AI Policy + Use

I use AI in my process from thought to page in my public-facing posts and blogs on this website.

Mostly, that looks like transcribing my audio notes (on the front end) and adding keywords and SEO optimization (at the back end). Very rarely, I use AI to generate images like the one above.

I do not use AI to write or compose my work, to write or compose my social media posts, or to write or compose my articles. Likewise, all comments or messages coming from my social accounts are me —or an actual support team member.

Even so, most of my work is flagged as AI-generated (see below, with timestamps showing when the original work was created).

I have thoughts about why that is:

• First, I was trained in academic writing and am a student of philosophy; thus, “if [this], then [that]” construction is hard-wired into my thinking and writing process.

• Next, for context, as a youth, my preferred author was Edgar Allan Poe (famously verbose with an astonishingly rich and emotionally evocative vocabulary), and I challenged myself to expand my vocabulary in a similar style. [Stephen King’s On Writing later shape-shifted my particularly verbose writing style—with dubious efficacy, as this list evidences].

• Then, I am trained in a particular style of ontological inquiry that involves intensive visualizations, layered mind-maps, and a rigorous system of logical and philosophical tenets, generally organized by itemized, numbered, or mnemonic lists. The systematic organization of knowledge packets into digestible, preservable sound bites—for the purposes of memorization and retrieval—is built into my own intelligence: AND/ALSO superintelligence (computers, AI, LLMs) frameworks are designed to mimic this process. To put a fine point on it: the machine thinks like me because it was designed in the image of critical, logical thinkers. We had the same teachers. We use the same cognitive framework.

• Also, I spent years writing on the internet (blogging since 2008); thus, I am part of the community of creatives whose collective works were stolen by the AI companies — they called this theft “training data.”

• Next, I am a voracious reader. I know very few individuals who read as much (or as expansively) as do I and that isn’t a value statement; it’s a historical fact. I used to keep count of the books I’ve read. I stopped after reaching 10,000 (in high school). I’ve read 2-3 books every month since then —and no, I’m not telling you how long ago high school was! But I will tell you that I’ve had my nose buried in a book, or several, on the daily, since learning to read in 1985 (you do the math).

• Lastly, I spent time working in tech— training the AI (LLM’s) we all now rely on. One cannot export one’s brain to the machine for as long as I did without it impacting both ways.

I use AI to assist with coding —then a human reviews the code.

I do not rely on AI for coding and data security. That is a human’s job.

I use AI to build back-end supports for my own purposes —not to run my business.

I do not use agentic AI to run the back end of my business. I’m picky about privacy, and don’t trust a bot to manage important or delicate details. That is a human’s job.

I do use AI to create mind maps of my business to share with possible collaborators (like this); to create writing assessment rubrics to ensure my writing fits my audience (I write curricula for a variety of audiences); to create tools for my clients to project their revenue in alternate business models (like this); to build scalable solutions to intractable problems in certain industries (like this); to build tools that solve public health problems disproportionately affecting women, children, and marginalized individuals (see below).

I use AI to build apps and virtual reality spaces to support survivors of trauma in their healing—then a human reviews the code.

I do not support, endorse, or enjoin outsourcing therapeutic work or relying on agentic AI to deliver therapeutic sessions. I do support the use of AI, or AI-created tools, to deliver in-the-moment resources or supportive tools between sessions.

I'm transparent about where I use the medium— and, just as importantly, where it never touches my work.

AI doesn’t touch my research meant for publication or my client’s sensitive information. Full stop.

AI doesn’t touch my emails, client conversations, or editing process (all typos, odd phrases, and dangling participles are my own). I’ve opted out of Gemini in my Google workspace and do not use Notion or AI transcription without explicit consent: if a client requests a transcription or recording of our calls, I first disclose that use of AI, then get their opt-in in advance.

When I do use AI, I use paid, enterprise-level tools with the strongest data privacy agreements currently available (they explicitly do not train on my data). Even then, I treat the medium like what it is: a very smart but inexperienced college freshman that makes a lot of mistakes and comes with deep biases and possible nefarious purposes.

Every idea, argument, and turn of phrase is mine. I built an accessible process, employing AI for transcription, product development, and online visibility because 1) I'm a verbal, nonlinear thinker, and 2) I used to pay for the work I now use enterprise-grade AI to do faster, and 3) because I think an honest answer to "did you use AI" deserves more than a “yes” or “no.”

Pictured below: a few receipts.

The image below refers to a essay I wrote for publication on Substack. I uploaded the first draft to a Google doc from the transcription. It was edited (by me) to read like a narrative, not a rambling voice note to the Universe.

