Hello,

I had an interesting pattern emerge last week across my client calls.

The founders who are actually thriving right now? Their strategy conversations are about 80% people, 20% AI.

Everyone else? It’s the complete opposite.

And guess which group is getting better results?

watts not working: Thinking AI strategy can succeed without people strategy.

Most of the founders I’m talking to are in full AI panic mode. They’re spending 90% of their strategic thinking on tools, automation, and efficiency gains.

Meanwhile, their teams are confused about their roles, unclear about expectations, and wondering if they’re about to be replaced.

watts really happening: The leaders who are winning have figured out that AI amplifies whatever culture you already have.

If you have a culture of collaboration, AI makes collaboration better. If you have a culture of innovation, AI accelerates innovation. If you have a culture of dysfunction… well, AI just makes that dysfunction faster and more efficient.

The smart ones are investing in the people foundation first, then adding the AI on top.

watts working: My most successful clients are flipping the conversation entirely.

Instead of “How can AI replace what we do?” they’re asking “How can we develop our people to do things AI can’t?”

Instead of “What processes can we automate?” they’re asking “What human capabilities do we need to strengthen?”

They heard that the CEO of Anthropic spends 40% of his time on culture and thought “If the guy building AI thinks people matter that much, maybe we should too.”

watts the real game changer: While everyone else is in an AI arms race, these leaders are in a human development race.

They’re building teams that can think strategically, adapt quickly, and create value that goes beyond any tool. They know that in six months, everyone will have access to similar AI. But not everyone will have people who know how to use it brilliantly.

The competitive advantage isn’t in the artificial intelligence. It’s in the human intelligence directing it.

Have a week of getting the balance right!

Sel

.

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