I Built a Fairy Godmother for My Business

It's been a chaotic past five weeks.

February is always hectic for me. Between Valentine's Day and multiple family birthdays, it's always several trips out of town crammed into an already-short month.

And then March came and has just been blowing by faster than I can keep track.

I've still been thinking, writing, and talking about "a new way to web" a ton privately – and I've met some amazing people who are helping me explore and expand on some huge, incredible, life-changing ideas. (Like, for real, stay tuned.)

But I want to put a pause on that public conversation for now to share something that's helped tremendously over the past month.

The real reason this came up was because I was trying to think about what I want to create as part of this new brand. I made plenty of products as a "systems strategist", but I wasn't sure what would fit well here.

I want to play and experiment and follow different rabbit holes, but I also need to be realistic about how much I can afford to dive into those things without a clear monetization strategy.

At first, I just kind of spun my wheels about what you might need. That's, like, the world's most vague question, though, when one of the whole points of embracing a more personal brand is that we all have disparate, diverse interests and skills.

I spent about a week trying to read your mind, and then it occurred to me:

1. I have a problem: I don't know which direction to move in to sell in a way that aligns with my brand ethos;
2. I can probably build a solution: I use ChatGPT as a sounding board for ideas and thoughts all the time, and it would probably be great for this specific type of idea generation;
3. If I'm having this problem, I bet you might be, too.

(Before your eyes glaze over or you click away, this is not a sales newsletter. I mean, it is, in the sense that I'm announcing that I have something for sale, but it's way more than that, so stick with me.)

What's in a Fairy Godmother?

While I sat in the frustration of not being sure what to make, I realized what I wanted was a Fairy Godmother.

Someone like a coach, but more private and less expensive. Not just a business strategist, but someone who would make me feel a little less alone.

So, I built one out as a Custom GPT.

If you're not familiar, a few months ago, OpenAI released a new feature for ChatGPT that allows you to create custom chatbots with your own instructions, data, and settings.

You could already kind of do this, just by giving ChatGPT's standard bot instructions during a chat, but this requires constant prompting and correction. (I'm taking this opportunity to plug this "boo chatbots" article again.)

Now, with Custom GPTs, prompting, providing context, and teaching the chatbot is more "set it and forget it".

I set one up giving it as much information about my business as possible and instructions on how to respond. Things like using a more regal or ethereal tone, providing ideas that are so good they sound like they came from a crystal ball, and being a supportive confidant when I just need to vent.

And the results actually felt magical.

Instead of giving me product ideas like creating a mini-course or an eBook or a webinar, my Fairy Godmother was giving me ideas like:

• A "Passions and Skills Inventory" to help you take stock of your interests and find where they overlap for more innovative offers.
• "Narrative Networking Nights" for networking events that focus specifically on deeper storytelling.
• "[Redacted] Fest", a virtual event where [redacted] can [redacted]... (This one was so good I don't even want to share it until I can pull it off.)

But what really let me know that it "worked" -- that it understood my vision for this space -- was that it recommended a "Cultural Shift blog series", where, instead of trying to conceptualize an "answer" to how we can help shape the shifting web, I would research the different elements around how and why the web is shifting.

On its own, that's not revolutionary, and is what I was already doing behind the scenes before writing in public. But it's exactly the prompting I needed for my brain to work its own magic.

If I was working and learning out in the open this way, it would create space for you to collaborate with me. You could expand on, or challenge, my thoughts. Bring your own ideas to the table.

This makes way more sense anyway, since I'm not the only person working online and I can't reimagine the future of web-based work on my own.

Instead of trying to find or conceptualize an answer, perhaps we could build one together.

Perhaps, as a result of learning and writing in public, the "answer" will appear organically, if there is an answer to be had at all.

I've continued to iterate my Fairy Godmother GPT and brainstorm ideas with her. (I call her Midge.)

She certainly isn't perfect, but I'm consistently blown away by the ideas for products, content, and general strategies she generates.

That's why I decided to teach others how to build something similar. (It helped that Elizabeth Goddard did a live round of her Profitable Live Trainings [affiliate link] course right as I was having this idea!)

But! To show why this Custom GPT approach is so much more inspiring than just popping into ChatGPT and asking it for a list of ideas, I want to give you a list of Custom GPTs you could sell yourself.

I've seen a couple people doing this (like fellow Victoria, Victoria Boyd), but I think there are so many neat opportunities here to explore.

