My income depended on selling services for years. Unfortunately, it also meant it was always tied to other people's needs and timelines.

It was time to build my own. But being neurodivergent used to make me see my struggle with structured planning as a limitation.

Artificial Intelligence is partly responsible for changing my perspective. Gemini provided the freedom to repeat lessons and learn at my own pace on my .

Building a craft venture is among the few times I've seen its return. I'm glad I invested my time. Here's why.

Everybody's becoming a CEO these days

So, I joined the bandwagon

I am, by every measure, a jack of all trades and master of none.

Over the last few years, I have been a bead maker, a street wear vendor, a drop shipper, a skincare representative, and probably a few other things I've forgotten.

I won't say AI dramatically made me a better planner. But it did help me figure out the questions worth asking, and what I could bring to conversations in a room full of business people.

The networking and many of my business decisions still needed to happen in real life.

Meanwhile, Gemini and I explored my many interests before settling on a crochet earring brand. From there, we built my market list. It wasn't so scary when I finally sat down with it. My total startup investment came to $100.

It covers craft materials, wool, an optional skill refresher and knitting pattern tutorial package to improve my technique, product packaging boxes, and delivery fees.

I had 15 branded boxes ready before my virtual consultation, which added to my startup cost and put me at about $7 per unit. If the first batch sells out at my planned price, I'll recover my initial investment in one round.

More importantly, without the pressure to do everything at once. Starting a business has a tricky way of convincing you that every polished detail is essential.

Knowing what I know now, I'd have managed my budget better and started with paper bags instead.

Thankfully, I wasn't far gone and Gemini saved me from spending on unnecessary product photography and other nice-to-haves.

With that, I wasn't stuck with the intent of starting a business and not taking meaningful action.

Example prompt #1: I have [your budget] to start a [business idea]. Tell me what I need to buy first and what can wait. Pretend you're a small business mentor. What purchases do beginners regret making in their initial month? Give me the cheapest alternatives to [item/service out of budget]. I only have [items you have].

Example prompt #2: What's the minimum viable version of this business? Strip away everything that isn't necessary for my first 10 to 20 sales. Tell me what I can do myself instead of buying? [Mention specific categories in mind].

I can do everything I put my mind to

But my mind is somewhere else

Because I've spent a significant part of this year in deep self-reflection, I've learned that patterns don't retire when you start a new habit.

Looking back, I saw them appearing in my pricing model, customer responses, and manufacturer negotiations.

So, part of my rebranding was sitting with my unflattering patterns.

I revisited my excitement at each new beginning, and realized it wasn't a reliable indicator that I'd stay consistent.

I also noticed how I underpriced products to make it easier for people to buy, and at the cost of making it harder for me to profit.

Plus, I tend to over-accommodate custom requests and timeline flexibility, which slowed me down. It was decided.

The good girl strategy was terribly unsustainable. Discussing my tendencies and energy limits with Gemini was a relief.

I instructed the tool to assess these psychological issues in my business.

It asked how I naturally engage with work and what tiredness felt like at each day's end, which was fair. Executive dysfunction and anxiety don't always operate on a fixed schedule.

My motivation rises and falls with dopamine. There's even a point where working against it makes me feel like I'm being forcefully productive.

I wasn't as candid as I would have been with a therapist, but I made sure to explain how much I dislike working under pressure.

Gemini recommended a 1-of-1 micro-drop model that removes the pressure to reproduce on demand. So, every finished pair of earrings is a limited wearable art piece and I'll randomize the designs.

The instruction to market the process as a part of the product was my favorite.

I'm a writer and a storyteller and I already make short videos of my poem recitations.

I've noticed how tiny details like an expressive caption or visually striking edit can spark a conversation in the comments. So, filming cinematic shots of my process wasn't a problem.

That aside, the inspiration for handwritten messages on sticky notes came from the conversation itself, in that it was precise with every detail.

I decided to leave that part of my process intentionally human and flawed. It saves printing costs too.

Example prompt: I want you to identify the blind spots that could sabotage my business. Don't give me advice immediately. Ask me one question at a time until you understand how I make decisions. Push back on inconsistencies, and only then recommend systems and a business model that suits me.

Just the right amount of context is enough to start

I had my fears about sharing my strategy with Gemini. The worst nightmare in any creative business is having your idea lifted before you've had the chance to establish it.

But ideas are rarely a competitive advantage. There are between a prompt and profitable business. Plus, context improves AI's responses, but it doesn't need every detail.

I didn't have to reveal my entire business to get help with pricing, critique a marketing idea, or solve one problem in isolation.