The AI skills gap is real (and it's an opportunity)

Hey there!

Something that's been occupying my mind lately is how differently we approach learning new tools and skills - especially when it comes to AI.

I've noticed a troubling pattern in conversations with other entrepreneurs and small business owners. Many feel caught between two extremes: either AI represents this soulless automation machine (for example, faceless automated YouTube channels pumping out meaningless content), or they retreat to become the AI skeptics sticking with what has been working so far and hoping for the best approach out of resistance.

But here's what I want you to understand: there's a beautiful intersection in the middle that most people miss.

It's not about becoming a tech guru or automation expert. It's about developing just enough skill to use AI in a way that feels authentic and aligned with your unique goals.

This mental hurdle is real. With so much noise in the AI space, it's easy to perceive it as purely robotic automation that has nothing to do with your business or creative process. But that middle ground - where AI elevates your business, helps create new income streams, or brings your product ideas to life faster - that's where the magic happens.

You don't need to transform into a technical person overnight. You just need to make a commitment to discover what AI means specifically for you, your life, and your business. That's a beautiful place to start.

Since 2018, I've watched how AI skills combined with scalable digital business models are creating entirely different possibilities for solo entrepreneurs compared to corporations. While companies use AI to optimize existing processes and cut costs, individuals are using it to create entirely new business models that require minimal overhead and scale almost infinitely.

The true revolution isn't just in learning AI – it's in combining AI skills with scalable digital business models that weren't possible even 5 years ago.

Let me give you an example: How do you explain to a corporate professional that a woman who created a shadow work journal and uploaded it to Amazon has earned over a million dollars just by sharing it on TikTok? In the corporate world, this makes no sense - where's the team, the market validation, the complex business plan? But in today's digital landscape, this is increasingly common.

One person with:

• A digital product (journal, course, masterclass, template, membership)

• The right distribution (social platforms, email)

• AI tools to handle the heavy lifting

...can now achieve what once required entire companies.

This disconnect explains why so many smart corporate professionals brains glitch and they struggle to see the personal opportunity. The mental model of what's possible in a company is totally different from what's possible for you as an individual.

Remember: While everyone else is worrying about how AI will change their job, you can be building something that makes your job optional.

The 5 Essential AI Skills That Matter Most

In my latest YouTube video The 5 Essential Skills That Will Make Entrepreneurs Unstoppable in 2025 I break down why most people approach AI all wrong – getting stuck in endless research and comparison instead of building practical skills through implementation.

The key insight that's getting the most responses? Focus on use cases, not features. Start with what you want to accomplish, not with mastering every bell and whistle of the latest tools.

I have created a simple Google Doc to follow along the video, where I've broken down exactly why it matters specifically for solopreneurs, the business applications, pro tips most people miss, prompts and the top 3 tools to try right now to master each skill.

Put This Into Action Today

To help you start implementing right away, here's a powerful prompt specifically designed for corporate professionals looking to leverage AI skills to build freedom-based businesses.If it is you, here is a prompt to get your juices flowing!

Prompt of the week

Copy and paste this prompt into AI of your choice and let me know what comes up for you.

I need your help as an AI business strategist specialized in helping corporate professionals create freedom-based online businesses. I have experience in [your industry/role] with skills in [2-3 key skills]. Ask me insightful questions to gather insights on my skills, experiences and interests. 

Then please analyze:

1. Skill transition
-Which of my corporate skills would be most valuable in an online business context
-What AI-specific skills I should prioritize learning first (rank in order of ROI)
-3 skills I likely already have but am undervaluing

2. Possible income streams
Identify 5 potential digital income streams that leverage my expertise
For each, outline: 
-The specific problem it solves
-Why now is the right time for this solution
-How AI could help me create and deliver it efficiently
-A rough price point and revenue potential

3. Create a simple implementation roadmap
-A 30-day action plan with specific milestones
-One "quick win" I could implement this week
-The first AI workflow I should set up to save time

4. Mindset shifts needed
-Common mindset traps corporate professionals fall into when building online businesses
-How to maintain authenticity while leveraging AI tools

Please prioritize actionable advice over theory, and focus on approaches that require minimal audience-building to start generating revenue.

What I'm Exploring Right Now

1. I've been dabbling with Sora but haven't given it a proper deep dive yet to determine if it could be a genuine needle-mover for any of my income streams. For now this is how Sora has visualized me having a bad AI day 😂:

2. Now that I've hit a consistent rhythm with my content creation, I'm turning my attention to automation and agentic AI tools for content repurposing (perhaps a bit premature? we’ll see).

   I'm currently experimenting with this but haven’t nailed it yet to the point where I am happy with the outcome without sacrificing authenticity. It’s a learning curve, so might take some time, but I am ok with that.

3. I have been in the rabbit hole of turning AI into all sorts of personal coaches to help with anything from identifying your values and building a business around what matters to being an ikigai coach. It’s interesting to see what comes up and I am excited to share a video on that soon.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's issue - what resonated most with you? Just hit reply 🙌

Until next week,

Your AI Solopreneur Bestie,
Elena Kell