What CustomGPT could you build?

This list was originally created by asking my Fairy Godmother what custom GPTs "multi-passionate, rule-bending, micro-business owners" could sell. I'm not a fan of using fully AI-generated content, so they've all been edited / expanded upon with my own ideas and interpretations.

Feel free to take any of them, but conduct your own research to see whether anything similar is on the market and whether you could build something different (and better 🤫).

Anti-Burnout Buddy

Help users find strategies to prevent burnout at work and at home based on their habits, goals, and stress triggers. You could have the GPT generate customized burnout "bugout bag" or talk them through moments of overwhelm.

Authenticity Advocate

Admittedly, I kind of hate the name for this, but like the concept. This GPT would help users identify their unique, authentic voice and help check their content to make sure they're communicating like themselves. Think removing buzzwords, using branded vocab, and avoiding language popular with the user's "anti-brand".

Digital Minimalism Coach

Help users reduce their digital clutter, either by updating their tools, revamping their organization, or cleaning up unused data. You could train the GPT on your own digital minimalism practices and the process you would go through if someone hired you to clean up their digital space.

Dream Interpreter

Love diving into people's subconscious? This could be used in both B2B and B2C spaces, turning users' dreams into creative projects. Maybe their dreams are telling them to fire a client, or to change up their routine. It can break down what their dreams mean and give them some sort of action to complete as a result.

Cultural Curator

Again, don't love the name. But! The idea here is to help business owners integrate their culture into their brand story and offers. I'm not the best person to talk about this, but I think there's something really neat to be done here, where you help folks of the same culture (or even subculture) connect to themselves more deeply.

Financial Planning Partner

If you do a lot of work in the finance area, you could create a custom GPT to support users in managing their finances, building a budget, finding investment opportunities, managing their debt, and more. You may not want your GPT to do allllll of those things, but picking one area -- like "retirement planning for freelancers" -- and building a custom GPT around that could be super helpful for people who want to talk through financial concerns, but can't afford to hire an expert.

Idea Incubator

Instead of focusing on generating ideas, you could build a custom GPT that's all about refining and talking through ideas. Your GPT could offer feedback, information on the market the user is targeting, and ideas for getting started on their idea. This could work in the B2C space to, helping people work through ideas for personal projects.

Indie Author's Assistant

Are you self-published? You could help users develop their book's plot, edit their work, and talk them through self-publishing (or traditional publishing!).

Language Learning Buddy

You could create a conversational GPT that's focused on learning or practicing a particular language. You could theoretically even build unique practices into the different prompt options, drill vocabulary, or offer cultural insights / history about the language the user is learning.

Learning Path Designer

This is one of my faves, because I can see it going a number of ways. The GPT could help the user create a curriculum for learning about a particular subject (or, like above, a language or other specific skill). It could create plans for more experiential learning opportunities about something they're already studying.

Or, if you have a lot of informational products (like courses and eBooks), you could create a GPT with details about all your different offers, so it can provide something like a custom syllabus for users to go through your different offers. (Granted, I would share this version for free or part of an AI-support chatbot on your site, rather than a paid custom GPT.)

Moon Cycles & Other Cycle Syncing Assistants

Really into working and living by the moon or other natural cycles? Add a calendar and your cycle strategies to a custom GPT so users can prompt it for things they could / should do in different phases. For example, you could have the initial prompts be a list of moon phases; the user can click on the moon phase for the current day, and the GPT could provide a list of things to do and avoid for that moon cycle.

Niche Hobby Explorer

If you have a ton of different interests, this could be a fun option. You can help users find new hobbies or crafts to try, giving them resources, tutorials, or links to things they can explore. You could even build something that lets users input their favorite hobbies and the GPT could create new ways to combine them.

Niche Market Matchmaker

There are plenty of underserved niches, and plenty of people who have a hard time defining their niche at all. You could connect them with untapped markets, trends and consumer behavior in that niche, or help them talk through finding a niche on their own.

Remote Work Optimizer

Blehhh, """optimization""". Although I guess you could call it an "Improver"? I dunno, that part is for you to figure out. Either way, the idea behind this one is to provide tips and tools for enhancing the user's remote "workspace" – whether that's digital clutter, hardware that makes remote work easier, ways to better collaborate virtually, and strategies for better work-life balance when you work from home.

