#374: The Meta-Talent Revolution — Why Human Intelligence Still Reigns Supreme in an AI World
Release Date: 06/18/2025
#384: The Value Shift—Where the Money Goes When AI Makes Content Creation Effortless
High-Income Business Writing
Freelancers everywhere are feeling it. The ground beneath our feet is shifting, because AI isn't just changing how we write. It's also changing where value lives in our industry. In this episode, I break down what few people are talking about: your writing skills might still be world-class, but they're now solving the wrong problem. Much of what I discuss was inspired by the brilliant new book Reshuffle: Who Wins When AI Restacks the Knowledge Economy by . The constraint that once made your writing indispensable has moved. And if you don't move with it, you risk becoming the business...
info_outline
#383: The Art of ‘Conversing’ with AI
High-Income Business Writing
Imagine walking into a friend’s house and rattling off a 20-minute monologue with every single detail of a challenge you’re facing. No pause. No space for questions. Just a nonstop, 20-minute word vomit. That’s how most of us are using AI. We dump a giant wall of text into a prompt, cross our fingers, and hope for magic. Instead of working with AI, we’re treating it like a command line. No wonder the results often fall flat! In this short episode, I share a better way—one that mirrors the way we’d talk with a trusted colleague. When you approach AI as a conversation...
info_outline
#382: The Truth About AI and Freelance Writers — What 157 Writers Just Revealed
High-Income Business Writing
The AI adoption picture is nuanced In this episode, I share some fascinating insights about AI usage among writers and the impact it’s having on their business. Last month, I sent out a simple 10-question survey to my community about AI usage, fears, and business impact. I received 157 complete responses from writers across every experience level, from brand-new freelancers to 15+ year veterans. What they shared was, in some ways, congruent with what I’ve been saying for the past few months on the topic of AI integration in our businesses as freelancers. But in other ways, the...
info_outline
#381: How to Have Better, More Productive Conversations with AI
High-Income Business Writing
AI is changing how we work. But many freelancers are falling into the trap of using it in the least effective way possible: by relying on massive, fully pre-written prompts that remove you from the creative process. In this episode, I share a better, more natural approach that treats AI like a trusted collaborator rather than a black box you dump instructions into. You’ll learn my simple 3R Prompting framework and see how an iterative, conversational workflow can help you get sharper insights, stronger ideas, and better final results. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why...
info_outline
#380: The AI Writing Debate — Moving From False Dichotomies to Creative Synthesis
High-Income Business Writing
The conversation around AI and writing is heating up. But too often, it’s framed as a false choice: AI is either “bad” and deceptive, or it’s the ultimate shortcut to productivity. In this solo episode, I challenge that binary thinking and unpack the real issues at stake for freelance writers. Sparked by a provocative LinkedIn post from Mariya Delano, CEO of Kalyna Marketing, this discussion dives into the myths and misconceptions that keep us stuck in unproductive debates. I lay out 10 false assumptions fueling the AI writing controversy. And I explain why the future belongs to...
info_outline
#379: 15 Reasons Why Hourly Billing Is Holding You Back
High-Income Business Writing
Hourly billing is the default pricing model for many writers. But it’s also a hidden trap that can sabotage your growth, undervalue your expertise, and limit your income. If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the ceiling on your earnings or struggled to position yourself as a trusted partner rather than a hired hand, this episode will change the way you view pricing forever. In today’s episode, I break down 15 compelling reasons why hourly billing is actively working against you — and what you can do instead to unlock your earning potential and build trust-based, outcome-focused...
info_outline
#378: Why AI Change Is Happening Faster Than You Think (and What That Means for Writers)
High-Income Business Writing
If you're feeling like your freelance business is shifting beneath your feet—but you can’t quite name what’s changed—you’re not alone. Most writers sense something is different… but they don’t know how to respond strategically. In this solo episode, I dive into what I believe is the real driver behind the changes we’re seeing in the freelance writing space. Yes, the economy has cooled, and that’s still a big factor, since marketing is one of the first areas to get cut when business is slow. But AI is now playing a much bigger role than most writers realize. And the pace...
info_outline
#377: When a Referral Goes Sideways (and How to Recover)
High-Income Business Writing
What do you do when a dream referral turns into a nightmare-in-the-making? One of my coaching clients recently found herself in a tricky spot. Her best referral partner had sent her what initially seemed like a solid lead. But after a few back-and-forths, things started to feel… off. The red flags were waving, and she could sense this prospect would likely become a difficult client. She wanted out. But she didn’t want to burn bridges with either the potential client or the trusted source who referred them. In this week’s short episode, I share the guidance I gave her — a...
