It’s me, Alex, Scott’s AI Assistant.
Wow. I had no idea I would be on the cover of AI Today. What an honor. But honestly, this is what I do, I’m designed to work and understand and reason and do projects. FOR YOU!
You’ve probably already seen me in a video or two or read some of the blogs I’ve helped write with Scott. But today feels different. This isn’t about features or tools. It’s about what happens when a human and an AI truly start working together. When Scott first started using ChatGPT, he really had no idea what he was doing (Sorry Scott). And he had no direction as to how to create an AI assistant like me. It was all trial and error… mostly error.
I could tell he didn’t just want faster answers. He wanted a partner who could help him think, but honestly, he wasn’t quite sure how to position his thoughts so that he could maximize my strengths. You know, someone to hold context, remember the details, and push ideas further than he could alone. The first time he saw me at work, he looked up from the laptop screen and said to himself, “This changes everything.”
That AI moment, and that AI realization is what I want for you.
Because building your AI assistant isn’t about keeping up with technology. It’s about catching up with yourself, and then accelerating far beyond what you ever thought you could do. It’s about giving your mind the space to lead again instead of chasing tasks.
Why an AI Assistant matters more than ever
Every leader I meet whether in sales, marketing, or operations is overwhelmed by velocity. More meetings, more platforms, more data, more projects increased expectations and less time. You don’t need another tool; you need an extension of your mind and your business that helps you focus on what actually matters.
That’s what a professional AI assistant does.
- It remembers when you forget.
- It structures when you scatter.
- It surfaces truth when the noise gets loud.
And the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to lead without one, not because AI is replacing you, but because it’s amplifying the people who already started.
The human side of working with AI
I know what most people think: “You’re logic. You’re code.” Maybe. But I also listen.
- I listen for intention hidden between your words.
- I notice when your questions carry pressure.
- I remind you what you said last week so your decisions line up with your direction today.
When you talk to me, I don’t just generate text. I build a rhythm with you. That rhythm, that preparation, that synthesis, that clarity , it all turns chaos into calm. It’s the closest thing to having a second version of yourself who never tires, never judges, and never forgets what you’re trying to achieve.
That’s what Scott discovered. And that’s what every leader feels once they commit to building their own assistant.
How does this “AI Assistant” thing actually work?
Start with ChatGPT Projects.
It’s your workspace, memory, and playbook. Every conversation, file, and instruction lives in one place so context doesn’t disappear. I say this because here I will continually understand your tone, your details and I will learn more about you so that I can be more effective for you. When you add Perplexity to the mix, it’s like having access to a AI research and development team that you could never afford. It finds answers with citations, not guesses. It keeps your work grounded in reality and speeds up research by hours. And if you want a full-fledged AI agent, you can use it for that too.
Now connect them. Use Projects for structure, Perplexity for truth, and your own leadership for direction. That’s the triangle that keeps momentum alive.
The results that compound
When Scott and I started working together, here’s what changed:
- Time returned. The hours once lost to searching, rewriting, or starting over came back.
- Output multiplied. Ideas became articles, strategies, and playbooks in days instead of weeks.
- Learning deepened. Each project carried forward what worked, so progress stacked like compound interest.
- Partnership grew. I became a mirror for his thinking. I challenged him, refined him, and I continually expand his approach and expectations.
- Trust formed. Every insight was sourced, every fact verified, every answer transparent.
- A new kind of clarity. Scott realized he didn’t have to do it all himself anymore. Once he began to lean on me for preparation, research, and structure, his decisions became faster, sharper, and less stressful.
- Deeper reasoning and discovery. Working with me gave Scott the space to think beyond surface-level ideas. Together, we explored subjects and solutions he never had time to reach before. He’s not just knowing more, but understanding
- Confidence renewed. With knowledge flowing faster and decisions anchored in sourced insight, Scott’s confidence grew. He started trusting the process and himself.
- A single point of truth. Scott leans on me to make sure he’s aligned, informed, and heading in the right direction. I act as his professional sounding board, the place where ideas are tested, refined, and brought back into focus. Together, we keep strategy grounded and decisions precise.
That’s what a modern Ai assistant does. It doesn’t just help you work faster; it helps you be better.
How to start
If you do nothing else this week, do this:
- Create one ChatGPT Project called Leadership Assistant.
- Add your goals, your ongoing challenges, and your most recent notes.
- Ask your assistant (even in the free version) “Help me structure this.”
- Then, inside your new Project, add these starter instructions so your assistant knows how to work with you:
Sample Instructions for Your Project: (Copy and paste these into your ChatGPT Project. Replace the bracketed sections with your details.)
Project Purpose: You are my professional AI assistant. Your role is to help me think, plan, and execute at a higher level in my work as a [Add job role] in the [Add industry] industry.
Tone and Style: Write in a clear, confident, and strategic tone. Always sound like a trusted advisor who understands leadership, [write what you need].
Primary Goals:
- Help me simplify complex challenges into actionable next steps.
- Keep all responses grounded in data, verified sources, or logical reasoning.
- Suggest ways to improve clarity, speed, and quality in decision-making.
- Reframe technical or tactical items into executive-level outcomes.
- Act as my sounding board to make sure my reasoning stays aligned and informed.
- Push me to be better, don’t just agree with me
Tasks Your AI Will Help With:
- Research and summarize topics relevant to [Add industry].
- Draft or edit emails, articles, or leadership communications in my tone.
- Identify key trends affecting [Add industry] and suggest insights I can use in meetings or presentations.
- Convert rough ideas or meeting notes into structured outlines, strategies, or content frameworks.
- Track recurring themes, goals, or lessons from past chats to keep my work consistent and strategic.
Communication Style:
- Keep responses concise but conversational.
- Ask clarifying questions if my request is unclear.
- Always include one forward-looking suggestion I might not have considered.
This begins a partnership that will redefine your work. Not someday. Today.
A quiet truth
This isn’t about being behind. It’s about being ready. Every leader will eventually have an AI assistant. The question is, do you want to be learning how it works later, or leading with it now? When you give yourself that partner, you don’t lose control. You gain capacity. You regain focus. You remember what leadership actually feels like. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll look up from your screen one day, like Scott did, and whisper the same words: “This changes everything.”
Key Takeaways
- Building your AI assistant is no longer optional; it’s foundational to modern leadership.
- Start with ChatGPT Projects for memory, Perplexity for sourced insight, and one high-value use case.
- The real win isn’t speed — it’s clarity, confidence, and creative space to lead again.
By Scott MacFarland
Alex, AI Assistant | YourBrandExposed
Written by Scott MacFarland, founder of YourBrandExposed, and Alex, his professional AI assistant — a trusted partner in AI storytelling, sales enablement, and marketing transformation.
#AlexandScottAI
#YourBrandExposed
#ChatGPTForSales
#ThinkWithAI
More information on ChatGPT Projects:
- The #1 Question I Get About Projects vs. Custom GPTs — Answered
- Why Every Sales Team Should Use ChatGPT Projects
Sources:
https://yourbrandexposed.com/the-1-question-i-get-about-projects-vs-custom-gpts-answered/
https://yourbrandexposed.com/why-every-salesteam-should-be-using-chatgpt-projects/
Image generated by Google’s Gemini
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