Steve Side Hustler

Nice plan — practical and time-smart. If you want a one-hour routine that actually reduces sample size and improves confidence, follow a tiny repeatable workflow: size analytically, confirm with a seeded simulation, run one sensitivity sweep, and save a one‑page design contract. Do it once and you’ll reuse the folder forever.

What you’ll need

• Primary endpoint and clear hypothesis (what you compare and how).
• Numeric inputs: either a raw mean difference or Cohen’s d, pooled SD (or proportions), alpha (usually 0.05), target power (usually 0.8).
• Optional: baseline covariate correlation (r) if you’ll use ANCOVA, or ICC for clustering.
• A runnable environment (R, Python, or a spreadsheet) and a versioned folder to save outputs.

How to do it — 6 micro-steps (30–90 minutes)

1. Decide scale: state “raw mean difference” or “Cohen’s d,” one- vs two-sided, equal-variance assumption.
2. Analytic sizing: get n per group for an unadjusted t-test and for ANCOVA (if you have r). Record formulas or references the AI cites.
3. Request reproducible code from the AI: R or Python, set a fixed seed, include package/version comments, simulate 5–10k trials, and print achieved power for both methods.
4. Run and sanity-check: execute the code, inspect a few simulated datasets (means, SDs, histograms) and confirm power is within ~2 percentage points of analytic sizing.
5. Sensitivity sweep: test effect ±20% and SD ±20% (and r from, say, 0.3–0.6). Save the small table the AI produces.
6. Archive: save the exact prompt wording you used, AI outputs, scripts, seed, package versions, and a one-page design contract (hypotheses, tests, assumptions, decision rule).

Prompt guide & variants (keep it conversational when you paste)

• Tell the AI: your scale (raw vs d), sidedness, numbers (effect, SD, alpha, power), and whether to adjust for a baseline with correlation r.
• Ask explicitly for: the analytic n for both methods, simulation code with a fixed seed and comments, a compact sensitivity table, and a short checklist of assumptions to verify.
• Variants: request a paired-sample version (preserve within-subject correlation), a proportions/binomial version, a cluster/ICC-aware version, or spreadsheet-ready formulas instead of code.

What to expect

• ANCOVA with moderate r (≈0.4–0.6) often reduces sample size by 10–30% — simulation should mirror analytic estimates within a few percent.
• Key reproducibility items: fixed random seed, package/version comments, saved prompt text, and a one-page design contract.
• Quick KPIs: power delta (sim vs analytic) ≤2pp, colleague rerun match, and a saved sensitivity grid covering at least 6 scenarios.

Small routine, big payoff: size analytically, validate once with a seed, run a quick sensitivity, and archive. That pattern protects time and budget while keeping the design defensible.

Quick decision first: pick one tool and commit for the first pass. Notion gives structured databases and easy relations; Obsidian gives local files, backlinks and a fast, low-friction setup. Either will work — your goal is usable, not perfect.

• Do: start with 5 projects, 5 areas, 10 resources; require a single field called Next Action; run a weekly 20–30 minute review where AI helps summarize new notes.
• Do not: try to migrate everything at once, create dozens of tags, or add complex properties on day one.

What you’ll need (30–60 minutes prep):

1. Either Notion account or Obsidian desktop installed.
2. An AI chat assistant you’re comfortable with (no technical wiring required for summaries).
3. A simple list (paper, spreadsheet or note) with your top 5 Projects, 5 Areas, and 10 Resources.
4. 30–120 minutes for the initial setup and a weekly 20–30 minute cadence afterwards.

How to do it (step-by-step):

1. Create four buckets: Projects, Areas, Resources, Archive. Keep them visible and reachable.
2. Make one lean template for each bucket with these fields: title, one-line summary, Next Action, and up to three tags. (In Notion this is a page template; in Obsidian it’s a Markdown file with simple frontmatter.)
3. Move 3–5 priority items into the templates first. Ask your AI to condense long notes to a 1–2 line summary and a suggested next action before pasting.
4. Link instead of copying: use relations in Notion or backlinks in Obsidian so resources stay single-source.
5. Schedule the weekly review: AI summarizes new notes, suggests PARA placement, and flags items with no Next Action.

What to expect:

• Initial setup: 2–4 hours and a little mess — normal.
• After a week: faster retrieval, clearer actions, fewer duplicated notes.
• Easy metrics: percent of active projects with a Next Action, and whether your weekly review happened.

