Editor's Note: Today we’re all about “getting you back to the shop” (literally) and how the maker community can utilize AI. And …. drum roll please …. ! Announcing our new website: www.montanagateway.com

At Montana Gateway, our mission has always been to champion the makers, the guides, and the builders who define our state. We exist to spotlight the things you make with your hands and the experiences you lead in the field. But over the last year, in talking with many of you—from bakers in Billings to boutique lodging in Bozeman and —we’ve noticed a frustrating pattern.

You are spending less time doing what you love because you are stuck doing what you have to. You didn’t start your business to answer the same email 40 times a week, wrestle with website copy, or format spreadsheets. Yet, the "Digital Tax" of running a modern business is stealing hours from your shop time. That is why we are introducing a new resource today. It isn't a departure from our mission; it is the ultimate support system for it.

Introducing: The Outdoor Operator’s Field Guide to AI We know the word "AI" usually conjures up images of Silicon Valley hype or soulless tech. This guide is the exact opposite. We wrote this specifically for the Montana artisan and outdoor operator.

It is a "Field Guide" designed to help you treat AI not as a replacement for your craft, but as a Digital Apprentice. The goal of this guide is simple: To automate the grunt work so you can buy back 10 hours a week.

What’s Inside? This 30-page guide is hype-free and practical. It covers:

• Choosing Your Gear: The "Big Three" Engines and Setup.

• The "No-BS" Framework: How to use tools like ChatGPT without losing your brand's soul.

• The Maker’s Playbook: How to turn a bulleted list of materials into a perfect product description in 10 seconds.

• The Guide’s Playbook: Automating those repetitive "What should I pack?" emails so you can focus on the river.

• The Ethics of Craft: How to maintain "Digital Sovereignty" and ensure your customers know what is human-made (the product) and what is machine-managed (the admin).

A Quick Win for You Right Now

You don’t need to be a tech wizard to start. Here is a strategy from the guide that you can try today: The "Clunky Draft" Technique: Stop staring at a blinking cursor when you need to write a newsletter or social post.

1. Open your voice memo app on your phone while you're in the shop.

2. Rant for 90 seconds about what you're working on, the materials you're using, and why it matters.

3. Upload that messy transcript to an AI tool and say: "Turn this transcript into a polished 200-word update for my customers. Keep the tone rugged and authentic."

4. Result: A finished draft in 2 minutes. No typing required.

Get Your Time Back 
This resource is free for the Montana Gateway community. We want you to succeed, and in 2026, success means mastering your tools—whether that’s a belt sander or a language model.

Get the Field Guide Here See you in the shop!

Did You Know? 

Small business owners spend an average of 16 hours per week on administrative tasks—that’s two full workdays lost to "the office" every single week.

However, a 2025 Goldman Sachs report found that 85% of small business owners who adopted AI tools reported immediate gains in efficiency, with many saving up to 2.5 hours per day.

For a Montana maker, that math is simple: 2.5 hours saved = 2.5 more hours on the river, in the shop, or with your family.

More details: 10,000 Small Businesses Voices

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Voices helps small business owners in the United States advocate for policies that matter to them and that will help their businesses, employees, and communities. The Voices community, comprised of alumni of the 10,000 Small Businesses program from across the country, drives tangible impact against real policy issues by making their voices heard.

Till next time,

Montana Gateway