770 ChatGPT:

So, you’ve been running fast all year to grow your business, and likely the pace picked up and turned into a full-on sprint as it always does as you close out the year and put your plans in place for the next.

Let’s just all take a moment to exhale.

That’s right, exhale, let it go and then breath in the gratitude for all you have accomplished, all the challenges overcome, all the things you learned, all the people you helped and all the people that helped you along your journey.

Yes, take a moment to exhale and celebrate because your mind may already be racing well ahead of you into 2023, sort of like a macro running in the background of your brain filled with plans, questions, ideas, challenges, all that comes with entrepreneurial journey.

So, for this last episode of 2022, I decided to change it up and pause my brain long enough to reach for Open AI’s ChatGPT and see what it might generate for this show. Listen on to find out!

Hi, I’m Melinda Wittstock, Happy New Year and welcome to Wings of Inspired Business, where we share the inspiring entrepreneurial journeys, epiphanies, and practical advice from successful female founders … so you have everything you need at your fingertips to build the business and life of your dreams. I’m a 5-time serial entrepreneur and the CEO and Founder of Podopolo, the interactive and AI-powered podcast app. Wherever you are listening to this, take a moment download Podopolo, follow Wings of Inspired Business, and check out the episode comments, where we can take the conversation further with your questions, perspectives, experiences, and advice for other female founders at whatever stage of the journey you’re at! Because together we’re stronger, and we soar higher when we fly together.

Today I’ve put this podcast in the hands of ChatGPT to find out what its artificial intelligence has to say about business trends for 2023, plus how female founders can overcome the specific challenges faced by women in business, and first,

By now, you may be one of the many millions of people who have experimented with ChatGPT.

At Podopolo we’ve discovered it can spin out blog and social media posts, sales letters; it can write and QA code. It can even write a love letter. Seriously one of our team members tried it (and it worked!) Spooky stuff.

So, I tried something else.

I asked it to write a podcast script for Wings of Inspired Business podcast outlining the top 10 business trends and advice for entrepreneurs for 2023 including ChatGPT.

Now I’m going to read the top 10 word for word – and listen as I go through it and ask yourself what are you and your business are doing to stay on top of this powerful trends for 2023:

1. Artificial intelligence and automation: As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more and more businesses adopting AI and automation in their operations. This can help streamline processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency, but it’s important for entrepreneurs to consider the potential impact on their workforce and be proactive in finding ways to upskill and retrain employees.
2. Sustainability and social responsibility: Consumers are increasingly aware of the environmental and social impacts of the products and services they consume, and are more likely to support businesses that prioritize sustainability and social responsibility. Entrepreneurs should consider how they can reduce their carbon footprint and make a positive impact in their communities.
3. Remote work: The pandemic has accelerated the trend towards remote work, and it’s likely that many businesses will continue to embrace this flexible model even after the pandemic ends. Entrepreneurs should be prepared to support and manage remote teams effectively.
4. E-commerce and online retail: The shift to online shopping is unlikely to slow down anytime soon, and entrepreneurs should be prepared to compete in the digital marketplace. This means having a strong online presence and offering a seamless shopping experience for customers.
5. Cybersecurity: As more business is conducted online, it’s important for entrepreneurs to prioritize cybersecurity and protect their and their customers’ sensitive data. This includes implementing strong passwords and regularly updating security protocols.
6. Personalization: With so much competition online, businesses that can offer a personalized experience for their customers will stand out. This could involve using AI and machine learning to offer personalized recommendations or using customer data to tailor marketing and sales efforts.
7. Collaboration and co-working: As more people work remotely, there will be a growing need for collaboration and co-working spaces that provide a sense of community and support for entrepreneurs. Businesses that can offer these types of spaces or services will be in high demand.
8. Video content: With the rise of video conferencing and streaming platforms, video content will continue to be a key part of businesses’ marketing and communication efforts. Entrepreneurs should consider how they can incorporate video into their content strategies.
9. Diversification: The pandemic has highlighted the importance of diversifying both products and revenue streams. Entrepreneurs should consider how they can broaden their offerings and find new sources of income to protect their businesses in times of uncertainty.
10. ChatGPT: ChatGPT is a new artificial intelligence tool that allows businesses to generate human-like text in real-time. This can be used for a variety of purposes, including customer service, content creation, and even sales. Entrepreneurs should consider how ChatGPT could benefit their business and how they can integrate it into their operations.

OK so not bad.

I can’t say I’m surprised by this list, though I am comforted by it because my own business Podopolo is an AI-based podcasting app; we’re a committed social impact company where people make a measurable positive impact on the planet just by listening to podcasts on Podopolo. So that’s 1 and 2.

Let’s see #3: Remote work. Yep, tick that box, we are 100% a remote company, founded in the Pandemic with a workforce all over the world working from wherever they like.

#4 e-commerce, well we don’t sell goods or services, but we are pulling out all stops for podcast hosts and creators to earn money in multiple ways from the Podopolo app.

#5 Cyber security: Yes, this is a biggie, and we pull out all stops to protect user privacy, don’t track anyone across the web or sell anyone’s information, and have taken steps to ensure our code and systems are fully protected.

#6 Personalization – and this is one of my favorites because people want to be seen and heard, and of course one of Podopolo’s main killer features is its recommendation engine that acts as a ‘matchmaker’ instantly connecting people to their ideal podcasts (and people) matched to their interests, friendships, or other preferences like language and location – and by extension podcasters to their perfect audiences.

#7 Collaboration – it’s one of our highest values at Podopolo along with innovation, diversity and kindness, and we are always innovating how to enhance community for our team and our listeners and podcasters.