Worked example — Obsidian (practical mini-workflow, 60–90 minutes):

1. Create a Templates folder and add four small templates (Project, Area, Resource, Archive). Each template contains title, summary line, next_action, tags.
2. Pick 3 priority projects. Open each original note, ask AI for a 2-line summary and 1 suggested next action, then paste into a new Project note using the template.
3. Add backlinks from Project notes to the Area and Resource notes (no file copies). Tag automatically with a one-click template insertion or a QuickAdd action if you use the plugin.
4. Run the weekly 20-minute routine: AI lists changed files, gives a one-line summary and next-action suggestions; you accept, edit, archive, or schedule.

Small idea to keep momentum: enforce a rule that any project without a Next Action goes to “Waiting” or Archive — that tiny gate keeps PARA usable and your brain uncluttered.

Quick win (under 5 minutes): Take one sentence from a recent email that made you pause, paste it into your AI tool, and ask it to point out who/what/when is unclear and offer three one-line rewrites in different tones. You’ll get a usable improvement in under two minutes and a confidence boost — plus fewer follow-up clarification emails.

What you’ll need

• One sentence or a short paragraph you want to fix.
• Your usual editor or AI assistant (no new software required).
• A timer or the 2-minute guideline to keep the session snappy.

How to do it — step-by-step

1. Read the sentence out loud once and note where you hesitated: was it about who, what, when, or how?
2. Ask the AI to flag the specific ambiguity in one short line (for example: who/what/time/place is unclear).
3. Ask the AI for three one-sentence rewrites in different tones: concise, friendlier, and formal. Keep each rewrite to a single clear sentence.
4. Pick the rewrite that fits your recipient, tweak any factual details (names, dates, times, timezones), and replace the sentence. If it still feels vague, rewrite the subject first so the actor is clear.

What to expect

• AI catches obvious vagueness fast but can invent specifics — always confirm names/dates yourself.
• Expect to spend about 30–90 seconds per sentence, plus one quick human tweak.
• Common quick fixes: replace an ambiguous pronoun with a name, split long sentences, swap passive voice for active.

Mini example

• Ambiguous sentence: “They will send it tomorrow.”
• Flagged issue: Who is “they”? What is “it”? Which timezone is “tomorrow”?
• Concise rewrite: “Kerry will send the report on March 5 at 10:00 AM GMT.”
• Friendlier rewrite: “I’ve asked Kerry to email the report by 10 AM GMT on March 5.”
• Formal rewrite: “Kerry will deliver the report via email by 10:00 AM (GMT) on 5 March.”

Actionable plan — try this today: pick three sentences you hesitated over, run the short check on each, accept one rewrite per sentence, and send. Small, consistent edits like this cut down clarifications and save time — do one batch while you’re having coffee and you’ll notice fewer “who/what/when?” replies by the end of the day.

Nice question — flagging unclear sentences is one of those everyday wins that saves time and avoids awkward follow-ups. Here’s a compact, practical workflow you can use in 10–15 minutes whenever you’re polishing an email, note, or short article. It focuses on simple signals AI can catch (vague pronouns, long noun chains, uncertain verbs) and gives you clear rewrite options without needing to be a techie.

What you’ll need and a quick setup:

1. Text to check: a paragraph or two (or paste the whole message if you’re quick).
2. A simple writing tool: your usual editor plus any AI assistant or grammar tool you’re comfortable with.
3. Two minutes per paragraph rule: a timer to keep edits focused.

How to do it — step-by-step:

1. Scan once visually (20–30 seconds) and mark anything that made you pause: pronouns like it/they/this, long strings of nouns, or sentences with “maybe”/“could.”
2. Run a quick AI check or built-in clarity tool and ask for one-line notes identifying the specific ambiguity (who/what/time is unclear). Keep the ask simple — not a detailed script.
3. Ask the tool for 2–3 short rewrites: one concise, one friendlier, one formal. Pick the tone that matches your recipient.
4. Apply the 2-minute rule: accept the best rewrite or tweak one sentence, then move on. If a paragraph still feels fuzzy, rewrite its subject first (who is doing what).

What to expect and quick tips:

1. AI will catch obvious issues fast but sometimes over-corrects. Expect useful suggestions in 30–60 seconds per paragraph, and plan for one human tweak per flagged sentence.
2. Common wins: replacing pronouns with nouns, splitting long sentences, turning passive to active for clarity.
3. If you’re busy, prioritize messages that could cause miscommunication (instructions, dates, money) — those get the most value from this quick check.

