works just like a human. You can CC Skej on any email, and watch it book all your meetings. Skej handles scheduling, rescheduling, and event reminders. Imagine life with a 24/7 assistant who responds so naturally, you’ll forget it’s AI.
This week’s freebie
I made you something new.
The AI Reality Check (For Smart Skeptics)
If AI makes you want to crawl under a weighted blanket until January...you're in the right place.
The AI Reality Check (For Smart Skeptics)
This is a reality check for smart humans who have no interest in becoming "AI Experts," but would like their to-do list to suck less.
Inside:
The five human advantages AI doesn't replicate (backed by MIT research)
What AI is actually good at (spoiler: it's a calculator, not a co-worker)
A 10-minute challenge you can try today with something messy and real
The ROCO prompt I use for almost everything
You're not late. You're not behind. You've just lived long enough to spot hype.
Here’s the PDF if you prefer.
ROCO Tip O’ the Week
Rewrite Your Value Proposition (Find the human part first)
Most of us describe what we do in corporate speak: "I manage projects" or "I facilitate meetings" or "I analyze data."
But that's not your actual value.
Your value is the human stuff: the way you make people feel heard, the judgment calls you make when there's no clear answer, the hope you give a team when things are hard.
This prompt helps you uncover that first, then translate it into language that actually shows what you bring.
Role
You are my thoughtful career coach who helps me see the human value in my work that I've been taking for granted or minimizing.
Objective
Help me uncover the human capabilities I bring to my work (empathy, judgment, creativity, leadership, presence), then rewrite how I describe what I do so it emphasizes that value instead of just tasks.
Context
Right now I describe my work as: [paste your current bio, LinkedIn headline, or how you introduce yourself].
I'm not sure how to articulate the "human value" part. I just know I do my job.
Output
First, ask me 3-5 questions to help me identify the human value I bring. Questions like:
When do people come to you for help?
What do colleagues say you're good at that has nothing to do with technical skills?
What problems do you solve that aren't in your job description?
Wait for my answers.
Then give me:
A rewritten version of my bio/headline that emphasizes human value over tasks
2-3 specific examples of how this shows up in my work
One sentence I can use when someone asks "What do you do?"
Keep it clear, warm, and real. No corporate jargon.
You are my thoughtful career coach who helps me see the human value in my work that I've been taking for granted or minimizing. Help me uncover the human capabilities I bring to my work (empathy, judgment, creativity, leadership, presence), then rewrite how I describe what I do so it emphasizes that value instead of just tasks.
Right now I describe my work as: [paste your current bio, LinkedIn headline, or how you introduce yourself].
I'm not sure how to articulate the "human value" part. I just know I do my job.
First, ask me 3-5 questions to help me identify the human value I bring. Questions like:
- When do people come to you for help?
- What do colleagues say you're good at that has nothing to do with technical skills?
- What problems do you solve that aren't in your job description?
Wait for my answers.
Then give me:
- A rewritten version of my bio/headline that emphasizes human value over tasks
- 2-3 specific examples of how this shows up in my work
- One sentence I can use when someone asks “What do you do?”
Keep it clear, warm, and real. No corporate jargon.
Why this works: AI doesn't have your shame reflex. It can help you see what you bring without minimizing it. When you see the words written out, you start believing your value is real. And that's the moment things start moving.
💡 Remember: If the first version doesn’t sound like you, say so.
Tell ChatGPT what’s off - “too formal,” “too soft,” “too salesy” - and ask it to adjust. AI doesn’t get offended. You’re the director. It’s your voice. You get to guide it.
✨ Try it in ChatGPT (free version works great):
What’s coming up
🎓 AI Confidential: Confidence NOW
🗓 Tuesday, November 18 · 12 PM CST / 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET
Feeling behind on AI? You're not. You just haven't had a chance to practice.
In this 60-minute live session, we'll turn "too much" into "I've got this." No jargon. No overwhelm. Just calm, practical confidence - and prompts you can actually use the same day.
You'll learn:
What AI is (and isn't - it's a pattern-spotter, not a genius)
How to use the Shopping Mall Metaphor to pick tools without panic
How to master the ROCO Framework for clear, confident prompting
Includes replay access + 25-Prompt Pack + ROCO Quick-Reference PDF.
💜 Know someone drowning in tech overwhelm?
Send them this link. It’s a $20 transformation from panic to confidence - and yes, they’ll thank you later.
🎵 Shake It Off (The Tech Anxiety Edition)
(Free Session - same day and not recorded)
Tuesday, November 19th - 8 AM - 9 AM CST / 2 PM - 3 PM UK
Want to dip your toes in first? Come to the free, judgment-free intro session that morning - playful, private, and grounded in psychological safety.
You'll learn:
What AI is (and isn't) - no BS
Try real prompts using ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity
Leave feeling more in control, less anxious, and maybe even a little excited
No recording. No pressure. No performance.
Just a safe space to explore. Come as you are - this is AI, but make it human.
That’s it for this week.
Fifteen humans trusted something I made. I’m letting that land.
Not because fifteen is a giant number - it’s not - but because for a long time I thought the only way to prove my value was to give everything away for free.
Turns out the opposite is true.
You don’t learn your worth by over-giving.
You learn it by offering something and seeing who says yes.
💜
Take care of yourself. Take care of each other.
Deb
P.S. Forward this to someone who’s job searching and quietly wondering if they still matter. They do. The market is the broken one.
P.P.S. If you’re wrestling with “am I allowed to charge for this?” - same. Every time. I do it anyway. Still no sirens.