Professionals often dismiss AI to avoid the effort of learning it, just as they once mocked older relatives for struggling with new technology. This reluctance to adapt turns them into the very people they used to make fun of for being out of touch.
The primary career threat isn't AI automation itself, but the productivity gap it creates. Individuals who master AI as a tool will significantly outperform those who don't, making the non-adopters redundant. The competition remains human-to-human, just amplified by technology.
In large companies, leaders should not keep their strategic insights private. By articulating their truths publicly on platforms like LinkedIn, they can influence board members and colleagues, find allies, and be on the right side of history when inevitable changes occur.
Much like 'big data' evolved from a competitive advantage into a widely available commodity, AI models will likely follow the same path. So many sources will offer powerful models that they will cease to be a unique differentiator or a durable moat for businesses.
Gary Vaynerchuk states his biggest professional regret isn't passing on a $557M Uber investment, but his failure to be candid with underperforming employees. The emotional toll of not giving direct feedback created fear and was a greater leadership failure than any financial miss.
Leaders incorrectly dismiss live shopping's potential by comparing its initial sales to massive channels like Walmart. This mirrors early skepticism towards e-commerce. The strategy is not to match existing channels today, but to invest in what will become a dominant channel tomorrow.
While empathy is useful for marketing, its most powerful strategic application is internal. An empathetic culture leads to extraordinarily high employee retention, creating team continuity and trust. This is a significant competitive advantage in industries plagued by high turnover.