Dearest remote reader,

Yes, some of us MAY have watched the new season of Bridgerton while “working from home.”
Multitasking is still a thing. Let us live.

But as any good society paper would note, the real shift isn’t happening in plain sight. It’s unfolding quietly among those who adapt early, wait cautiously, or invest in skills no machine can replace.

This issue isn’t about becoming an AI expert overnight. It’s about knowing which parts of your work make you indispensable and why waiting for permission is the fastest way to fall behind.

Consider this your reminder: influence favors those who move early… and think strategically.

Yours,
— Ric & Shellie

P.S. Know a remote professional still pretending AI isn’t changing the rules? Forward this before the season finale drops. 🙌🏼

By Jason Alexander

Panicking about AI taking your job? You're asking the wrong question. 

The real winners aren't racing to become AI experts overnight, they're doubling down on the messy, complicated skills that make them irreplaceable. Jason Alexander breaks down exactly which parts of your role are automation-proof and which ones you should be worried about. 

Here's the twist: the skills AI can't touch might be the ones you've been undervaluing.

Find out what makes you un-automate-able →

✅ 7 AI-Proof Careers That Will Survive 2026 and Beyond

✅ 6 Human Skills for AI-Driven Workplaces

✅ It’s Time to Rebrand Soft Skills as AI Survival Skills

By Ric Pratte, Thrive Remotely Founder

Don’t put the responsibility of your AI training on your employer.

By the time they build a program, the tools will have evolved twice. The professionals who started six months ago are already 2-5x more productive and commanding higher rates. 

Ric breaks down the three practical moves that separate those who are winning from those still waiting for permission. 

The gap is widening faster than you think.

Catch the AI wave before it's too late →

🔆 Exploring the negative impact of unnecessary managerial control. The Most Widely Disliked Management Trait.

🔆 The secret to remote work that actually performs. ​​Remote work can significantly raise productivity and broaden recruitment pipelines.

🔆 Reinventing the Workforce in Today’s AI Era. Maximize AI acceleration and prepare for the future of work.

Next week: Premium In-Person Time- distributed teams and entrepreneurs can treat in-person time as a strategic asset:

Ski sessions in Mars Hill. Craft cocktails in Asheville. Trivia nights, improv workshops, and coworking spots where actual humans still exist. 

We've got meetups across the country because working remotely doesn't mean working alone. 

Pick your city, show up, and remember what it's like to laugh with people who actually get it.

Find your crew this week →

👥 J2 Confidential: Double Your Income

🧩 The People Puzzles Collective : Helping professionals and businesses build smarter systems, simplify what’s complicated, and lead with clarity using strategies that actually work.

🤓 MarketingAlec : Skip the AI hype, get real results. Join 12,000+ marketers learning the AI tools and prompts that drove 40% better performance.