You weren't hired to just be a human spreadsheet
OPINION Transcript: Ask any kid what they want to be when they grow up. You’ll hear psychologist, architect, AFL star, maybe even a YouTuber. You’ll never hear: “I want to spend my life formatting spreadsheets and writing weekly status reports.”
Yet here we are. Buried in browser tabs. Copy-pasting updates. Naming files “final_FINAL_v3.pdf.” Whether you’re running a business, serving coffees, managing a team, or answering phones – you probably spend too much time doing work no one gets excited about.
We were meant to lead, solve, invent, connect. But somewhere between the dream and the job description, we made peace with being busy instead of being impactful.
I see it everywhere. My cousin, a support worker, told me she spends more time on reports than actually supporting anyone.
An electrician mate spends half his day quoting and chasing invoices. A CEO I work with spends six hours a week preparing board packs.
Do they enjoy it? Of course not. Is it necessary? Maybe. But is it the best use of their time, energy, and talent? Not even close.
We’ve accepted this grind because, for the longest time, we didn’t have a choice. Now we do. In my book, The CEO Who Mocked AI, I call these tasks ROBOTs: Repeated, Obligatory, Boring, Operational Tasks. Tasks that drain you but don’t grow you. The kind that sit in your calendar like concrete.
You know them. The Monday sales report. The customer follow-up email. The schedule you manually rebuild every week. This isn’t the work you’re meant to do. It’s just the work that’s piled up around the work that matters. And here’s the good news: you can fire your ROBOTs.
Today’s AI tools can take on this work – accurately, affordably, and without complaint. No burnout. No excuses. Just done.
Start small. Pick five boring tasks. Automate one this week. Reclaim your time to lead, serve, create, grow.
You weren’t hired to be a human spreadsheet.
You weren’t born to push paper.
So stop settling for work that drains you. Find your ROBOTs. Fire them.
And get back to what you were built for.
Remember Your Dream Job
Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up. You’ll hear psychologist, architect, AFL star—maybe even a YouTuber.
“I want to spend my life formatting spreadsheets and writing weekly status reports.”
You’ll never hear that.
Yet that’s the reality for many of us today.
- Buried in browser tabs
- Copy-pasting updates
- Naming files final_FINAL_v3.pdf
Whether you're a business owner, team leader, or sole trader, chances are you're spending too much time on low-value admin work.
The Real Cost of Repetitive Work
We were meant to lead, solve, invent, and connect. But somewhere along the way, we started confusing being busy with being productive.
At Enterprise Monkey, we see it regularly:
♦ A support worker who spends more time on reports than with clients
♦ An electrician quoting and chasing invoices instead of being on the tools
♦ A CEO spending six hours a week preparing board packs
Do they enjoy it? No.
Is it necessary? Maybe.
Is it the best use of their time, energy, and talent? Not even close.
We’ve accepted this administrative grind because we didn’t have another option.
Now, thanks to AI automation for business, we do.
Introducing the “ROBOTs” in Your Business
In his book The CEO Who Mocked AI (Until It Made Him Millions), our CEO Aamir Qutub introduces the concept of ROBOTs:
Repeated, Obligatory, Boring, Operational Tasks
These are the tasks that sit in your calendar like concrete:
♦ Weekly sales reports
♦ Customer follow-up emails
♦ Schedules you manually rebuild every week
This isn’t the work you were hired to do—it’s just the clutter that’s built up around the work that matters.
How AI Can Help You Fire Your ROBOTs
Modern tools like ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and other AI platforms are now accessible, accurate, and surprisingly affordable. They can automate the boring, repetitive tasks so you can:
♦ Focus on high-value work
♦ Spend more time with customers and teams
♦ Make faster, data-driven decisions
Start Small: Your 3-Step Plan to Automate
You don’t need a full AI strategy to get started. Just follow these steps:
- Identify five repetitive tasks you do each week
- Choose one task to automate using off-the-shelf AI tools
- Reinvest that time into leading, solving, creating, or growing your business
You weren’t hired to be a human spreadsheet.
You weren’t born to push paper.
Stop settling for work that drains you.
Want More?
This article is based on Aamir Qutub’s recent OpEd published in the Geelong Advertiser, and key ideas from his best-selling book
The CEO Who Mocked AI (Until It Made Him Millions).
If you’d like help identifying the “ROBOTs” in your business—or exploring AI-powered solutions tailored to your needs—get in touch with us or learn more about our AI Advisory Services.
Final Thought
Let’s stop celebrating busyness—and start reclaiming our brilliance. With the right tools, we can get back to the work that matters most.
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