I've spent the last few months talking to small business owners across Ireland about AI and digital tools. And almost every conversation follows the same pattern.
They've heard the noise. They know something is happening. They've probably tried ChatGPT once, got a weird response, and quietly closed the tab.
And then they went back to doing things exactly the way they always have — because they're busy, because it's not clear where to start, and because nobody has sat down with them and shown them what this stuff actually looks like in the context of their specific business.
That last part is what I want to change.
A bit of context first.
I'm currently completing a Masters in Advanced Digital Technologies for Business. One of the assignments was to design a training module. I designed one — a practical workshop on AI and digital tools for small business owners — and then sat back and looked at it.
It was good. Well structured. Theoretically sound. And it would have sat in a folder on a lecturer's desk and done absolutely nothing useful for anyone.
So I decided to run it instead.
On a date to be confirmed, I'm hosting a free 90-minute online workshop for eight small business owners. This is a real session, with real businesses, working through real problems. Not a slide deck. Not a webinar. A working session where we actually use AI tools live to tackle the kind of challenges that are eating your time right now.
Here's what we'll do.
Before the session, I'll ask you to send me one thing: the single biggest operational headache in your business right now. The thing that takes too long, costs too much effort, or just feels harder than it should be.
On the night, we'll work through the most common pain points live on screen — using AI tools in real time to show you what's actually possible when you point the right tool at the right problem.
You'll see how a business owner with no technical background can use AI to generate sales leads, write better customer communications, cut down on admin, and free up time that is currently disappearing into tasks a machine could handle in seconds.
You'll leave with a plain-English guide to the tools most relevant to small businesses, a one-page action plan, and — more importantly — the clarity to actually take one step forward in the next week.
Who this is for.
This is for you if you're running a business — a trade, a service, a consultancy, a small team — and you've been meaning to look into AI and digital tools but haven't found the time, the clarity, or the right starting point.
This is not for people who want a general overview of technology trends. It's a working session, and the more real your problem, the more useful the evening will be for you.
One condition: you need to be running a business. Not thinking about starting one, not curious about AI in general — actually running one, with actual problems you'd like to solve.
Why free?
Because this is a pilot. I want real businesses in the room and honest feedback about what works and what doesn't. That feedback shapes every session that comes after this one.
If you've been putting this off, this is a genuinely low-risk way to stop.
How to register.
Places are limited to eight. Send me a message or email services@dlconsultancy.ie with a one-line description of your business and the problem you'd most like to work on. I'll confirm your place within 24 hours and send you a short question to complete before the session.
Date: To be confirmed Time: 7:00pm – 8:30pm Platform: Microsoft Teams (link sent on confirmation) Cost: Free for this pilot session
Declan Lenahan DL Consultancy | dlconsultancy.ie Business Mentoring & Digital Transformation for Irish SMEs