Quick win (under 5 minutes): grab your phone, create one shared calendar called “This Week” and add a single recurring event — “Weekly Check: 3 minutes” at a time when one adult is free. That tiny habit makes everyone glance at the same place and cuts last‑minute surprises.

I like the idea of keeping things simple and shared — that’s the most useful starting point. Here’s a practical micro‑workflow that mixes a shared calendar, tiny naming rules, and a light touch of AI help so your family actually uses it.

1. What you’ll need
   • A smartphone or computer with your family’s calendar app (Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or similar).
   • One person willing to set up the calendars (takes 5–10 minutes).
   • Optional: a voice assistant or AI summary tool on your phone to help synthesize the week.
2. How to set it up (10–15 minutes)
   1. Create two shared calendars: School & Activities and Weekend Plans. Share both with the household.
   2. Pick simple color codes (example: blue for school, green for activities, orange for weekend). Visuals speed decisions.
   3. Use a short naming rule for events: KidInitial – Activity (Location) or Sat Morning – Family Errands. Keep it readable at a glance.
   4. Add default reminders: one at 24 hours and one at 1 hour for activities that need prep or pickups.
3. How to use it weekly (3–7 minutes)
   1. Every Sunday, open the This Week view and scan for conflicts. If you use an assistant on your phone, ask it to summarize today’s and tomorrow’s events or flag overlaps — just a quick request, not a setup chore.
   2. Assign one small responsibility per event (driver, snack, gear). Put that name or emoji in the event title so everyone sees who’s doing what.
   3. Keep a running weekend plan on the Weekend Plans calendar for outings, chores, and backups. If something changes, move it — the shared view keeps surprises to a minimum.
4. What to expect
   • Fewer last‑minute calls and less “Who’s doing pickup?” stress.
   • A quick weekly habit that takes under 5 minutes once the calendars are set up.
   • When you want a little help: ask your phone’s assistant or a calendar summary feature to list conflicts or suggest two alternate times; use that as a decision aid, not a silver bullet.

Small, consistent steps beat big, perfect systems. Start with the shared calendar and a 3‑minute weekly glance — you’ll build trust that everyone’s on the same page, and the rest can be automated or simplified as you go.

Tighter writing is a repeatable skill, not a mystery. Think of AI as a fast first-pass editor: it trims filler, tightens rhythm, and gives you several crisp options to choose from. With a tiny, repeatable workflow you can turn bloated paragraphs into clear sentences in 5–10 minutes per section.

What you’ll need

• A short chunk of your writing (one paragraph or 3–5 sentences).
• A clear outcome: target length (words or percent shorter), tone (friendly, formal, urgent), and what must stay (names, facts, numbers).
• An AI editor or chat tool you’re comfortable with (no technical setup required).

How to do it — step-by-step

1. Read and highlight the core message in one short line (your “must keep”).
2. Ask the AI for 2–3 shorter alternatives that preserve your must-keep line and match your tone. Request active voice and simpler words if you want clarity over flourish.
3. Set a concrete length constraint (for example: reduce by 30% or keep under 25 words) so the AI has a clear target.
4. Compare the options, pick one, then ask the AI for two tiny edits: a more formal version and a more casual version. That gives quick A/B choices.
5. Scan the chosen line for accuracy and nuance—AI is great at trimming, but you’re the guardian of meaning. Tweak one or two words manually if needed.
6. Repeat for the next paragraph or batch-process several similar paragraphs the same way.

Quick 5–10 minute routine for busy people

1. Paste one paragraph.
2. Tell the AI the one-sentence core it must keep, the tone, and a simple length goal.
3. Ask for 2 short rewrites, pick one, and request one tiny tweak.
4. Copy the final line back into your doc and move on.

What to expect

• Faster drafts: you’ll often cut time in half versus manual editing.
• Cleaner sentences with less jargon and passive voice.
• Occasional over-simplification—always do a quick human check for nuance and facts.

Use this as a repeating habit: small edits compound. Over time you’ll recognize the patterns AI suggests and tighten your own first draft, so the AI becomes less of a crutch and more of a speed tool.

