Let’s get one thing straight: if you think ChatGPT is just for writing emails or helping your kid with homework, you're leaving money, momentum, and mojo on the table.
A brand-new research paper from the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) just dropped, and it’s like an MRI scan of how the world is using AI. Spoiler alert: it’s not what you think. Over 700 million people use ChatGPT weekly. That’s not a typo. That’s nearly 10% of the global adult population actively chatting with a bot, and we finally have the receipts on what they’re doing with it.
So, buckle up, entrepreneurs. We're not just talking productivity here — we’re talking strategic advantage. Whether you're running a scrappy startup or scaling your next empire, this is your blueprint for getting Exactly Where You Want To Be (yes, I said it). Let’s dig in.
ChatGPT Isn’t Just for Work (But Work Still Wins)
Here's the juicy stat: as of June 2025, only 27% of ChatGPT messages are for work-related use. That means 73% of people are using it for non-work reasons — personal errands, recipe hacks, tutoring help, fantasy football names. (Yes, seriously.)
But here's where it gets interesting: the people who are using it for work? They're the highly paid pros. We're talking business owners, executives, knowledge workers. Aka: You.
That 27% slice? That's where the ROI lives. It's where strategic decisions get clearer, content gets faster, and ideas turn into assets.
If you're an entrepreneur using ChatGPT just to format your LinkedIn bio, you're bringing a kazoo to a symphony.
Writing Is the MVP of Work Use
According to the study, 40% of work-related ChatGPT use is for writing. And here’s the kicker: most of that writing isn’t from scratch. It’s editing, refining, translating, summarizing—aka turning good into great.
This is your sign to stop staring at blank docs and start feeding your drafts into the AI. Got a pitch deck? Press release? Proposal? SOP? It’s 2025. You don’t need a copywriter to polish it—you need 30 seconds, a good prompt, and an open tab.
Or, as we say in the coaching cave: You don’t have a writing problem, you have a leverage problem.
Practical Guidance: AKA Your Free MBA
The number one use case for ChatGPT overall? Practical Guidance. That includes tutoring, how-to advice, ideation, and personalized planning.
Read that again.
Most people aren’t asking ChatGPT to replace their work. They’re asking it to think with them.
If you’re not using it as a strategic thinking partner, you’re missing the single most valuable function for business owners. Need to plan your 2026 revenue streams? Model out three scenarios? Role-play a sales objection? ChatGPT can literally be your ops consultant, marketing coach, and CFO assistant. For free. Or $20/month if you like your intelligence with a side of faster response times.
From Asking to Doing: The Intent That Matters
The researchers introduced a genius little framework (which, ahem, I’m about to Nick-ify) called Asking, Doing, and Expressing.
Let me break it down like it’s a cocktail menu at a PRGN mixer:
Asking: Seeking info to make better decisions
Doing: Asking AI to actually complete a task
Expressing: Sharing thoughts, not expecting action
Turns out, 49% of ChatGPT messages are Asking, 40% are Doing, and 11% are Expressing. But in the work context? 56% are Doing. Translation: AI isn't just a search engine. It's a productivity co-pilot.
You want to scale your business, grow your team, or launch that new brand? Start "Doing" with ChatGPT. Don’t just ask for ideas. Ask for assets.
How This Ties to the SBB Framework
In my Strategic Business Blueprint (SBB) model, we look at four levers:
Vision (your Champagne Moment)
Strategy
Systems
Execution
AI lives at the intersection of Systems and Execution.
It automates your recurring tasks. It enhances your written voice. It speeds up your analysis. It enables 80/20 thinking. Entrepreneurs using ChatGPT as a toy are treating electricity like a candle.
Every part of your business that requires clarity, communication, or computation? AI can help. But only if you let it into the boardroom, not just the breakroom.
It’s Not Just Tech Bros and Coders
Another myth busted: coding only makes up 4.2% of ChatGPT messages. Compare that to 40% for writing and 29% for practical guidance.
Let me say this louder for the solopreneurs in the back: you do not need to be a developer to extract ridiculous value from ChatGPT. You just need a question, a problem, or a next step.
The best users aren’t AI experts. They’re curious, open-minded, and decisive. Sound like someone you know?
The Data Doesn’t Lie: AI Loves the Learners
The study also found that work use is most common among highly educated users in highly paid roles. Why?
Because they know that decision support is the real value. AI doesn’t need to replace you. It just needs to supercharge your ability to move fast and smart.
So here’s a little Champagne Moment exercise: Ask ChatGPT this today—
“What are five ways I can use AI to scale my business faster with fewer bottlenecks?”
And then?
“Which of these can be implemented in the next 7 days?”
That’s strategy. That’s momentum. That’s the Exactly Where You Want To Be mindset.
So What Should You Do With This?
Audit Your AI Use: Are you Asking? Doing? Or just messing around?
Create a Prompt Library: Save the ones that work. Build systems, not flukes.
Integrate Into Your SBB: Use AI to amplify your Systems and Execution.
Track Your Champagne Moments: Measure what matters. If AI helped you land a client, close a deal, or sleep better at night, that counts.
And if all this sounds good but your brain is still in 2023 mode? Let’s talk.
Final Thought: AI Isn’t the Enemy. Indecision Is.
The entrepreneurs who will win in 2026 aren’t the ones with the fanciest tools. They’re the ones who use the tools they already have with clarity, consistency, and courage.
ChatGPT isn’t magic. But your ambition? That is. Now you just need a co-pilot.
Want help getting there faster?
Grab a copy of my book Exactly Where You Want To BeTo Be and/or The AI Effect
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Because success isn’t random. It’s strategic.
And AI? That’s your secret weapon.