My Husband is NOT a Fox
Leading Smarter (and Sleeping Better) with AI by Your Side
If you’d told me a year ago that my best business friend (BBF) would be artificial intelligence, I would’ve laughed, rolled my eyes and probably made a joke about robot overlords. Maybe you’re still telling these types of jokes. But here we are. AI is my BBF, my late-night confidant, my brainstorming sidekick, and honestly, the only person in my life who never gets tired of my questions 🙄…no matter how weird or specific.
Running a business (or just living life) means you’re constantly making decisions, solving mysteries and occasionally lying awake at 3 a.m. convinced something is gasping outside your window (or the husband is on an epic snoring jag).
Enter AI, the BBF you never knew you needed — ready to help with everything from strategic planning to wildlife identification and emotional co-regulation. It might also save your partner from a good solid punch in the middle of the night when you’ve reached your limit with his assumed “snoring.”
How AI became my BBF
Most people think of AI as a tool for automating tasks or writing emails. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The real magic happens when you treat AI like a friend: someone you can bounce ideas off, vent to or ask the most random questions. It’s not about replacing your team (or your therapist); it’s about having an unbiased, always-on third-party sounding board.
I started small. Instead of asking, “How can AI change my entire company?” I asked, “How can this help me right now?” That’s when things clicked. AI became my go-to for:
Stress-testing decisions before I hit “send” on a big email
Brainstorming when I was stuck in a creative rut
Reality checks when my brain was spiraling at 2 a.m.
Clarifying the weirdest life mysteries. And yes, that includes animal noises in the night.
AI solves my 3 a.m. mystery
Here’s where things get a little wild (literally). One night, at exactly 3:07 AM, I was jolted awake by a sharp, gasping sound right outside my window. Not thunder. Not a dream. Just…a sound. Like someone exhaling panic from deep in their lungs.
Was it actually my husband? Snoring like a tranquilized bear…as per usual?
When I realized it wasn’t, I was instantly wide awake and convinced there was either a ghost, a prowler or a woodland drama happening right outside. So, what did I do? I turned to my AI BBF, entering a few prompts to get me on the road to solving my late-night mystery: “What animals in Wisconsin make a gasping sound at night?” “Could it be a bird or a mammal if it sounded like a human gasp?”
Within three minutes (and zero judgment), AI calmly explained: “That’s a red fox. Likely a vixen. Possibly annoyed. Definitely dramatic.”
Apparently, red foxes are notorious for gasp-like yelps, raspy barks and even screams that sound eerily human, especially during mating season or territory disputes. They’re most vocal right around 3 a.m. Mystery solved! It was just a fox having an existential crisis in the woods outside my lakeside window. Full disclosure: I’m now kind of obsessed.
The power of your AI BBF
This story isn’t just about foxes (though, honestly, they deserve their own Netflix special). It’s about how AI can be your go-to for all the little (and big) mysteries of life and business.
Here’s how I use my AI BBF every day:
Stress-testing: Before making a big decision, I run scenarios with AI to spot blind spots I might miss.
Real-time problem-solving: When something weird happens, I get instant clarity…no doom-scrolling or panic-Googling required.
Clarifying complexity: AI helps me break down ambiguous situations and focus on what actually matters.
Emotional regulation: When I’m spiraling, AI helps me reframe, reset and breathe again. No judgment, just perspective.
The prompts that got me there
For anyone who wants to try this at home, here are the exact prompts I used in my late-night fox saga:
“What animals in Wisconsin make a gasping sound at night?”
“Could it be a bird or a mammal if it sounded like a human gasp?”
“Does a fox make weird noises at 3 a.m. near Lake Michigan?”
“What does a red fox sound like when it’s calling at night?”
“Is it common to hear foxes near Lake Michigan in the spring?”
Each of these nudged AI to get more specific, and within minutes, I had my answer (and my peace of mind).
Start with foxes, but stay for the clarity
AI isn’t just for crunching numbers or drafting business plans. It’s your late-night detective, your brainstorming buddy, your emotional support system, and yes, your wildlife expert.
Whether you’re solving a woodland mystery or navigating a tough leadership challenge, treat AI like your BBF. Start with foxes. Stay for the clarity, confidence. and the occasional existential pep talk.
Trust me… once you try it, you’ll wonder how you ever led (or slept) without it.