Tech Guides by Ken Hollow

Every tech question you've been too embarrassed to ask, answered in plain English.

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: If You Reply “LOL” to Feedback, I Will Take It Personally

If You Reply “LOL” to Feedback, I Will Take It Personally

By Ken Hollow, professional overthinker and part-time emoji decoder Feedback is supposed to be constructive. Helpful. Collaborative. Instead, it’s often delivered in the most emotionally…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: The Group Chat Is a Full-Time Job

The Group Chat Is a Full-Time Job

By Ken Hollow, professional tab juggler and part-time actual worker Every freelancer has their own productivity kryptonite. For some, it’s TikTok. For others, it’s the…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: Every Client Thinks They’re My Only Client

Every Client Thinks They’re My Only Client

By Ken Hollow, part-time diplomat, full-time liar-for-hire Here’s the first rule of freelancing: every client needs to feel like they are your one and only.…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: The Algorithm Thinks I’m a Different Person Every Week

The Algorithm Thinks I’m a Different Person Every Week

By Ken Hollow, freelance chameleon and reluctant trend hopper Every Monday, I check my analytics like a responsible content creator who pretends to enjoy numbers.…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: The Client Said “It’s Just a Quick Edit” and Now I’m in Hour Seven

The Client Said “It’s Just a Quick Edit” and Now I’m in Hour Seven

By Ken Hollow, freelance prisoner of pastel purgatory The text came in at 8:14 a.m., right when I was pretending to do my morning routine…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: Teaching GPT-5 to Sound More Like Me

Teaching GPT-5 to Sound More Like Me

By Ken Hollow, AI wrangler, burnout survivor, and reluctant personal brand When GPT-5 dropped, I thought, “Perfect. Finally, an assistant who can handle my tone…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: GPT-5 Can Code, Write, and Plan My Day — So Why Am I Still Broke?

GPT-5 Can Code, Write, and Plan My Day — So Why Am I Still Broke?

By Ken Hollow, now officially the unpaid brand ambassador for AI GPT-5 is here. The internet’s buzzing, tech bros are frothing, and I just watched…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: GPT-5 Is Here (And It Might Actually Be Smarter Than You)

GPT-5 Is Here (And It Might Actually Be Smarter Than You)

So buckle up, because OpenAI just dropped GPT‑5 on us—and yes, it’s as glamorously overwhelming as your last existential meltdown. Official Launch (Suck on That,…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: Sometimes I Think My Job Is Just Explaining Things to Software

Sometimes I Think My Job Is Just Explaining Things to Software

There’s a romanticized image of “working in digital marketing” that gets passed around on LinkedIn — all minimalist coffee shops, sleek laptops, and people in…

Illustration of Ken and Nana for the article: Sometimes I Miss Having a Boss to Blame

Sometimes I Miss Having a Boss to Blame

By Ken Hollow, freelance by choice, regret by default When I quit my last real job, I walked out of the office with a box…