The end of the "Where should we meet?" headache
How to look like a local expert in every city you visit for work
My phone buzzes.
It’s a client: “Where should we meet tomorrow? I can drive anywhere that works for you.”
The problem with this:
She lives on the other side of town. I have an airport drop-off before meeting her, and another meeting back on my side of town immediately after.
I have zero local intel on the “in-between” areas.
Cue the familiar brain explosion.
As you know, knowing where a suburb is on a map and knowing a good meeting spot in that area are two completely different skill sets.
Maybe you’ve experienced this, too?
For me, this logistical dance usually involves five browser tabs, three map cross-checks, and way too much bandwidth.
But I found a better way of dealing with it…
Presenting: Leanne Hughes’ “I can’t believe it’s not butter” super simple but awesome solution
Okay, okay, I want to be upfront: The solution I’m about to share is embarrassingly basic.
But I’m genuinely excited about it because it’s easily the best use of AI I’ve found all year (I can say that, given it’s only 16 Jan).
Rather than opening Google Maps trying to find a location halfway, I did something different.
I opened Google Gemini instead, and typed one specific sentence.
“Help me find a cafe for a meeting that’s easy to get to from Brisbane Airport, but is closer to Woolloongabba/Coorparoo and open today, 12pm, Thursday 15 January, with easy parking.”
Two minutes later, I had the perfect solution mapped out: a genuine halfway point, vetted with insider local knowledge, and delivered as a live, interactive Google Map.
It felt like hiring a local concierge who already knew the traffic patterns, the cafe vibe, the parking situation, and the opening hours - without me having to cross-check a single thing.
AMAZING.
When you combine Gemini’s reasoning with Google Maps’ live data, it gives you outstanding information on one page.
It knows that 12 PM on a Thursday is a different beast than 8 AM on a Sunday. It understands that “easy to get to from the airport” means staying near major arterials like the Clem7 or Airport Link.
How else can you use the force of Gemini + Google Maps?
The magic isn’t just asking “Where is X?” or “Coffee near me” because you can just use Google Maps for that.
The power is in adding the context of your life.
❌ Don’t just ask for a cafe.
✅ Ask for a cafe with shade, near water, that takes bookings, isn’t busy between 8-10am, and is on the way to your next meeting. That’s when AI moves from search engine to your personal concierge.
Another example, let’s say you’re at a conference and organising a meetup:
“I need a restaurant for 8 people tonight at 6pm near [hotel name]. It needs vegetarian options, offer online bookings, be lively but not deafening, and have reviews mentioning they allow separate bills or split payments.”
Anyway, that’s one key idea this week, but one that you’ll hopefully find as insanely valuable as I did!
Your turn
What’s a logistical headache on your calendar that you could solve with one specific prompt?
The start of the year is when small changes make an outsized difference.
I love working with founders and leaders who want to build momentum early, simplify how they work, and kick things into gear (fast).
If a radical reset is on your radar, email me at hello@leannehughes.com and tell me what you’re aiming for. I know a good halfway cafe… or we can keep it simple and chat virtually.
🌴
Hit the heart 💙 if this gave you an idea worth testing.
See you next week!
Leanne “Finally has a personal concierge and so can you” Hughes
p.s. Apparently, our producers love us, so Alan Weiss’ + Leanne Hughes’ Talk the Walk’s season has been extended. We’re on soon discussing “New Year, New Idea(s), Thursday 15 Jan 4pm ET (Friday 16 Jan, 7am AEST), join us live on LinkedIn or watch the recording.
Just used AI to design an itinerary for delivering a training session in remote WA which will ensure we can spend a respectful amount of time with locals and see some sights along the way!