This past week at the ALPFA Convention, surrounded by more than 5,000 Latino professionals and allies, I had the privilege of connecting with peers in some incredible, thought-provoking conversations about AI and what it really means for our work, identity, and leadership.

We weren’t talking about futuristic robots or enterprise-scale transformation. We were talking about the everyday stuff: writing reports, organizing information, drafting emails.

And over and over, I heard a version of this:

“It just felt too easy. Like I was cheating.”

These comments made me pause. Not because I hadn’t heard it before, but because I recognized it in myself.

Many of us, especially those from communities that have historically had to overachieve just to be seen, were raised with a different script.

You have to work twice as hard to get half as far.

You have to overprepare, overdeliver, and overexplain.

So when AI suddenly helps us do something in 30 seconds that used to take us three hours, it doesn’t always feel like liberation.

It feels suspicious. Unearned. Like we’re cutting corners.

That’s not just skepticism. That is a lack of trust, rooted in deeply ingrained beliefs about effort, value, and what it means to be a “good worker.” We were conditioned to equate worth with struggle. And now that ease is available, many of us are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

But here’s the thing: the rules of the game are changing.

And clinging to outdated beliefs about effort and worth may be keeping us from the very tools designed to level the playing field.

El que no oye consejo, no llega a viejo.
(He who doesn’t take advice won’t live to old age.)

It is time we take a hard look at the advice we’ve inherited and ask ourselves if it is still serving us in this new era.

THIS WEEK'S INSIGHTS:

If you’ve been resisting AI because it feels “too easy,” you’re not alone.

This week's edition explores how our inherited conditioning may be causing us to distrust ease and how to embrace AI as a tool for power, not shortcuts.

TRENDS

AI is giving us time back, but many of us aren’t emotionally ready to take it.

According to Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index, 70% of professionals say they would delegate as much work as possible to AI to lighten their load. But only 30% of companies have provided guidance on how to use it effectively. Even fewer have addressed the emotional resistance that comes with letting go of effort as identity.
Source: Microsoft Work Trend Index 2024

McKinsey also found that AI-augmented workers are not just more productive. They are 40% more efficient and make fewer mistakes compared to workers without AI.
Source: McKinsey

This isn’t just a training gap.

It’s a trust gap.

AI challenges deeply held beliefs about what “real” work looks like. Especially for first, second, and third-gen professionals and other communities, who have had to hustle, prove, and overachieve in order to survive and succeed.

The shift here isn’t just technical. It’s cultural. It's societal.

It's about shifting the norm.

TIPS: 
Limiting Beliefs → Empowering Shifts

Limiting Belief:

If it feels easy, it must not be valuable.

Empowered Shift:
Ease is not a red flag. It’s a green light. Use that saved time to deepen your insight or strengthen your message.

How AI Helps:
AI automates repetitive, low-leverage tasks so you can reinvest your energy into the moments that matter most.

Limiting Belief:
You have to work twice as hard to get ahead.

Empowered Shift:
Use AI to create twice as much impact, not just to grind harder.

How AI Helps:
AI helps you accelerate your workflow, multiply your output, and protect your time so you can lead more strategically.

Limiting Belief:
Using AI means I’m not doing the work.

Empowered Shift:
Using AI effectively is the work.

How AI Helps:
It becomes your thinking partner. It drafts, summarizes, organizes, and supports so you can focus on decisions, relationships, and leadership.

TOOLS

Work Smarter Tools

• Microsoft Copilot
  Integrated into tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams, Copilot drafts content, builds tables, summarizes meetings, and preps slide decks using your existing documents.
  Prompt:
  “Turn this report into a one-page executive summary with key insights and recommended actions.”

• Google Gemini
  Embedded within Gmail, Docs, and Sheets, Gemini helps write, summarize, analyze data, and brainstorm ideas directly in your Google Workspace tools.
  Prompt:
  “Draft a three-paragraph project update email with a positive tone and clear next steps.”

• GrammarlyGO
  Works across email, documents, and messaging apps to adjust tone, improve clarity, and speed up communication.
  Prompt:
  “Edit this message to sound assertive but collaborative. Keep it concise and supportive.”

• Superhuman AI
  An intelligent email assistant that helps you prioritize, summarize, and respond faster with tone customization built in.
  Prompt:
  “Summarize this email thread and draft a reply that confirms the meeting and addresses the open question.”

💆‍♀️ Self-Care + Personal Flow Tools

• Mindsera
  An AI-powered journaling and mindset coaching tool. It helps you reframe thoughts, track emotional patterns, and receive insights based on your reflections.
  Prompt:
  “Analyze this journal entry and suggest one cognitive shift I can make to handle this situation with more clarity.”

• ReadWise Reader
  Collects and highlights all your reading content (articles, PDFs, newsletters) and uses AI to summarize and surface key ideas.
  Prompt:
  “Summarize this PDF into five leadership insights with examples and supporting quotes.”

• Sunset AI
  A schedule management coach that recommends ways to restore balance, block breaks, and create more intentional time in your calendar.
  Prompt:
  “Review my calendar and insert two breaks for movement and one 30-minute window for deep focus work each day.”

Prompting Framework Tip:

To get better outputs, use this structure: Role + Task + Format + Tone + Context

Example: “You are a project manager. Summarize this client update into a 3-bullet recap for an executive. Keep it professional and optimistic. Include one actionable recommendation.”

Pro Tip:

Use these tools before your next career conversation, planning session, or leadership presentation to elevate the quality of your thinking—not just the speed of your output. And try one on your personal time to make space for reflection, rest, or even joy.

👉🏽 What story about hard work are you ready to rewrite?

CLOSING THOUGHT

You are not cheating when you choose ease.

You are not lazy when you accept support.

You are not less worthy when you stop overworking.

You are simply evolving.

Hasta la próxima, Abrazos!

(Until next week, hugs!)

Monica Marquez

When You're Ready...

Here’s how I can help you and your organization take your leadership and professional growth to the next level:

Speaking: I deliver engaging, high-impact keynotes and workshops on AI-driven leadership, personal branding, career advancement, and transformation. Whether it's a corporate event, leadership summit, or industry conference, I bring practical insights and strategies that empower professionals to thrive in today's rapidly evolving world.

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Learning & Development Consulting: I partner with organizations to design and implement learning experiences that drive real impact. From AI-powered career development programs to leadership training tailored to their talent, I help companies advance their workforce and create growth opportunities for high-potential professionals.

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