Tag: leadership

By Larry Lundstrom

Let me set the stage: A highly-paid consultant strolls into the room, armed with a 60-slide deck, a laser pointer, and a confident smirk. Their mission? To expose the “gaps” in your operation. The big reveal: a meticulously curated laundry list of recommendations, backed by analysis they proudly declare took weeks to produce.

The kicker? You already ran it. Two months ago. Using GPT. Your team reviewed every angle, plugged every gap, and buttoned it up tight before this consultant even cleared their inbox.

The Game Has Changed

AI isn’t just a tool—it’s leverage. If you know how to use it, you might as well have superpowers. Consider what Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said:

“AI is one of the most profound things we’re working on as humanity. It’s more profound than fire or electricity.”

If fire turned night into day and electricity powered the world, AI is amplifying human potential. It’s turning weeks of analysis into hours, making good ideas great, and cutting through the noise of inefficiency.

In our story, the consultant did their job the old-fashioned way: hours of manual analysis, meetings, and a deck that probably required an intern to perfect the kerning. But you? You empowered your team with GPT, letting them simulate scenarios, prioritize solutions, and roll out fixes in record time.

Superpowers Are for Those Who Train

This isn’t about dunking on consultants (okay, maybe a little). It’s about recognizing that the playing field has changed. AI is a force multiplier—but only for those who know how to wield it.

Take Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, who has said:

“The impact of AI will be determined by those who are best at using it, not those who simply have access to it.”

The consultant had access to the same tools. They could’ve asked ChatGPT to analyze the same data set, generate insights, and suggest a strategy. Instead, they stuck to the same old script—and that’s why they showed up two months late to the party.

Examples of the New Game

Look at how Netflix uses AI to perfect your watchlist or how Amazon anticipates your next purchase before you do. These aren’t guesses; they’re precision moves. The best companies aren’t just using AI—they’re training it like a muscle, refining its output, and embedding it in their workflows.

Or take Tesla: Elon Musk famously stated, “AI doesn’t sleep. It works tirelessly while we sleep.” That’s why Tesla cars are always learning, always improving. The companies (and people) who embrace AI as a tireless, evolving partner are leaving everyone else in the dust.

What This Means for You

If you’re not already using AI to double-check your work, run advanced analyses, and make decisions faster than your competitors, you’re behind. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to be an AI architect to benefit. You just need curiosity and the willingness to play with the tools.

The Takeaway

The consultant isn’t the villain here. The villain is complacency. Whether you’re a leader, a creator, or just someone trying to stay relevant, AI is a gift. But it’s a gift that rewards the bold, the curious, and the unafraid.

So, next time someone hands you an “extensive laundry list of recommendations,” smile. You already ran it. Two months ago.

And that’s what makes you unstoppable.

😎

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” – Alan Kay, Computer Scientist and AI Pioneer.