I’m revisiting my popular ‘How I Think About…’ format here on The Ambitious Introvert® for Q4! Today I’m sharing how I actually think about and use AI in my business (and how I don’t). There’s a HUGE difference between using AI as a support tool versus depending on it to make your decisions or drive your creativity - and I’m sharing my thoughts on both as an introverted business owner.

You'll hear:

1. Why I treat AI as an accelerator, not a crutch
2. The specific ways I do use ChatGPT (and where it saves me tons of time)
3. The very real risks of over-relying on AI for business content or strategy
4. Some examples of where AI has completely gotten it wrong!
5. Why critical thinking, intuition, and context are still your biggest assets
6. My take on what AI can’t replicate - and why that’s good news for entrepreneurs

Whether you're just starting to play with AI or have already built it into your workflows, this episode will help you gut-check your relationship with it - and help you stay sharp and stand out in a world where sameness is everywhere.

Links mentioned:
🎧 Episode with Dan Chuparkoff on the ethics of AI

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

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Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “I’m so behind… My business isn’t working… Today was a waste as I got nothing done,” this episode is for you.

In today’s solo episode, I dive into how binary thinking, though comforting on the surface, can quietly sabotage your momentum, ESPECIALLY if you’re a high-achieving introvert. I share how this pattern shows up in my clients, and how to begin shifting into a more powerful, nuanced mindset that actually supports sustainable success.

You’ll learn:

• Why the brain defaults to black-and-white thinking to create certainty
• How to spot all-or-nothing patterns like “success vs. failure,” “productive vs. lazy,” and “ahead vs. behind”
• The hidden harm of comparing your business journey to a linear curriculum
• What counts as “progress” when the work is invisible
• The trap of misaligned metrics (and what to track instead)
• A simple mindset shift to move from doubt into trust

This is what you really need to grow a sustainable business - especially when you don’t always see the results right away.

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

In this solo episode I’m sharing a powerful mindset shift inspired by a recent coaching session. If you’ve ever worried that desiring something - clients, success, connection - makes you selfish, this episode will change the way you see things.

Through a deeply personal (and slightly unexpected) story about a long-lost IKEA chair, I’m sharing how the things you desire might be looking for you, too. This episode is a reminder that wanting something isn’t a one-way street - it’s an energetic exchange for the good of everyone involved.

What You’ll Learn:

1. How introverts can reframe visibility and self-promotion
2. Why it’s not selfish to want clients, love, or opportunity
3. The quiet confidence that comes from trusting energetic reciprocity

🌟This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth. To save a massive 40% on their introvert-friendly bedding and loungewear visit https://cozyearth.com and use the code INTROVERT

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

The rules of success are shifting - fast. And the traits introverts were once told to “fix” are turning out to be the very ones the future demands.

In this solo episode of The Ambitious Introvert®, I’m unpacking why deep thinkers, calm communicators, and emotionally intelligent leaders are becoming the real power players in today’s evolving world of work and business.

You’ll hear:

• Why the “fast-talking, always-on” leadership style is losing its edge
• The key mindset shift introverts need to stop adapting and start thriving
• What true high performance looks like when speed and visibility aren’t enough
• How to leverage your natural wiring for strategic advantage - without faking extroversion

If you’ve ever felt out of step with outdated career advice, or like the game was never built for your brain… this one’s for you.

🌟This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth. To save a massive 40% on their introvert-friendly bedding and loungewear visit https://cozyearth.com and use the code INTROVERT

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

Have you ever felt like work is designed to drain your energy rather than build it? What if instead, your job could leave you feeling energized, focused, and in flow?

On this week’s episode of The Ambitious Introvert®, I'm joined by Josh Allan Dykstra, the world’s leading expert in Human Energy™ and Founder & CEO of The Work Revolution. Josh is dedicated to transforming how we think about work - from an exhausting obligation into a regenerative source of energy, performance, and fulfillment. Sounds good right?!

In our conversation, Josh shares practical insights on why knowing your strengths alone isn’t enough - you also need to understand exactly what activities energize you. We dive deep into how to identify your personal energy drivers, shift from simply avoiding burnout to optimizing your energy, and why we need a work revolution to truly transform workplaces into places that fuel us rather than drain us.

You’ll hear how to:

1. Identify the specific work activities that put you into a state of energized flow.
2. Understand why the current work paradigm feels exhausting, and how to shift it to one that regenerates your energy.
3. Overcome the belief that work has to be difficult to be valuable, and adopt a more intuitive approach.
4. Create an "energy journal" to track which tasks energize you (and do more of them).
5. Experiment with your "aspirational identity" to align your work more closely with your energy goals.

