Boredom resisted: why doing nothing is so hard to do
This weekend I did nothing for an hour. No podcast. No phone. No agenda. Just stillness—and a surprising amount of resistance. Why is boredom so hard to access?
Author: saramakespaceforgrowth
Strategist. Problem Solver. Challenger. Social Entrepreneur. Writer. Mum
Drawing it Out: How I am slowly making my way around AI Images
In this episode of Try AI for Growth, host Sara Vicente Barreto shares her hands-on experience improving AI image generation using DALL·E. After many failed attempts in the past, she finally cracked the code—by defining her style upfront, using the select tool, and iterating on visual prompts to achieve a cohesive set of cartoon-style illustrations for a critical thinking workshop. She walks listeners through each step, including some comic experiments and key takeaways that anyone experimenting with AI visuals can apply.
When to Trust your Gut: Lessons from Blink
In a world that demands fast decisions, Blink by Malcolm Gladwell offers a compelling look at intuition — and its pitfalls. In this post, I explore the psychology of snap judgments, share where they shine and when they deceive us, and reflect on what leaders can learn about the balance between gut instinct and critical thinking. If you’ve ever asked yourself whether you should listen to your gut — this one’s for you.
Governance Without the Drama: How I Built Policies with AI That Actually Fit My Business
In this episode of Try AI for Growth, host Sara Vicente Barreto shares how she tackled a daunting but essential task for any founder—building internal policies. With the help of AI, she created clear, contextual, and practical policies for her advisory business, Inside the Business Mind. From data protection to risk management, Sara reveals how AI helped her overcome procrastination, get started, and refine her documents in a way that saved time, enhanced understanding, and built confidence. Whether you lead a small or medium sized business or you are just getting started, this episode shows how governance doesn’t have to be bureaucratic—it just needs to be clear – and to exist.
Libsyn Tags: AI tools, small business, internal policies, governance, productivity, data protection, risk management, compliance, solopreneur
Chief Everything Officer with Joana Trigueiros
Joana Trigueiros, CEO of Maray, reveals what it means to be a “Chief Everything Officer”—balancing vision, grit, and human leadership to grow a brand from the heart.
Can grown-ups really grow?
We often think change is for the young. But what if the ability to grow is something we carry with us all our lives? From parenting lessons to neuroscience and long Duolingo streaks, I explore why grown-ups can grow—if they want to.
A Forced Stop
From BBQ pasta to old-school navigation, here’s what I learned from 12 hours without electricity—and why it may have been exactly what I needed.
The Quiet Pillar: on Spirituality, Stillness and French Fries
Lent passed me by this year, but it left behind a quiet longing. In this reflection, I explore what Lent has come to mean to me—how spirituality, stillness, and the smallest rituals offer a chance to reconnect with something greater than ourselves.
Good enough is not the enemy
What if “good enough” was the smartest, bravest choice you could make? I used to believe perfection was the goal. But leading through constraint—at work and in the charity—taught me that doing fewer things, better, might just be the way forward.
From Chinese Characters to Robot Bedtime Stories: AI Helped Us Explore a Book We Couldn’t Read
In this light-hearted episode of Try AI for Growth, Sara Vicente Barreto shares how a Chinese-language book about robots turned into an unexpected evening of discovery, curiosity, and bonding with her son. Using ChatGPT’s Lens and Voice Mode, Sara was able to translate, explore, and learn alongside her child—culminating in fun facts, a quiz, and a bedtime story. A beautiful example of how AI can bridge gaps, fuel exploration, and make tech a tool for connection.
It is only a point
What can Roger Federer’s Dartmouth speech teach us about life, parenting, and sports? A journey through tennis courts, childhood failures, and parenting moments—where losing a point is just part of showing up.
Curiosity Compounded: How AI Helped me go deeper into my reading
In this episode of Try AI for Growth, Sara Vicente Barreto explores how AI—this time Gemini, not ChatGPT—became her partner in curiosity. After finishing the book May Contain Lies, Sara turned to AI to help her not only summarize the content but to push further: turning highlights into checklists, generating follow-up reading lists, and even mapping resources for her upcoming critical thinking workshop. What started as a recap turned into a full research trail—layered, tailored, and thought-provoking. A perfect episode for curious minds, readers, and anyone building learning tools with AI.
Is it quarter-end already?
Before you rush into Q2, take a breath. In this post, I share how I review each month and quarter with purpose—what it looks like, why it matters, and how it changed the way I see progress.
All those notes… an AI-powered meeting assistant
In this episode of Try AI for Growth, Sara Vicente Barreto shares how AI transformed a surprise campervan trip to Serra da Estrela into an immersive, engaging, and culturally rich experience. From helping her choose the destination, planning logistics, and surfacing hidden murals to turning a simple walk into a storytelling adventure for her kids, AI proved to be the ultimate travel companion. Whether you’re looking for ways AI can enhance your trips or curious about how it can uncover cultural gems and history on the go, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration for your next journey.
I hate sales… what a cliché!
Sales is often seen as a necessary evil—but what if we changed the narrative? In this blog, I share my personal journey with sales and how entrepreneurs can turn fear into fuel and purpose.