Is this you? Here are the top reasons people don’t learn AI.
- Not enough time to learn it
- Don’t know how to create leverage with it
- It’s moving so fast it feels overwhelming
If you can relate, keep listening.
Hello and welcome back to AI SIX. We have been shortlisted for the All-Ireland Podcast Awards in the Business and Innovation category.
Reason One: Not Enough Time
Many people say they don’t have time to learn AI.
Here’s the truth: you don’t need a course — you need a habit.
As James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says, improve by just 1% each day, and the results over time will be remarkable.
Here’s the rule:
Open your AI tool and give it one specific job you already do.
Example: ask it to write a first draft reply to a difficult stakeholder email.
Your input should include:
- The goal of the email
- The key points you must include
- The tone you want
Ask for a short draft, not a masterpiece. Then spend ten minutes editing.
Remember — you are the expert and the editor.
Reason Two: “I Don’t Know How to Create Leverage with It”
Most people use AI like a better search bar. That’s fine for finding answers — but it won’t change your week.
Leverage happens when AI becomes part of your workflow and delivers measurable value.
Here’s how:
Give your AI tool a job description in one paragraph.
Example:
You are my content research assistant. Your goal is to create a one-page brief before I write a post.
Constraint 1: Use only the links I provide.
Constraint 2: Write in plain English for a non-technical audience.
Then define what you want every time:
- Three key points
- Two quotes
- One objection to address
- A suggested hook
Reason Three: “It’s Moving Too Fast, I Feel Overwhelmed”
Choose one trusted source of knowledge — like this podcast.
Then, put AI into practice. Learn one tool. Share your wins.
Yes, AI is moving fast. But that’s no reason to be paralysed by fear.
Your 7-Day Plan
- Run the 5-Minute Draft, 10-Minute Edit Rule
- Pick one small task.
- Use AI to draft for five minutes, then edit for ten.
- Do it twice.
- Track the time you save.
- Create One Role Brief
- Write a short job description for your AI assistant.
- Include one clear outcome and two constraints.
- Use it to produce one asset and two derivatives.
- Track your output per hour.
- Apply the “One Tool, One Task, Two Weeks” Rule
- Choose a recurring task.
- Use one AI tool for it consistently over two weeks.
- Track consistency first, speed second.
The Bottom Line
If you follow these steps, you’ll gain evidence, not opinions.
You’ll discover where AI truly helps — and where it doesn’t.
You’ll cut wasted minutes and turn them into meaningful output.
You’ll replace overwhelm with a routine that fits your job and your standards.
You don’t learn AI by reading about it. You learn it by using it — right now, on the next thing in front of you.
- “Not enough time” becomes small, daily habits.
- “No leverage” becomes clear roles and measurable output.
- “Overwhelmed” becomes a simple system you can sustain.
You’re not behind, you’re just one repeatable workflow away from proof.
Start today.
About the Podcast Host
Joanne Sweeney is a specialist in public-sector marketing and digital communications. She’s the author of Public Sector Marketing Pro and the creator of the Professional Diploma in AI for Public Sector Marketing. With years of experience in training, consulting, and advocating for digital transformation, Joanne provides insight and guidance for government agencies navigating the digital landscape. She is also the host of the award-winning Public Sector Marketing Show podcast.
