Good morning, Brilliant Leader Reader:
Welcome to this Week's Dose of Operational Strategy.
This week, we're talking about Preparation Is What Gives You Room to Pivot. Plus, I'm sharing another AI for Brilliant Leaders tip for your project memory in ChatGPT, what Stacey is up to, and what is New with YBT. Let's dive in!
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On Saturday, I had the opportunity to serve as the host and MC for the Speak Life Awards in Durham, North Carolina. It was an enjoyable event. It was an eye-opening event. It was filled with so much revelation, and it was beyond exceptional.
One of the things the experience reminded me of is how important preparation is. Whether you’re planning an event, launching something new, working on a project, or building your business, preparation is key.
Before you execute, you have to put in the work to prepare. Preparation creates structure. It creates organization. It allows you to operate with greater ease and helps reduce interruptions, confusion, dropped balls, and unnecessary chaos.
But here’s something else I want you to understand:
Structure does not create more work. Having structure gives you direction. You have a plan. You know where you’re going and what is supposed to happen, and because you have that structure, you also have room to maneuver. You have room to be flexible. You have room to pivot when something unexpected happens.
That is exactly what happened this weekend.
As the MC, I had my script. I knew what was happening from the beginning to the end of the event. I had the speaker bios, the program, the timeline, the transitions, and the information I needed. We also reviewed the flow with the visionary, my virtual co-host, and the speakers so everyone knew the format.
Did everything happen exactly as planned? Of course not. Things shifted. Adjustments had to be made. But because there was preparation and structure in place, we could make those adjustments without everything falling apart.
That is what preparation does. The same principle applies to your business.
I’ve always said that businesses with no structure are forced to improvise. When everything is in your head, and something unexpected happens, you’re trying to figure out the original plan while simultaneously figuring out how to respond to the change. That’s where preparation makes a difference, and guess what: AI Can Help.
One of the things I want business owners to understand is that you do not have to do everything manually.
Use AI. AI can help you create an agenda. AI can help you develop a program. AI can help you organize a project. AI can help you build a checklist. AI can help you think through possible scenarios before they happen. AI can help you prepare communications, timelines, workflows, meeting notes, follow-up tasks, and so much more.
Here’s another way I want you to start using AI.
After you’ve completed the event, project, launch, or process, go back to the AI tool you used during your preparation. Open the chat that has all of your discussions:
Tell it:
“Review everything we’ve discussed and created for this project. Based on the process we followed from beginning to completion, create a documented standard operating procedure that I can review, edit, and use the next time I do this.”
Do you realize what you just did?
You took something you already completed and began turning it into a repeatable process. Now, you still need to review what AI gives you. You need to make corrections, add anything that may be missing, and review the process to ensure it accurately reflects how you operate. You’re no longer staring at a blank page trying to remember every step. You’ve given yourself a starting point.
Three Things I Want You to Remember This Week
- Preparation is key: Put the structure in place before you execute.
- Leverage AI: Stop believing you have to do everything by yourself. Use the tools available to support you.
- Be okay with pivoting: Preparation doesn’t eliminate the unexpected. It gives you room to respond to it without losing control.
Now I want to hear from you:
Where in your business do you need more preparation and structure before making your next move? Hit reply and tell me. I really want to know.
What Is Stacey Up To!
This past Saturday was nothing short of absolutely amazing.
I left the 2026 Speak Life Awards & Brunch filled, overjoyed, and honestly wanting to replay every part of the day in slow motion so I could take it all in again. That is how special Saturday was.
Thank you, Elder Dr. Laticia Nicole Beatty, for recognizing me with a Speak Life Award. I appreciate you, I appreciate what you are building, and I look forward to continuing to support you and walk alongside you as you build what God has given you.
Saturday was one for the books, and I am grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of it.
AI For Brilliant Leaders
Here's another ChatGPT feature I want you to know about, especially if you're using Projects. When you create a new Project, you can now choose Project-only memory.
Why would you use it?
Let's say you're creating a Project specifically for developing a book, planning an event, or working with a client. With Project-only memory, ChatGPT can use the conversations inside that Project for context without pulling from your saved memories or conversations outside of it. That gives you a more focused workspace for that particular initiative.
One thing to remember: you select Project-only memory when you create the Project. You cannot turn it on later for an existing Project. It's a small setting, but it can make a big difference in keeping your Projects focused and organized.
Want to learn more about how Project memory works? Click here
Something New with YBT
I've been working on something a little different behind the scenes.
We're beginning to introduce the YBT product line, and our first T-shirt is officially here! Of course, I couldn't just put random words on a shirt. It had to mean something.
Build the Business That Can Function Without Constant Rescue
That's more than a T-shirt. That's how we approach business at Your Brilliant Transitions. I'll drop the image and link below so you can take a look at our first design.
And yes...there's more coming.
Until next week.
Regards,
Stacey D.M. Shaw
Your Chief Administrative Strategist
Author: Administrative Foundations for Success | NASDAQ Milestone 2024 Recipient | Wall Street Times Featured: "Building Strong Foundations. Streamlining Operations. Sustaining Growth." | 2024 Most Influential Speaker
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