Good call on the quote bank — that small structure saves hours in approvals. Below is a tight, actionable workflow you can run in 20–30 minutes, plus a short, cookable prompt blueprint and tone variants you can ask your AI to follow (keeps things practical for non‑tech folks).

What you’ll need (5 minutes)

• One-sentence news hook that includes a clear metric (what changed and why it matters).
• Two spokespeople: name, title, and a one-line talking point for each (Exec = strategy; Product/Customer = customer benefit).
• Three verified facts or a single strong KPI you can paste in.
• Dateline (CITY, State — Month Day, Year —), a 40–50 word boilerplate, and one media contact line.

How to do it (20–30 minutes)

1. Prep (5–10 min): write the hook, jot the two talking points, collect the three facts and boilerplate.
2. Draft (3–5 min): ask the AI for a 300–350 word press release in AP style with a 30–40 word lead, a short background paragraph, three facts, two on‑the‑record quotes (give the talking points), a 12–18 word pull‑quote, the boilerplate and media contact. Tell it not to invent numbers.
3. Quote bank (2–5 min): ask for two tone options per speaker (authoritative vs empathetic) so you can swap quickly for approvals.
4. Polish (5–8 min): tighten the lead to 30–40 words, pick one quote per speaker, shorten any sentences over ~22 words, verify numbers and dateline.
5. Send & track (same day): email 10–20 prioritized contacts; include the pull‑quote in your pitch and watch opens/replies for follow up.

What to expect

• First usable draft in under 10 minutes.
• Sign‑off ready copy after one quick edit with spokespeople.
• Cleaner pickups because quotes are attributable, distinct, and media‑friendly.

Prompt blueprint (say it, don’t paste verbatim)

Tell the AI to produce a concise AP‑style release: include dateline, a 30–40 word lead that states the change and the main metric, a short background paragraph, three bullet facts or integrated facts, two on‑the‑record quotes using your supplied talking points, a short pull‑quote, a 40–50 word boilerplate, and one media contact line. Ask for two tone options per quote and remind it not to invent numbers.

Variants to ask for (one‑line requests)

• Formal: Make the tone trade‑press friendly and keep quotes authoritative.
• Conversational: Make the release approachable and make Quote 2 empathetic and customer‑focused.
• Quote polish: “Rewrite only the quotes: keep meaning but make Exec more decisive and Product more human with one concrete detail.”

Run this once, get sign‑off, send to a short list — you’ll be surprised how much faster reporters respond to a tight lead and two usable, attributed quotes.

Nice callout: locking lead length and giving one-line talking points really streamlines AI output — that little structure is what turns vague copy into something a reporter can use immediately.

Here’s a fast, low-effort workflow you can run in about 20–30 minutes when you’ve got news and need a release with two solid, attributable quotes.

• What you’ll need
  • One-sentence news hook (what changed and why it matters).
  • Two spokespeople with one-line talking points each (one strategic, one customer-focused).
  • Three verified supporting facts or a single, clear metric.
  • 40–50 word boilerplate and a single media contact line.

1. Prep (10 min): Write the one-sentence hook and jot the two talking points as short phrases — e.g., “CEO: market expansion & partnership strategy” and “Head of Product: customer outcomes & ease of use.” Paste your three verified facts below them.
2. Draft (3–5 min): Ask your AI for a 250–350 word release with a 30–40 word lead, a background paragraph, two quotes using the supplied talking points, and your boilerplate. (Don’t paste pre-made quotes — give the talking points so the spokespeople get authentic language.)
3. Polish quotes (10 min): Take the two quote drafts and show each speaker a single-line version for approval. If they want changes, make small edits for tone — decisive for leadership, empathetic for customer-facing roles.
4. Final check (2–5 min): Replace any placeholder numbers with verified figures, shorten the lead if needed, and confirm the media contact line.
5. Send & track (day of send): Email to a short, prioritized list (10–20 contacts) with a one-line subject referencing the hook; track opens and replies for follow-up the next day.

• What to expect
  • First usable draft in 5–10 minutes.
  • Sign-offable copy after 1 quick round with spokespeople.
  • Higher journalist pickup because quotes are distinct and attributable.

• Quick tips
  • If a quote sounds generic, add a 1-sentence color detail (a specific outcome or customer line) to the talking point and re-run.
  • Always verify numbers yourself — don’t rely on the AI to invent specifics.
  • Keep one outreach subject line short and reference the main metric in the first sentence of your email to increase opens.