A grounded and strategic testimonial.

Nicolas openly shared what this journey brought him, step by step.

Not a success story. A real shift. Tangible. And helpful for those who are (still) wondering.

How AI reshaped my daily habits at work

Introduction – by Micheline ​

I met Nicolas at a time when he was looking for more clarity.

He had already started exploring AI on his own, but hadn’t yet figured out how to truly anchor it in his day-to-day work.

He’s not a techie. He’s an engineer, a business owner, with full days and very real priorities.

What changed everything is that we worked from his reality.

Not to add another layer of complexity — but to help him do better, more simply.

What you’re about to read are his words. A genuine, useful, jargon-free account.

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“I read a book on AI… and that helped me take the first step”

Micheline : Let’s go back to the beginning… What made you want to explore AI?

Nicolas :

I started by reading a book. It was pretty basic, but enough to get me going.

It helped me understand some fundamentals and made me realize it wasn’t that complicated.

But I also knew it wouldn’t be enough to really get started. Then a fellow manager from another firm told me about your support, and that’s when I decided to go for it.

He told me his team had made huge progress thanks to your guidance. So I reached out.

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“I needed real use cases, tailored to my profession”

Micheline : Once we got started together, do you remember your first impressions?

Nicolas :

I was using ChatGPT in a very basic way: correcting emails, rewording reports.
I wasn’t thinking in terms of workflow or optimization.  ​

What you brought me was a real method. A practical logic. And above all, concrete use cases.

Even though you don’t come from the world of structural engineering, you still provided me with examples that were spot-on and perfectly translatable to my field.

Honestly, that changed everything. I stopped circling around the tool and finally moved forward for real.

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“The breakthrough? During the first month of follow-up, everything clicked”

Micheline : Do you remember the moment when it all started to shift?

Nicolas :

Yes — it was during the first follow-up month. I walked out of the 4th session and just said thank you.

Because I finally understood I could really use it in a meaningful way.

You didn’t just show me how it works — you helped me connect it to my day-to-day reality as a business owner.

And that’s when it all clicked. I could see how to apply it without having to change everything in my workflow. Just by adapting step by step.

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“What your support gave me”

Micheline : If you had to sum up what the support brought you?

Nicolas :

A solid method.

You helped me structure my usage, step by step, without feeling overwhelmed.

I’m not someone who changes habits easily. But you guided me through the transition without forcing anything.

The follow-up process is key. At each session, you knew exactly where we were. You adjusted, encouraged, and unlocked things.

And above all, you didn’t just talk about the tool. You talked about me — the way I work, the mental load I carry.

You took my real constraints into account and gave me concrete ways to navigate them.

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“I don’t work the same way anymore”

Micheline : Would you say there’s been a real before/after in your daily routine?

Nicolas :

Absolutely.

I no longer write reports the same way. I realized I could start from an AI-generated outline or model and then adapt it to my needs.

I am starting to use a meeting transcription tool to record my meetings and make use of the data that comes from them.

I even dictated a report recently. It wasn’t natural at first, but now it’s coming.

I also run regulatory research, double-check calculations, generate drafts, proofread faster, and structure more clearly.

Now when I write, I don’t start from scratch anymore — and that changes everything.

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“I’m structuring my usage and taking ownership”

Micheline : You’ve started developing your own reflexes too, right?

Nicolas :

Yes. I’m getting into the habit of structuring my prompts based on the type of document: report, meeting minutes, summary…

I give it a framework, a structure — and it helps me go faster.

Now I’m even planning to store my useful prompts in Notion so I can reuse them easily.

I’ve shifted into a more proactive mindset.

I’m also figuring out what works and what doesn’t. I tested it on old reports and saw that it works better when I break it down into parts.

It’s pushing me to be more rigorous in how I organize my own content.

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“That’s what saves me time: modifying instead of creating from scratch”

Micheline : And in terms of efficiency and mental load?

Nicolas :

I can feel the difference.

Before, I built everything manually, from a blank page. It was heavy.

Now I have a starting point. I tweak, revise, adjust — and I gain time and clarity.

Even on repetitive tasks, I move faster.

I no longer feel that mental block of "ugh, I have to start this…"

It’s smoother. I feel lighter in my head.

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“It’s not a cost, it’s a lever”

Micheline : And regarding the investment in this support, would you say it’s paid off?

Nicolas :

Yes. I already consider it paid off.

Just with the time I save on reports, and the energy I preserve — it’s huge.

And since I’m using it more and more in other tasks too, I know it’ll keep paying off.

Honestly, it’s not a cost. It’s a lever. ​

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“What’s next? Structuring my business, my site, my brand… with AI of course”

Micheline : What’s next for you?

Nicolas :

I want to shape my communication, update my website, clarify my offers.

And since you’ve already shown me how to do that with AI, I’ll use it to build a structure, write faster, and revise my content.

I want to do it with my partner — together.

We don’t want to spend weeks doing everything manually.

Now we’ve got the tools. We just need to put them in service of our vision.

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“AI doesn’t replace me. AI helps me focus on what matters”

Micheline : And would you say AI has changed your posture as a business owner?

Nicolas :

The point is, it can save you time — but it’s not going to do the work for you. That’s still your job.

For me, it helps me focus on where I truly add value: strategy, decision-making, deep thinking.

I spend less time on form, and more on substance.

And honestly, that makes a real difference in my day.

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“I’ve already recommended her to a friend. Contact Micheline — you’ll see” ​

Micheline : And what would you say to another manager/ entrepreneur who’s wondering if working with me is worth it?

Nicolas :

I already did. I recommended you to a fellow manager.

What I’d say is simple: contact Micheline Boutrin Deroire from PAS À PAS DIGITAL.

She understands the constraints of small business owners, she adapts AI to your reality, and she sticks with you until it becomes second nature.

It’s smooth, it’s human, it’s effective.

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Conclusion – by Micheline

This testimonial isn’t just about a tool.

It’s what happens when AI becomes a lever for real, grounded transformation.

Nicolas isn’t a tech geek. He’s an engineer, a business owner, pragmatic to the core. 

And today, he uses AI to lighten his mental load, structure his work, and save time — without losing his own way of doing things.

That’s exactly what I want to show: a powerful, progressive, embodied use of AI.

Yes to AI — but on your own terms. ​

Discover more conversations and experiences that shed light on our work.

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Micheline Boutrin Deroire

Strategic Transformation Consultant – AI & Digital Optimization

Founder of PAS À PAS DIGITAL

🏆  Europe & France 2024 Award Winner

I support professionals and organizations in simplifying their digital environment, integrating AI with clarity and structure, and transforming their practices for results that are human, fast, and aligned.

Want to go further?​

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