06/05/2026
Practical Application of AI
with Alyse
Today was a perfect example of why I believe AI is one of the most practical tools a business owner can have.
I was building a new ticket numbering project in FileMaker Pro for a print job involving thousands of tickets. The numbering had to be structured perfectly so the tickets could be printed, cut, stacked, and glued into pads of 100.
Here's the interesting part: I haven't built anything in FileMaker Pro in more than five years.
In the past, that would have meant spending hours trying to remember where things were, searching YouTube videos, digging through old notes, testing different approaches, and making plenty of mistakes along the way.
Instead, I opened ChatGPT.
Within about 30 minutes, I was able to:
✔ Refresh my memory on FileMaker structure and layouts
✔ Work through the numbering logic for the tickets
✔ Determine the best production method for printing and padding
✔ Solve a layout issue that would have had me searching forums and videos
✔ Complete the project and have it working correctly
The most important thing is that AI didn't replace my experience.
It helped me reconnect with knowledge I already had, guided me through the parts I hadn't touched in years, and dramatically shortened the learning curve.
That's what I see happening with business owners every day.
AI isn't about replacing people. It's about helping us get unstuck faster, solve problems more efficiently, and spend more time doing meaningful work instead of hunting for answers.
Today, a project that could have easily consumed my whole weekend was completed in about 30 minutes.
That's a Practical Application of AI.
How have you used AI to help you tackle something you hadn't done in years? I'd love to hear about your aha moments.