No AI was used in the essay except for transcription from an audio note: it was flagged as 67% AI.

Read more on my Substack

7 Reasons Women Under Earn in Business (+ Tips to Earn More)

The world sees women as world-class multi-taskers; We’re often expected to juggle family, career, health, self-care, and hobbies without ever letting one of those precious balls drop from our hands. This is not breaking news, of course. Like me, I’m sure you’ve read at least a few of the “Can Women Have It All?” articles that magazines and websites continue to crank out on a near-daily basis.

And—as some of the more helpful articles point out—there are definite advantages to mastering multi-tasking. Filling many roles can make our lives richer, and understanding life balance makes us more agile at work and at home. But some of us aren’t meant to be Jills of All Trades, and attempting to be everything to everyone just puts us at risk of being mediocre across the board.

It also makes us far more likely to fall into the gender wage gap.

Most people are aware that women earn about $0.79 for every $1 paid to men. But these statistics are based largely on corporations, non-profits, universities, and other large-scale businesses. Those of us who have struck out as entrepreneurs or are running small, lean companies aren’t generally included. And my guess is that the gap would widen considerably if we were.

Because when you combine the expectations that society thrusts at us with the expectations we pile onto ourselves, many women business owners become utterly overwhelmed. Which translates into struggling to charge what we’re worth and earn what we deserve.

How do I know? Because I did it myself. For years!

Here’s why, what I did to change those self-defeating habits, and what YOU can do if you’re facing similar challenges:

1 // I Didn't Know How to Earn More

For far too long, I focused on the learning instead of the doing.. I knew there were some steps I could take that could help my business bring in more income (teacher training, coaching) but that’s where my knowledge ended. The actionable steps of building a multi-six figure or million-dollar business were way outside of my knowledge base—and well outside my comfort zone. I knew I could do it, I just didn’t know how to to do it.

WHAT I CHANGED: In my case, I needed a push from an outside source, so I hired mentors and coaches who had built businesses similar to the one I wanted for myself. Every time I got stuck on the “how to” of taking my business to the next level, I invested in targeted support to keep pushing me in the right direction. Each successive mentor highlighted the steps I could take to increase my income, and gave me the confidence to take action.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: I know it’s a major cliche, but keep it as simple as possible to take action. Having a five-year plan is fantastic, but if you don’t even have a five-week plan, start there. If, like me, you know that targeted support would boost your income, start here.

2 // I Believed Helpers Deserved Less

Because I’m a people helper by nature and by trade, I thought I didn’t deserve to command a higher income for my work. I was convinced that what I was doing was a calling, and that the meaning trumped the money. The problem with that? My innate and duty-driven urge to help others often came at the expense of my own health and happiness. To the extent that I couldn’t afford health insurance (so bye-bye regular checkups and health screenings) for my first 6 years in business.

WHAT I CHANGED: For me, this was a simple shift in mindset. It took a long time, but I finally accepted that all hard work deserves compensation, including mine. Helping people—whether it’s your calling or just your job—is incredibly important but you will be unable to do your job well if you are in a state of continuous financial strain.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Remember that altruistic and creative occupations are equally as valuable as their bottom line-focused counterparts. And remember to take care of YOU first. Or you won’t be in business for long (...and who can you help then?).

3 // I Didn't Want to Be Perceived as Greedy

As a former Southern Baptist, I learned early on that the love of money was the root of all evil (Timothy 6:10). In my child mind I extrapolated that to “money is the root of all evil.” It’s a common mistake and I’m not the first recovering Christian to conflate the meaning of that missive.

WHAT I CHANGED: Honestly? I got bone-tired of struggling to make ends meet month after month, and forced myself to accept that money was an essential part of business. In fact, it’s the essential energy of business, the energy that fuels your actions to attain your desired lifestyle. Money is also the ticket to choice and success, however you might define success for yourself. Yes, greed can get you into trouble, but the desire to earn a comfortable living is neither unreasonable nor perilous.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: When you feel money-guilt rising up, try this mantra: “Money is energy and an indication that I am serving the right people in my business. I deserve prosperity for my hard work.”

4 // I Didn't Want to Charge More Than My Peers

When I began practicing health coaching and yoga therapy, I did what many other service providers do: I compared my fees to those of similar services and charged the same (or less). I figured, “Well, that’s what so-and-so is charging so it must be fair.”

