I have a confession. I’ve spent years feeling like my brain was a Ferrari stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic. If you’re part of the ADHD fam, you know exactly what I mean. The ideas come fast, furious, and often jumbled, a constant stream of "what ifs" and "could be's". For a long time, the only way to get those ideas out was through my fingertips, and honestly, my fingers could not keep up.
For years, my best ideas would swirl around, sometimes escaping, sometimes getting lost in the ether before my fingers could catch up. I would be walking, thinking, connecting dots, then later sit down to type and feel like half the brilliance had vanished. I was always thinking faster than I could capture my thoughts. That gap became my biggest source of friction.
That started to change over the last year when I stopped typing and started talking.
The other day, I was walking and dictating thoughts into my Plaud AI recorder when it fully clicked. This week, as I reflect on how much my workflow has transformed since I switched to using my voice and dictation, it feels like I’ve stepped into a cheat code for life. I am doing more, thinking faster, and having more fun doing it. All of it comes down to one unsung hero of the AI revolution. Voice AI.
As the saying goes in my culture:
"Si no puedes con tus manos, usa tu voz, que es la más poderosa."
If you can't do it with your hands, use your voice; it is the most powerful.
Traditionally, this dicho was about survival and resourcefulness. If you lacked physical strength, tools, or power, your voice became your advantage. You spoke up. You negotiated. You persuaded. You found another way forward.
Today, that same wisdom applies to how we work. Your voice is not a fallback. It is the fastest way to move ideas from your mind into the world.
THIS WEEK’S INSIGHTS:
Here’s what this means for you and your organization:
- Typing is the new bottleneck: As AI model capacity reaches AGI levels, the limiting factor to productivity is no longer the machine, but it’s how fast humans can input data.
- Vibe Coding is real: You don't need to be a developer to build; you need to be able to articulate your vision clearly to an LLM.
- Neurodivergent Empowerment: Voice AI acts as a synthesizer, turning "jumbled" thoughts into structured brilliance in seconds.
TRENDS
- The "Human Bottleneck" Research: OpenAI recently reported that typing is the next major bottleneck. I was listening to a podcast featuring Alexander Embiricos, Head of Codex at OpenAI, and he nailed it: the unappreciated limiting factor for AGI-level productivity isn't the model's intelligence...it's human typing speed. Our fingers are quite literally holding us back.
- The Science of Speed: It’s a simple math problem. The average person types at 40 words per minute but speaks at 130–150 words per minute. By moving to voice, you are essentially 3x-ing your bandwidth.
- The 2026 Explosion: Based on the current trajectory of Whisper (OpenAI) and specialized voice hardware, 2026 is projected to be the year voice interfaces become the primary way we interact with our "digital twins."
3 MYTHS TO REFRAME
Myth #1: “Dictation is just for transcription.”
Why we believe it: We grew up with "speech-to-text" that required us to correct every other word.
Reframe: We aren't just transcribing; we are synthesizing. When I’m on my walks, I don't worry about being perfect. I let my thoughts come out jumbled and messy. Whether it’s Gemini, Claude, ChatGPT, or Perplexity, the AI perfectly captures the "vibe" and structures the output. It’s "Vibe Coding" at its finest.
Try This: Use your phone's AI recorder to do a "brain dump" for 5 minutes. Don't stop to edit. Feed that transcript into an LLM and ask it to "Extract the 3 best ideas and create a project plan."
Myth #2: “I need to be at my desk to be productive.”
Why we believe it: We equate "sitting and typing" with "work."
Reframe: Some of my best "vibe-coding" and app spec development now happens while I’m walking. Using my Plaud AI recorder, I’ve mapped out detailed specs for new projects without ever touching a keyboard.
Try This: Take your next brainstorming session outside. Talk to your AI while you move. You’ll find the movement helps the ideas flow even faster.
Myth #3: “Emails require a keyboard for professional tone.”
Why we believe it: We’re afraid voice-drafted emails will sound too casual or "rambling."
Reframe: Modern tools allow you to "listen and respond" with high fidelity. I use Speechify to listen to my inbox while I walk, dictate a raw response, and then simply do a final polish when I get back to my desk.
Try This: This week, I’m testing a new app called Wispr Flow that people have been raving about for seamless desktop dictation. I’ll report back on how it handles the "Monica tone"!
TOOLS
Whether you are just dipping your toes into voice AI or are ready to dive in, here are a few tools and practices I’m using (or about to test!) to supercharge my day:
Plaud AI Recorder: My go-to for capturing the "mobile brain." It captures everything, synthesizes and formats what I've said using 100s of templates to customize the output, or it lets me export the transcript to any of my preferred LLMs.
Speechify: For turning my "dead time" (walking/commuting) into a hands-free inbox management session. Listening to my emails and responding by dictating, listening to dense research, and documenting notes.
Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude & Perplexity: My "synthesis" partners. They take my jumbled, ADHD-fueled rants and turn them into professional specs and strategies. I switch among them depending on the type of work I am doing. I'll share more about why I do it in another newsletter!
Wispr Flow: Think of this as the "bridge" that finally lets you leave your desk keyboard behind. It sits on your Mac or PC and allows you to dictate directly into any text field, whether you’re firing off a quick Slack message or drafting a 10-page strategy in Google Docs. It uses the latest Whisper models to understand natural phrasing and nuances, meaning it can keep up with the fastest "Ferrari brain" without missing a beat. I'll share an update in my next newsletter after testing it myself!
TRY IT THIS WEEK (Micro-Actions)
Choose one task you usually type: a long email, a LinkedIn post, or a project brief.
This week:
- Don't touch the keyboard.
- Go for a 10-minute walk and dictate the entire thing into a voice-to-text tool.
- Ask an LLM to "clean this up while retaining my voice."
- Notice the feeling of being "thrilled" instead of "lethargic" when your thoughts are finally moving at the speed of your mind!
When you use your voice (literally), what new possibilities will open up for your work and your ideas?
Closing Thought
Our fingers have limited us for too long.
If you have big ideas but feel like you can’t get them out fast enough, stop typing.
Your voice is the key to unlocking that next level of capacity. Don't wait for 2026 to catch up...start talking now.
Hasta la próxima, Abrazos!
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.
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 for their talent, I help companies advance their workforce and create growth opportunities for high-potential professionals.
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