Tech Isn’t Optional Anymore (And You’re Not Too Old to Figure It Out)

The chatter is all around us… AI, tech, automation – are you using these tools? My clients often laugh when I bring it up. “Maria I barely know how to get into my LinkedIn account!”


When I bring up tech with clients, they often laugh nervously and say, “Maria, I still use sticky notes for everything—what’s this Notion thing you speak of?” I get it. You’re already juggling a lot—family, work, health, life. The idea of learning new technology feels like just one more thing. Overwhelming. Confusing. Maybe even a little embarrassing.

But 👉 If you’re stuck in a career pivot… 👉 If you’re exhausted from doing everything manually… 👉 If you feel behind and are watching others zoom past you professionally…


Then tech isn’t just a “nice to have,” it’s your secret weapon. And no, you don’t need to become a coder, or start using 15 new app, you just need a shift from “Ugh, I hate tech” to “Ooh, this actually makes my life easier.” Buy back your time, streamline your tasks, feel more confident, and make better decisions faster.


In this post, I’ll walk you through a few low-barrier, career-pivot-friendly tech tools that I’ve used and that my most reluctant clients now swear by.
 
What’s Your Biggest Struggle Right Now?
"I’m invisible online and not landing opportunities" → Start with Personal Branding & Visibility Tools
"I’m disorganized and overwhelmed" → Start with Organization & Productivity Tools
"I want to make more money or start something on the side" → Start with Income & Career Growth Tools
"I don’t have time and wish someone could just do it for me" → Start with AI Assistants for Non-Techies
"I need to learn new skills to stay relevant" → Start with Upskilling & Learning Platforms
  
Personal Branding & Visibility Tools
Goal: Get noticed without burning out.

• Canva – Make gorgeous resumes, social posts, or digital freebies. No design degree needed.
  
• LinkedIn – Use AI tools to upgrade your profile, search smarter, and show off your wins.
  
• Otter.ai or Descript – Turn your voice notes or talks into blog posts or emails.
  
• Lately.ai, VEED, or Buffer – Slice long-form content into quick social posts (the lazy genius way).
  
• Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace – Build a simple personal website to showcase your work.
  
• AI Headshots –Try BetterPic, HeadshotPro, or even Canva's AI photo tools.
  

 
Organization & Productivity Tools
Goal: Work smarter, not harder.

• Trello or Notion – Organize job searches, projects, or your side hustle.
  
• Google Workspace – A central hub for docs, ideas, and collaboration.
  
• Resume.io or Canva Resume Builder – Create polished, professional resumes with ease.
  
• Pramp or Glassdoor Interview Prep – Practice interviews without the pressure.
  
• Calendar Tools – Use Google Calendar, iCal, Calendly and similar to ensure you never miss a meeting.
  

 
Income & Career Growth Tools
Goal: Monetize your brilliance. Try new income streams.

• Teachable, Udemy, Podia – Sell your knowledge through simple courses or downloads.
  
• Substack or ConvertKit – Build a newsletter and connect with your audience (future clients/fans!).
  
• Calendly + Stripe – Let people book and pay you without back-and-forth DMs.
  
• Fiverr, Upwork, or Freelancer – Test your skills in the gig economy with low risk.
  

  
AI Assistants for Non-Techies
Goal: Let AI handle the heavy lifting.

• ChatGPT, Meta, Gemini– Your brainstorming buddy for bios, cover letters, blogs, and interview prep.
  
• Claude / Perplexity – Your research assistant to explore ideas, trends, and strategies.
  
• Tome.app – Create sleek presentations or pitch decks in minutes (without PowerPoint stress).
  

 
Upskilling & Learning Platforms
Goal: Stay sharp and future-proof your career.

• LinkedIn Learning – Learn soft and hard skills in bite-sized, bingeable videos.
  
• Coursera or edX – Take actual courses from real universities (many free or low-cost).
  
• MasterClass – Learn from industry icons in storytelling, creativity, and leadership.
  
• YouTube & Webinars – So many good, free trainings at your fingertips.
  
• Podcasts – Multitask while you learn.
  
  
  

You don’t need to become a tech genius overnight. You just need to take one step to make your life easier and your work more effective.
👉 Start with the category that solves your biggest stressor.
👉 Pick one tool and try it this week.
👉 Then, come back and level up again when you’re ready.


Still not sure? Connect with me and we can do a live demo! Schedule your complementary career discovery call today: https://calendly.com/mariadastur/30-minute-exploration-session