Wrong. Pricing isn’t arbitrary—it’s a strategy. And every person or business offering a particular service may not be offering the same level of service. Most of my “colleagues” weren’t graduate-trained behavioral change coaches with more than 600 hours of dedicated training in person-centered therapeutic yoga and a research background in functional foods and science-based nutrition. They were passionate yoga teachers with considerably less training and far fewer credentials. My professional pathway was a tad more rigorous, so the comparison trap didn’t do my bank account any favors.

WHAT I CHANGED: I did more research on coaches with training commensurate to my own and I found my own financial ease amount—then reverse-engineered my pricing from my service and income goals. I determined who I truly wanted to serve and reminded myself that being exceedingly generous is part of how I want to show up in the world—so charging more for my services aligned with how I wanted to serve! Remember: a higher price point for your offers shows potential customers that you value your own expertise and services. (And, yes, I might’ve held my breath and crossed my fingers on occasion, too! Charging more can feel like a leap of faith even when it’s a conscious choice.)

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Don’t just poke around, do real research. Find colleagues or companies with your level of training, experience, or skill and investigate their price structures. Then charge 15% more because nearly every small business undercharges.

5 // I Didn't Know What to Do With More Money

I’ll be honest: for much of my life I ran from the responsibility associated with wealth. I was so triggered by my own income status that basic financial wellness sent me into mild panic attacks. Yes, I read blogs about personal finance and yes, my daddy taught me early on that I needed to have an emergency fund. And personal savings. And that credit cards were a slippery slope. (True story: I got my first credit card at age 33 when I realized that they could also be handy safety nets.) Short of that, my financial planning strategy was summarized in five words: spend less and save more.

WHAT I CHANGED: I met with a financial planner who told me how to use my profits to my best advantage. Then I actually did what she told me to do. Since her advice was specific to my income, needs, and goals, it was far easier to digest and implement than any book or blog post.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: While this is not financial or legal advice, consider meeting with a financial planner yourself, if you can. Usually, the initial consult is free and if you like a planner’s style and want to continue the relationship, she/he won’t generally charge you direct fees, but will instead take a small percentage from your investment earnings. Financial planners can also help with budgeting, retirement planning, and wills - all deeply boring but incredibly important things.

6 // I Didn't Want to Alienate Anyone

I don’t come from a wealthy family and most of my closest friends are in the blue-collar- to-mostly-comfortable income bracket. Earning more than friends or family felt like a betrayal of basic human connection and a disservice to my community. I didn't want to make anyone I cared about feel "less than," so I didn’t challenge or address my own under-earning habits.

WHAT I CHANGED: I reminded myself that personal wealth and conspicuous consumerism don’t always go hand-in-hand. I could earn more and be wealthier without parading that fact around town and making my loved-ones uneasy, jealous, or aggravated. And, through some delicate but essential conversations, was reminded that the people who love me genuinely want me to succeed. And that includes increasing my earnings —because, really? My ultimate dream is to be a philanthropist and invest in businesses that solve some of the world’s biggest problems...and money is a big part of making that dream a reality.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Remember that how much you make doesn’t (or shouldn’t) change your fundamental values. Whether you’re making $30,000 or $300,000 each year, you’re still you.

7 // I Didn't Ask for More

I’ll be the first to admit that I learned some hard life lessons, well, the hard way. Including, “You don’t get what you deserve—you get what you ask for.” Since I shied away from asking for higher fees or better pay structures, I walked away with less money and had no one to blame but myself.

WHAT I CHANGED: I read “Lean In.” The book certainly isn’t perfect, but dang, it’s a great reminder that women are paid less simply because we don’t ask for more. I also began preparing myself mentally before every payment negotiation. Walking in knowing that I might be making some uncomfortable demands made it easier to tackle those tough topics when they arose.

WHAT YOU CAN DO: Acknowledge that “If you don’t ask, the answer is always, ‘no.’” And then force yourself to ask. Role play before negotiating, and arrive prepared to be bold. Remember that, as an entrepreneur, you are the only person who determines how much money you deserve for your work.

Does all this mean that I’m earning the absolute maximum I possibly could and constantly negotiating for more? Heck no. I still chicken out or make a bad call once in awhile, and I am totally fine with that. Running a business isn’t about perfection, it’s about progress. I’m smarter, savvier, and braver in my money-related decision-making now, and that’s an accomplishment in and of itself.

I hope that hearing my story has reminded you that everyone struggles, and that small changes can make a huge difference. If you can tweak even one action or habit to increase your earning potential, you are making important, measureable, brag-worthy progress.

Progress that can keep you from falling into that pesky wage gap.

Do you have another to reason (or tip) to share? Share in the comments or Reply.