Shadow Work Support

Shadow Work has been a fantastic addition to my self-reflection toolkit. I'm not sure how... "ethical" it would be to have a GPT that talks people through it -- because it is such a draining and personal process -- but I bet there's an interesting way to help people connect "shadows" to their work, or to talk them through triggers... I'm not sure; tread lightly here, but I wanted to include it because I think there are some possibilities without getting into, like, "mental health advice" territory.

Sensory Experience Designer

This one is interesting! This GPT would advise users on creating "multi-sensory experiences" for their offers. At first, I was just thinking of physical products, but it's relevant to digital offers, too... Visuals and audio, of course, but also things like sending a bottle of wine to your client after a big project; sending a small "security blanket" to new coaching clients; embedding more "texture" elements in your branding; setting more "environmental ambiance" in your offers... Definitely things to explore!

Story Arc Architect

This could be similar to the Indie Author's Assistant if you're focusing on long-form storytelling, but this could also be relevant to marketers, copywriters, and content creators, by helping them craft more compelling and personal narratives, and by helping them stay consistent about their narratives in their branding. I'm thinking of this as a combination of the Indie Author's Assistant and the Authenticity Advocate.

Tarot Reader

Do you have a unique way you interpret Tarot cards? You could add that to a custom GPT and set it up so users can get interpretations of their spreads and / or can generate spreads, depending on how you feel about that.

Tattoo Conceptualizer

You can use plugins like DALL-E to generate images with your custom GPT! This will depend on your personal feelings about AI-generated art. But this GPT could theoretically prompt users for their personal stories, preferred art style, and interests to come up with unique tattoo designs.

Time Travel Advisor

This is a weird one, but fun. This GPT would offer customized business strategies inspired by practices from historical periods. If you're a history buff, this could be such a cool option. I wasn't sure what type of things this kind of GPT would recommend, so I asked my Fairy Godmother, and she gave some examples like:

Implement digital apprenticeship programs where newcomers learn from experienced mentors in virtual environments, fostering skill development and professional growth.

Adapt the Renaissance-era patronage system to support artists, creators, and innovators through subscriptions or membership models. Businesses can act as modern patrons, investing in creativity and innovation while associating their brand with cutting-edge projects and social good.

Travel Itinerary Builder

If a lot of your work is around travel, add what you've learned about travel to a custom GPT so users can build a custom itinerary. I could see this being especially great for people who (a) build itineraries themselves as part of their business, or (b) people who write about a specific location. Like, imagine you know all there is to know about a popular destination like Las Vegas; you could build a custom GPT with all your favorite Vegas-based local restaurants, activities, and deals.

So, you want a Fairy Godmother...

I know not all of these suggestions are created equal, but I do think several of them are incredibly unique and innovative. Turning your dreams into an action plan for business? Building strategies around ancient business practices?? So many neat ideas.

This isn't the best way to demo my Fairy Godmother since she's been trained specifically on my information and data. (It's how I wanted to demo the GPT so I could toss you some fun ideas while showing how diverse custom GPTs can be.)

To show what an even bigger difference this custom Fairy Godmother makes – not just better prompting, but prompting with the full context of your business – here are some ideas it generated for me for additional custom GPTs I could sell myself:

• A GPT to help people merge tech with mindfulness and spiritual practices.
• A GPT to help introverted leaders leverage their quiet strengths and lead with introspection.
• A GPT to prompt users with personal reflective journaling prompts.

All of these are super relevant to my work in ways that may not be to yours.

They focus on my personality (introverted, spiritual, reflective), my interests (mindfulness, leadership, journaling), and my assumed audience (likeminded people looking to break out of their shell with more innovative and true-to-them business practices).

TL;DR:

• It's $19 for the training, replay, access to a pre-built GPT, a prompting workbook, a "scenario guide", and 14 days email support.
• It's happening Wednesday, March 20th, at 2 p.m EDT.
• A ChatGPT Plus plan is required to use custom GPTs, but you can use my prompts and suggestions on the free plan.

...Or you want to get back to talking about the next era of online business.

I may send one more email out about this training, and then I'll be back to chatting about some new ways I'm thinking about working online.

If you have ideas or thoughts to share, or an article I think you should read, please, please email me. I cannot tell you how impactful some of these conversations have been.

...To the point that I think I may have conceptualized an entirely new version of social media??

I'm excited to dig in over the next few months, and I hope you stick around for it.