The AI Confession I Wanted and Didn't Want to Have

The AI Confession I Wanted and Didn't Want to Have

Here's the confession and conversation I've wanted — and didn't want — to have.

I am a late adopter of AI large language models — ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini. And I had three very specific reasons:

• I'm not particularly tech-savvy, and I was resisting
• I have deep concerns about the ethical and unethical use of AI
• I firmly believe LLMs are tools that support your foundation, not a magic wand to do your work for you

‍Summer. In an effort to stop resisting, I leaped. I vetted options and settled on Anthropic's Claude AI. Their mission and policies gave me confidence.

Fall. I joined other consumers in learning and testing the tool. First I was hesitant. Then interested. Then seduced by the ease of use.

Winter. From brainstorming to data gathering to copy — pasted in ten minutes. There was an immediate spike in my output: LinkedIn posts, newsletter content, thought starters. The productivity was real.

New Year. The sparkle started to dim. But I stayed the course. It's the holiday season — you know the narrative.

Something was off. I felt distant from my audience. That part of my work — and my brain — went quiet. The spark was tarnishing.

That's when I recognized my big mistake.

I lost sight of the thing I advocate for — establish a solid foundation first, then use technology to elevate your strategy. I shared this exact advice during prospect discovery calls. I told them candidly: don't rely on AI to build your training programs. Build the foundation first, then let AI support it.

And I stopped practicing what I know to be true.

I had all the feelings. I saw the good, the bad, and the indifferent.

As a CEO, Founder, or Executive Director, I know you've experienced this with some tool — AI or otherwise.

You take the leap. You love the ease and the sparkle. You feel a tension you can't quite name. You become disconnected. The tension becomes frustration.

Your problem is not laziness or limited capacity. It's not shiny object syndrome. It's not a lack of understanding.

The real problem is this: the industry — and LinkedIn — positions AI as the ultimate solution. And there are no guardrails designed specifically for small and mid-size business owners navigating adoption.

You are not alone. I tripped over those same rocks.

Here's our path forward.

1. Pause and acknowledge what's really happening.

• Is ease hiding intention?
• Is this a distraction from strategy?
• Are your actions driven by external pressure or your own vision?

2. Breathe through the uncomfortable revelation.

• Inhale clarity, exhale the noise
• Inhale perspective, exhale the frustration
• Inhale energy, exhale and reset

3. Move your body — away from the work.

• Step outside. Look up. Trees, birds, clouds offer perspective that screens cannot.
• Get your heart pumping. The oxygen to your brain will help you relax and find direction.
• Interact with someone — or something — not connected to your work. Loved ones, community, animals. Living creatures ground you.

4. Acknowledge that AI is a robust tool to support you — not replace your thinking.

• Roll up your sleeves and do the hard, unsexy, foundational work
• If you're not sure where to start, that's what I'm here for
• Fix the cracks. Build what doesn't exist. Don't dress up the mess.

5. Refine and implement your plan — then integrate.

• Refine first, then test
• Then — and only then — bring AI in to carry out parts of the plan

There's humility in admitting a mistake. There's even more value in sharing what you learned from it.

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What has been your lesson learned with AI — or with establishing a solid foundation or strategic plan in your business?

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