We’ve all been there.
You open your inbox and—bam!—there it is. That email. The one that manages to be both wildly inaccurate and aggressively rude. Or maybe it’s a one-star review on Google from someone you’ve never even met, claiming your business ruined their life. Somehow.
And before you even finish reading, your blood pressure is already climbing. Your fingers start flying across the keyboard. You’re about to tell them exactly what you think—probably using some words you wouldn’t say in front of your grandma.
I’ve been on both sides of this. I’ve received the snarky email. I’ve written the snarky email. I’ve even sent the snarky email (don’t judge—we’re all human).
Back in the Day: The 24-Hour Rule
I used to tell clients, “Don’t respond right away. Sleep on it. Talk to someone first. Maybe vent a little—but whatever you do, don’t hit send in anger.”
Sound advice. Still works. But now, in our fast-paced, AI-assisted, text-it-before-you-think world, there’s an even better way to save your professionalism—and your sanity.
Enter: The AI Filter
One of the best tools I’ve discovered as we charge ahead into 2025?
ChatGPT: The Anti-Snark Translator.
Now when I want to fire off a scathing reply to that completely bonkers review or that unjustified complaint? I type out what I really want to say—get all the sarcasm, frustration, and “bless your heart” energy out of my system.
And then… I ask AI to make it sound nice.
The result? A polished, solution-oriented, business-friendly response that still addresses the issue but makes me sound like the calm, reasonable professional I aspire to be—even when I’m definitely not feeling it.
Why This Works (And Why I Love It)
AI lacks one thing I have too much of in these moments: emotion.
It doesn’t get defensive. It doesn’t want to burn bridges. It doesn’t care about proving a point. It just rewrites the message in a way that de-escalates the situation, protects my brand, and helps me move on with my day.
And here’s the surprising bonus: using AI this way has actually helped me learn how to communicate better. It models the tone I should be using, and over time, I’ve started to internalize that style (well, most days).
Professionalism in a Nutshell
Let’s face it—there are some truly unhinged people out there. And as business owners, we’re going to cross paths with them sooner or later. We can’t always control what they say, but we can control how we respond.
So next time you’re ready to drop a truth bomb, vent your fury, or type something that starts with “With all due respect…” —pause.
Open ChatGPT.
Paste your draft.
And let AI make you sound like the level-headed business wizard you know deep down you are.
Because while it may not feel as satisfying as telling someone to “go stick it,” it will make you proud of how you represented your business—and yourself.
Thanks for Reading!
Even if you’re not a subscriber (yet), I truly hope today’s post gave you something useful to think about or apply in your business.
I’m building my own business too, and I’m currently taking on new clients—so if you know someone who could use support with [insert your main service, e.g., website development, business coaching], I’d be grateful for the referral.
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Let’s keep building,