AI is evolving fast. And if you’ve been online lately, you’ve probably felt that weird mix of curiosity and dread. Like… “Should I be using this?” and “Why does this sound like an alien blob trying to rebrand for a human audience—with questionable success?” (John Scalzi fans, you get it.)
For heart-centered entrepreneurs and creative small biz owners, using AI can feel a little ick. You want support, not soulless content. You want to sound like you, not a sassy chatbot who learned everything it knows from clickbait.
Here’s the good news: you can use AI—and still sound 100% like yourself.
The secret? Start with your core values.
Wait, What Are Core Values (and Why Should You Care)?
Core values aren’t just fluff or some words you slap on a “mission” page to sound official. Your core values (AKA brand character or brand values), are the heartbeat of your business. The inner compass. The vibe, the voice, the why behind what you say and how you show up.
When you’re clear on your core values, everything gets easier:
- You stop second-guessing your messaging. Instead of asking, “Should I say it this way?” you already know what feels right.
- Your audience feels who you are without needing a paragraph of explanation. They read one sentence and go, “Yep, this is for me.”
- Your content starts sounding more like a trusted human (you!) and less like a sales machine trying to close a deal on every post.
For example:
- If one of your values is transparency, your content might include behind-the-scenes peeks and honest reflections.
- If you value playfulness, you might use quirky metaphors, emojis, or a wink in your word choice.
- If calm is a core value, you’ll lean into simplicity and soothing language over hype and exclamation points.
Your core values shape:
- The words you choose
- The tone you use
- The stories you tell
- And how your people feel when they read or hear your stuff
Your core values help you write like you, even when you’re using tools like ChatGPT to support the process.
Why Most AI-Generated Copy Feels… Meh
If you’ve ever asked ChatGPT to write a caption or blog, and the result made you cringe (or laugh hysterically), you’re not alone.
That default “AI voice”? It’s usually super peppy, oddly formal, and packed with buzzwords that sound like a marketer trying way too hard.
Know this: AI is only as good as the direction you give it. If you don’t give it your voice, it’ll use its own. (And it’s… not great.)
Use Your Core Values to Train Your AI Voice
Once you’ve clarified your core values, you can use them to shape how ChatGPT responds to you. Think of it like building your own personal writing assistant — one that gets you. Here’s a quick way to start:
List Your Business Core Values
Pick 3–5 that really matter to you. Not just words that sound nice, but ones that actually shape how you work and how you want your audience to feel. Think: clarity, warmth, playfulness, boldness, or whatever lights your inner glow stick.
Mine? Attentiveness and attunement—which are just fancy words for noticing the quiet stuff. Like the metaphorical wisdom of a spider who forgot to wear grippy shoes while I was standing directly underneath it in the shower. (That story is in the newsletter, by the way…)
Describe Your Voice
How would a friend describe your current style? Not how you hope to sound, but how you actually come across when you’re not overthinking every word. Friendly? Nerdy? Calming? Quirky? A little dramatic in a charming way? (No judgment—own it!)
Your voice is the vibe behind your values. It’s the tone, rhythm, and personality that shape how people experience your words. Are you the gentle encourager? The sassy truth-teller? The wise guide in cozy slippers?
And we want to get your writing voice to match your speaking voice.
Write down a few adjectives, or even better, short phrases, that describe how you sound when you’re at your most you. This is the version of your voice we want AI to learn from. Not the edited, over-polished one. The real-deal, people-love-you-for-it one.
Ray Bradbury once said, “If you are writing without zest, without gusto, without love, without fun, you are only half a writer.”
Your voice has zest. Don’t let AI file it down into something bland. Teach it your flavor.
Feed It to ChatGPT
Now it’s time to teach the robot what makes you you. (Spoiler: It’s not just about keywords or clever phrases—it’s about energy, intention, and how you want people to feel when they read your stuff.)
“Hey ChatGPT! You’re helping me write today, so here’s what you need to know:
My brand values are clarity, curiosity, and compassion.
My voice is warm, slightly quirky, conversational, and encouraging.
Skip the corporate lingo and buzzwords. Just talk like a real human having a real conversation—with heart, not hype.”
You can copy-paste this little intro whenever you start a session. Think of it as your AI onboarding message. It helps set the tone and keeps the voice consistent, so whether you’re drafting a blog post, a social caption, or a sales page, your writing still feels like you.
Bonus tip: If ChatGPT ever gives you something that sounds like a robot doing improv theater in a business suit, just say:
“Try again, but make it sound more like me: friendly, a little offbeat, and genuinely helpful.”
You’ll be surprised how quickly it learns when you show it who’s boss. (In the nicest possible way.)
Test & Tweak
Don’t start with a 1,500-word blog post. Ask ChatGPT to write something tiny, like a social caption, email opening, or product blurb.
Then tweak it.
Make it warmer.
Add a joke.
Cut the fluff.
Drop in that one phrase you always say.
This is where the magic happens. Not in what AI writes for you, but how you shape it to sound more like you. Give feedback as you go. (“Try again, but make it snappier and skip the buzzwords.” Or: “Can we make this sound like someone who’s had two cups of coffee and one existential crisis?”)
Over time, you’ll start building a living, breathing voice model. This reusable reference helps you create aligned content faster without sacrificing your personality. Think of it like your brand’s musical key: every piece of content might play a different tune, but they’ll all sound like part of the same album.
Let the AI Do the Heavy Lifting While You Bring the Heart
Think of AI as your rough draft buddy. It can help with structure, idea generation, and rephrasing, but you bring the spark.
Use AI to:
- Kickstart that blank page
- Outline big ideas
- Rework something that sounds clunky
Then go in and add your human-ness:
- Your stories
- Your odd metaphors
- Your voice-y little asides and flourishes
That’s what makes the content yours, not just another post on the internet.
Wanna Build Your Voice Model With Me?
If this sounds like something you’d love help with, check out my Brand Values Breakthrough mini-course.
It’s a guided journey to help you:
- Uncover your core brand values
- Define your voice in a way that actually feels right
- Use what you discover to shape all your content, including how you use AI
Because you don’t have to choose between writing fast and writing with heart.
You get to do both.
AI isn’t here to replace you.
It’s here to support you… if you show it how.
Get clear on your values.
Speak in your real voice.
Use the tech without losing the soul.
Sound like you. Every time.
