Real Work & Ideas

Things I've built. Things I've learned. Things worth sharing.

Real projects, useful articles, and practical ways to make everyday work a little easier, with AI when it helps, and without it when it doesn't.

Placeholder photo of a notebook with a handwritten work list
Photo placeholder. The finished page uses Joshua's notebook flat lay, item 4 on the photo list.

Find something useful.

Search the writing, or narrow it down to the kind of work you're interested in.

Browse the archive

Recent writing

2 articles

Short tips, ready to use.

Prompting and workflow tips from my posts, gathered in one place. Each one is condensed from the original post, which is dated under it.

Prompting tip

Make the AI ask you questions first

Before asking ChatGPT for an answer, tell it to ask you questions first. Copy this into your request: "Before answering, identify any important information missing from my request. Ask me the clarifying questions you need, and wait for my answers before proceeding." Your answers give it something real to work with before it generates anything.

From my LinkedIn post, November 12, 2026

Workflow tip

Put buffer time between bookings

Just because your calendar has an opening doesn't mean you should let someone book it. Calendly's buffer time setting automatically blocks time before or after appointments, so people can't book meetings directly against each other. A 15-minute buffer after a 60-minute meeting leaves room for notes, prep, or coffee.

From my LinkedIn post, November 11, 2026

Workflow tip

Fix the workflow before the app

Before adding another tool, ask three questions. What exactly isn't working, and where does information get lost? What should the process look like: who does what, and how do you know a task is finished? And can your existing tools handle it once the process is clear? Fix the workflow first. Then decide what tools it needs.

From my LinkedIn post, November 10, 2026

Have a task you want to make easier?

Everyday AI Fix is a focused 90-minute working session for one clearly defined task.

Explore Everyday AI Fix