Hi Reader,

A year ago, I was pretty closed to AI.

Not hostile. Not actively against it. Just… overwhelmed.

People were asking me “are you scared AI is going to take your work?” That’s a lot to take on board.

Then something shifted. I got curious. I opened up.

And honestly? I’m so glad that I did.

THE OPEN CIRCUIT

In electrical terms, an open circuit is broken - electricity can’t flow.

But in human terms, being open is how everything flows.

Ideas. Possibilities. Discovery.

A year ago, my circuit was closed. Not broken, just… restricted.

Then I tried making an android version of myself (as you do).

And the circuit opened.

AROUND THE WORLD IN CHEESE ON TOAST

At the start of January I had a tonne of cheese in my fridge - all thanks to a New Year’s Eve party.

A log of goat’s cheese. Cheddar. Brie. Some blue cheese. A tasty but not-quite-sure-what-it’s-called cheese.

Old me would have: grated some cheddar onto beans on toast or made a cheese sandwich. Fine, but not inspired.

Open-to-AI me did this:

I took a photo of my cheese box and asked ChatGPT: “I have all this cheese. I’m not sure what they are. What can I make with them?”

It came back naming the cheese and making some suggestions. One of which was cheese on toast.

Yum - yes please! Years ago when I worked in PR I worked with a TV chef, Anjum Anand, and her range of Indian sauces, The Spice Tailor. Anjum had a delicious Indian Cheese on Toast recipe.

Which got me thinking…

“I like the idea of cheese on toast, but let’s elevate it. How can we make it into a party? How about Around the World in Cheese on Toast?”

ChatGPT thought it was an excellent idea. (Of course it did!) Then gave me suggestions.

Different cheese combinations inspired by different cuisines:

• Chopped tomatoes with oregano topped with grated alpine cheese = Italian inspired
• Cheddar + jalapeño + spring onion = Tex-Mex
• Blue cheese + pear + honey = English country

And - the winner - Goat’s cheese, a sprinkling of cumin and a drizzle of maple syrup.

Oh my. That’s now in the Davies recipe repertoire.

All because I was open to asking.

WHAT CHANGED?

It wasn’t AI that changed. It was me.

I moved from closed (this too much for me) to open (let me try).

And that openness led to (besides work):

• Recipe modification based on what I actually have
• Fewer grocery trips (using what’s already there)
• Less food waste (creative use of ingredients - including last night’s kale crisps in the air fryer)
• More experimentation (combinations I wouldn’t have thought of)

The circuit opened. Energy started flowing.

Not because AI is magic. Because I was willing to try.

WHERE ARE YOU CLOSED?

I was closed to AI. Reader, what are you closed to?

• AI tools you’ve dismissed without trying?
• Ways of working you’ve written off?
• Ideas you’ve shut down before exploring?
• Approaches that feel “not for me”?

Being open doesn’t mean accepting everything.

It means being willing to experiment. To see what flows when you open the circuit.

A year ago, I wouldn’t never have dreamed of asking ChatGPT about cheese on toast.

Now? I’m discovering around-the-world flavours from my fridge.

What could open up for you if you just… opened up?

Best,

Charlotte

P.S. If you’re preparing a presentation and want help finding YOUR authentic way to deliver it (not someone else’s formula), I can help. March bookings open. Hit reply.

PROMPT TO TRY THIS WEEK: THE OPEN QUESTION

When you ask AI for something, make your prompt open not closed.

Closed prompt: “Give me 3 dinner ideas using chicken” (You’ve decided what you need)

Open prompt: “I have chicken, spinach, and pasta. What could I make that I haven’t tried before? Surprise me.” (You’re open to discovery)

Why this works:

Openness invites possibility.

Closed prompts get expected answers. Open prompts get interesting ones.

Try it: Next time you ask AI something, add “surprise me” or “what haven’t I considered?”

See what flows when you open the circuit.

HOW THE COVER WAS CREATED

This week’s cover is inspired by El Caminito del Rey in Spain - a walkway suspended through a gorge. How I discovered the walkway is a whole other story, which you may have heard me speak about before.

I went there as part of my birthday celebrations a couple of years ago and took loads of photos. It’s truly stunning.

As I’ve created more covers for The CharLatte, I’ve become more experimental. So I wondered what the result would be if I used my travel photos as a reference for ChatGPT.

The first version was beautiful but felt incomplete. Something was missing.

Then I realised: the connection wasn’t visible.

So I asked ChatGPT: “Add 20% more electrical glow from Charlotte’s hand to the railing.”

That small addition changed everything. Suddenly the circuit was visible. The connection clear.

Being open means making contact. Completing the circuit. Letting energy flow.

And sometimes, it’s a 20% glow that makes the difference.

P.S. Yes, the cover says Issue No. 8. I tried to change it. It didn’t work. And I decided that was okay. Sometimes good enough is good enough.

ENJOYED THIS? HIT REPLY

Even if it’s just “read it 👍”

It helps with deliverability, and I love knowing you made it to the end.