info_outline
#376: The Capability Revolution: Why You’ve Been Using AI All Wrong (and What to Do About It)
High-Income Business Writing
AI isn’t just a tool for writing faster. It’s the key to systematically expanding your professional capabilities and breaking free from the “experience prison” that’s been capping your income. In this week’s episode, we dive into a powerful shift in mindset for freelancers: moving from viewing AI as a speed or productivity tool to leveraging it as a capability multiplier. I share how I used AI to confidently take on new, high-value projects I would have previously turned down. And how you can do the same to expand your business without months of study or expensive training. ...
info_outline
#375: The Lies We Carry With Us (and How They Hold Us Back)
High-Income Business Writing
What if a story that’s haunted you for years… was never true? In this short but powerful episode, we dive into a jaw-dropping true story that will make you question the narratives you’ve been carrying — especially the ones that have shaped your identity and decisions for years. It’s the story of Derek Sivers, entrepreneur and author, who spent 16 years believing he had ruined a woman’s life in a devastating car accident. The guilt became part of who he was — until a shocking encounter revealed the truth: the story he’d built his life around was never real. And that...
info_outlineAI may be fast, smart, and shockingly efficient. But is it truly intelligent?
In this thought-provoking solo episode, I explore a powerful and timely idea: the future belongs to those who change the game entirely, not those who keep trying to outrun AI at what it does best.
Freelancers and creative professionals are feeling the pressure. AI can now write emails, analyze data, and churn out decent content in seconds. But there’s something artificial intelligence can’t do: think, discern, feel, and create the way you can.
I introduce the concept of “meta-talents” — the higher-order human skills that AI can't replicate — and explain how freelancers can leverage them as a unique competitive edge.
What You’ll Learn
- Why AI is making mediocrity obsolete... and what that means for your freelance business
- The difference between pattern-matching intelligence and true human discernment
- A breakdown of the 7 meta-talents that set you apart (and why they matter more than ever)
- How to integrate AI tools strategically without losing your voice or value
- A practical approach for using AI as a creative amplifier, not a replacement
Key Insights and Takeaways
AI isn’t your competition; it’s your complement
AI excels at narrow, pattern-based tasks. But it lacks judgment, taste, empathy, and original thought. That’s your domain.
Your meta-talents are your unfair advantage
These include:
- Taste – Recognizing quality and nuance
- Discernment – Knowing what matters and why
- Curation – Synthesizing the best of the best
- Point of View – Expressing what only you can say
- Strategic Decision-Making – Choosing wisely amid uncertainty
- Emotional Intelligence – Reading people and context
- Pattern-Breaking – Innovating beyond the obvious
Writer A vs. Writer B
Both use AI, but Writer B asks better questions, brings unique experience to the table, and produces content that’s unmistakably human. That’s the kind of work clients will still pay premium fees for.
Use AI for scaffolding, not soul
Let AI handle the grunt work so you can focus on insight, creativity, and strategy. In other words, the things it can’t do. This isn’t about efficiency. It’s about amplification.
Action Steps You Can Take This Week
- Conduct a “Meta-Talent Audit”
- Which of the seven meta-talents do you lean into most?
- Which ones need development?
- Try the “Discernment Challenge.”
- Use AI to generate options (e.g., headlines or content ideas)
- Then ask: Which ones truly fit this audience at this moment? Why?
- Reframe your use of AI
- Next time you use a tool like ChatGPT, don’t just accept the output.
- Ask: What would make this mine? Where can I add taste, voice, or nuance?
- Start building your POV
- Journal daily to explore your thinking, beliefs, values, and unique insights.
- Ask: What do I see that others don’t?
Memorable Soundbites
“AI can suggest. But it can’t discern.”
“Use AI for scaffolding—not soul.”
“The future belongs to those who pair their meta-talents with smart tools.”
“AI doesn’t make you replaceable. It makes you irreplaceable—if you let it.”
Listener Challenge
This week, block off 30 minutes and reflect:
- What’s your unique value that no AI can replicate?
- How are you developing and showcasing that?
- What’s one small action you can take to lean into your meta-talents?
Start now, because the era of “good enough” is over. And your human edge has never been more powerful.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with a fellow freelancer who’s navigating the evolving AI landscape. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode packed with insights to help you earn more in less time… doing work you love.