#224 | AMA: Best Business Tools

AI, Business, Tips

March 31, 2026

Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI tools and business softwares out there? It’s easy to get pulled in a dozen different directions and even harder to figure out what’s actually worth your time. In this week’s chat, we cut through that noise and got honest about what’s working, what’s not, and how to approach AI without burning out.

One of the biggest takeaways: this isn’t about trying everything. It’s about choosing a few tools that actually support how you work. Before I even try something new, I’m asking: What am I actually trying to solve? and Is this going to make things easier, or just add more noise? From there, I experiment in small ways. I use platforms like ChatGPT for memory and idea generation, Claude for writing and tone, and Perplexity for real-time information. Each one plays a different role, and that clarity is what keeps me from constantly switching, testing, and starting over.

But tools are only part of the equation. The real shift is in how you think about using them. Try thinking about AI as an “intern”, helpful, fast, but not always right. That means asking better questions, pressure-testing outputs (my go-to is “are you sure?”), and staying actively involved in the process. No tool is perfect, and that’s the point. Some are great for brainstorming but need refinement, others are better at tone but less flexible. It’s less about automation and more about a boost, using AI to support your thinking, not replace it.

We also talked about systems, because without them, even the best tools create more noise. Keeping your tech stack small, building simple workflows, and revisiting what’s actually useful on a regular basis makes a bigger impact than adding something new. That might look like using something like Notion to organize ideas, Slack for communication, or Trello to visualize projects, but only if they actually fit how you work. And underneath all of it is one trait that came up again and again: curiosity. The willingness to test, question, and explore is what helps you adapt as everything continues to evolve.

You don’t need more tools, you need more clarity. Start with one or two platforms, get comfortable, and build from there. Pay attention to what’s actually helping you move faster or think better, and let the rest go. If you’re unsure where to start, use a simple filter: How much time will this take? What’s the risk? And will it meaningfully improve how I work? That’s how you turn AI from something overwhelming into something genuinely useful.