If you're ready to stop feeling drained at the end of the day and start feeling energized and inspired at work, which I know so many introverts are, this episode is for you.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

🌐 Josh Allan Dykstra's Website
◾️ Josh Allan Dykstra's LinkedIn

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

What’s the real cost of broken trust at work? And how do introverts navigate environments that weren’t built with them in mind?

In this episode of The Ambitious Introvert®, I’m joined by Minda Harts — speaker, professor, and bestselling author of Talk To Me Nice. Minda is on a mission to restore trust in the workplace, and she’s created a framework of “trust languages” that can radically shift communication, performance, and inclusion in any organization.

Minda shares practical insights on navigating office dynamics, giving and receiving feedback, and creating work environments where everyone can feel seen and supported.

Whether you’re leading a team or leading yourself, this episode is full of ideas you’ll want to bring to your next 1:1 or leadership meeting.

1. Why trust isn’t optional, it’s foundational. When it’s present, productivity and retention soar.
2. How Minda’s 7 Trust Languages give leaders and teammates a shared vocabulary for building strong relationships.
3. Why introverts thrive when they understand their needs and communicate them clearly (without pretending to be extroverts).
4. Why feedback should be a conversation, not a monologue — and done well, it prevents 80% of avoidable workplace exits.
5. How the future of work is deeply human. Traits like empathy, safety, and trust aren’t soft, they’re strategic.

If you’ve ever felt unseen, unheard, or unsure how to rebuild trust at work, this episode is for you.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

🌐 Minda Harts' Website
◾️ Minda Harts LinkedIn
◾️ Minda Harts Instagram
◾️ Talk To Me Nice book

This episode is brought to you by Cozy Earth. To save a massive 40% on their introvert-friendly bedding and loungewear visit https://cozyearth.com and use the code INTROVERT

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

Have you ever felt completely drained by endless notifications, struggled to understand why you're exhausted despite "not doing very much," or overlooked your own massive achievements until someone else pointed them out?

In this solo episode of The Ambitious Introvert®, I'm diving deep into three powerful client stories to highlight common introvert challenges and, importantly, the solutions to them that lead to better performance.

You'll learn how to:

1. Break the Cycle of Constant Task Switching: Understand the real cost of distractions, why notifications are secretly sabotaging your energy and productivity, and how setting clear boundaries and communicating openly can dramatically shift your workday.
2. Recognize Invisible Energy Drains: Discover why "not doing much" might actually be exhausting you, how emotional and mental labor quietly impacts your energy, and a simple tool to visualize your bandwidth and prevent burnout.
3. Celebrate Your Wins, the Right Way: Stop underestimating your accomplishments by getting granular. I'll show you why breaking achievements down into their true complexity boosts confidence and helps you fully recognize your growth.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, overwhelmed, or like your introverted energy just isn't aligning with the demands of your work or personal life, this episode is full of strategies to help you reclaim your energy and thrive on your own terms.

LINKS AND RESOURCES:

◾️ Multitasking doesn't work so why do we keep trying by Freakonomics

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.

Ever feel like your brain just works differently - like how you need more space, more quiet, or more time to think? In this solo episode of The Ambitious Introvert®, I’m diving into some fascinating (and science-backed) reasons why that’s not just in your head - it’s actually how your brain is wired.

We’ll explore three key ways introverts process, respond, and recharge that set us apart - not in a “fix yourself” kind of way, but in a “ohhhh, that’s why I do that!” kind of way. If you’ve ever second-guessed the way you work or wondered why other people seem to thrive on things that drain you, this one’s for you.

Here’s what we cover:

• Why dopamine floods can feel overwhelming, and which neurotransmitter is the introvert’s secret weapon for calm focus.
• The surprising way introverts use more brain energy, and what it means for your fatigue levels and social battery.
• What really happens when you pause before speaking, and why your slower processing is actually a strength.
• How your brain’s default mode influences decision-making, reflection, and creativity by taking the long road

Whether you’re an introvert wanting to better understand your own patterns or someone who leads or lives with one, this episode will help you reframe how you think about energy, focus, and expression.

MENTIONED STUDIES:

◾️ Laney, M. O. (2002). The Introvert Advantage – explains dopamine sensitivity and acetylcholine rewards

◾️Johnson, D. L., & Wiebe, J. S. et al. (1999). Cerebral Blood Flow and Personality: A PET Study. Am J Psychiatry, 156(2), 252–257. (PMID 9989562)

CONNECT WITH EMMA-LOUISE:

Website: https://theambitiousintrovert.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalouparkes/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmalouparkes

Sign up to receive my monthly Introverts Only emails, delivering all the best introvert-friendly resources straight to your inbox, minus the scroll here.

PREMIUM SUPPORT:

Interested in working with me 1:1? Learn more and apply here.