A mentor 24/7, who advises you. AI can be that mentor. Here's how.
Here are 4 ways to use AI as your 24/7 mentor:
💡 1. Present your problems as if to an advisor
Instead of asking for facts, present your dilemmas. "My partner wants to invest KES 200,000 in a new oven. I think it's too risky. What should I consider?" AI will ask you questions, show you angles you hadn't seen, and help structure your thinking.
Concrete example: A Nakuru restaurateur asked ChatGPT: "My restaurant makes KES 120,000/month profit. I want to open a second outlet. What are the 5 risks I haven't anticipated?" AI talked about quality dilution, new supplier needs, training time, hidden costs, and competition in the new area. He revised his plan.
📊 2. Ask it to evaluate your strategy
Copy-paste your business plan or a summary of your situation. Ask: "Analyse my strategy. What are my weak points? What could I improve? What am I missing?" AI will give you a neutral, unfiltered, unbiased perspective.
📚 3. Have it synthesise what your competitors already know
"How are Kenyan SMEs preparing for the Finance Act 2026 impact?" or "What are the consumption trends in my sector for 2027?" AI can give you consolidated analyses, saving you hours of research. It gives you the essentials to stay competitive.
🧠 4. Turn your failures into lessons
"I just lost a big contract because my price was too high. What should I have done differently?" AI will help you analyse your mistake without judgment, and extract lessons. It has no ego—it just wants to help you learn.
Tip: Craft your prompts well. Tell AI the role it should play: "You are a strategy mentor for SMEs in Kenya. You have 30 years of experience. I am a retail entrepreneur in Nairobi." The more context you give, the better the advice. And if the advice is too generic, challenge it: "That's too vague. Give me concrete examples."
Do it now: Open your preferred AI. Describe a real dilemma you currently have. Ask it for 3 options, with risks and benefits for each. Take 10 minutes. You'll have gained days of reflection.
Sources: Accenture – AI as a Mentor Study 2026; McKinsey – AI for Decision Making 2026; Harvard Business Review – The AI Mentor 2025.
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