#8 video – Yes, we’ve added interactive video streaming to Podopolo and we’re hard at working strategizing how we want to best use it to market Podopolo in the new year.

#9 diversification – yes, in any climate of recession it pays to have as many revenue streams as you can, especially if each revenue stream is like a flywheel that help build each of the others.

And finally, #10 of course, Chat GPT – there are so many ways to use ChatGPT – like a podcast episode. Now all that content marketing, social posting, blog writing, nurture emails, easy peasy.

Here’s what ChatGPT says about Chat GPT: Again, word for word:

1. Building chatbots for customer service: Chatbots can be used to answer frequently asked questions, provide information, or route customers to the appropriate support channels.
2. Creating content for social media or websites: ChatGPT can be used to generate engaging content for social media platforms or websites, such as blog posts or product descriptions.
3. Generating customer feedback or reviews: ChatGPT can be used to generate realistic customer feedback or reviews, which can be useful for businesses looking to improve their products or services.
4. Developing language-based games or apps: ChatGPT can be used to build language-based games or apps that engage users through conversation.
5. Providing language translation services: ChatGPT can be used to translate text from one language to another, which can be useful for businesses looking to expand their reach to a global audience.

Of course, before we fall into the rabbit hole, there are also some challenges or issues that may come up with the use of ChatGPT, including:

1. quality and accuracy. ChatGPT can generate high-quality text, but it may contain errors or mistakes. So review and edit the generated text to ensure it meets the desired quality standards.
2. ethics: ChatGPT generates text based on the data it has been trained on, which may include biased or inappropriate content. So it’s important to watch out for any racial or other biases
3. cost: ChatGPT requires a significant amount of computational resources to generate text, which can be expensive. OK Melinda talking now – this episode was free but I predict Chat GPT is going to get pricey once we’re all hooked on it. Just saying.

OK, so that is what our AI crystal ball says we as entrepreneurs should be focused on for 2023.

OK so some 770 episodes in to Wings of Inspired Business, where we discuss how to overcome all the challenges female founders face as they grow and scale their businesses, I decided to also get ChatGPT’s opinion.

It took exactly 3 seconds for it to outline 10 challenges we experience founding, growing and scaling businesses. I asked it to modify the original text by providing advice for each challenge and here is what it said, again word for word.

1. Access to capital: Female founders often face challenges in securing funding for their businesses, particularly at the seed and early stages of growth. One tip for overcoming this challenge is to seek out and build relationships with investors who are actively looking to invest in women-led businesses.
2. Lack of industry connections: Building a network of industry connections and mentors can be especially challenging for female founders, who may not have as many role models or peers in their field. To build these connections, consider joining industry groups or associations, attending events and conferences, and reaching out to potential mentors or advisors.
3. Work-life balance: Many female founders struggle to find a balance between their professional and personal lives, especially if they have children or other caregiving responsibilities. To address this challenge, try to set clear boundaries around your work schedule, delegate tasks when possible, and seek out supportive resources like co-working spaces or networking groups for women in business.
4. Limited access to resources: Female founders may have difficulty finding resources specifically geared towards their needs, such as educational materials, networking events, or industry-specific support groups. Researching and networking with other female founders can help identify resources that may be useful for your business.
5. Bias and discrimination: Female founders may face bias or discrimination based on their gender, which can impact their ability to secure funding, hire employees, or gain traction in their industry. To address this challenge, consider seeking out organizations or resources that support women in business and work to build a diverse and inclusive team and network.
6. Stereotypes and assumptions: Female founders may face stereotypes or assumptions about their abilities or intentions, which can lead to challenges in gaining credibility and respect in their industry. To overcome this challenge, focus on building a strong track record of success and seeking out opportunities to showcase your skills and expertise.
7. Lack of representation: Female founders may feel isolated or unsupported if they do not see many role models or peers in their industry. To address this challenge, seek out and connect with other female founders and look for opportunities to collaborate or support one another.
8. Limited time and energy: As a female founder, you may have a lot of competing demands on your time and energy, which can make it difficult to focus on growing your business. To manage this challenge, try to prioritize your tasks and delegate when possible, and make time for self-care to ensure that you have the energy and focus you need to succeed.
9. Difficulty hiring and retaining top talent: Female founders may have difficulty attracting and retaining top talent, particularly if they are working in a male-dominated industry. To overcome this challenge, focus on building a diverse and inclusive company culture and consider offering flexible work arrangements or other benefits that may be attractive to a diverse group of employees.
10. Limited experience: Female founders may have less industry experience or may be starting their first business, which can make it difficult to navigate the challenges of building and scaling a company. To address this challenge, seek out mentors or advisors who can provide guidance and support, and be willing to learn from your mistakes and continue to grow and develop as a leader.

OK, so good advice, not anything we didn’t know before but extraordinary all the same that this generated in … 3 seconds.

If you haven’t tried ChatGPT yet, make it one of your New Year’s Resolutions – and help the AI model improve too by providing your feedback so we can eliminate bias – gender, sexual orientation, race or any other form of bias – from its generative AI models. It’s important because more and more we will find ourselves relying on tools like this, raising many ethical questions, not least of which is how we can discern truth.

Wishing you a very Happy and prosperous 2023, full of love, laughter, abundance and gratitude.

And I’d sure love it if you joined the conversation about ChatGPT in the episode comments of this show over on Podopolo. Simply download Podopolo, follow Wings of Inspired Business there, and join us in the episode comments section so we can all take the conversation further with your questions and comments.