Hi Reader,

My path into AI was squirrelly.

Which is why it's the right place for me.

After getting a master's degree in Psychology and Theology, I took a left turn into software.

It felt like a departure from where I had started my career. But in the last few years, it's become clear that it wasn't.

I've come back to the same questions:

• What does it mean to be human?
• How can work be more than just a job?
• And how can we find meaning in it all?

I spent years exploring those questions through The Meaning Movement. Now I help people decide which parts of their work to hand to AI and where they want to apply themselves more fully.

In both, I've been helping people think through what changes in their work mean for them. And leaders are wrestling with those questions while helping their teams do the same.

People are made to do work that matters. I want us to use AI in ways that give us more time and attention for that work.

That starts with being able to ask questions, especially the ones we're hesitant to ask.

The Questions Behind the Pressure

In a conversation this week with a colleague, we talked about how exposed leaders can feel when it comes to AI. They're expected to show results, guide their teams, and explain the plan to a board.

And at the same time, they're still trying to understand what these tools can do and why it all matters.

Here's the thing:​
You can lead while you're still learning.

But you have to participate in that learning yourself and make it safe for others to do the same.

That means being clear on your own understanding of the tools, where the gaps are, and how you want to close them.

For many of us, there are questions we may be afraid to ask (though we might not admit it):

• Am I already behind?
• How do I know if the AI did a good job?
• If I hand this task over, what value am I bringing?
• Will saving time just mean people expect more from me?
• How do I get started?
• Why are my results different from the big claims I see on socials?

Those questions are big and need space.

If you're leading a team, you can start by naming one of your own unresolved questions at your next team meeting. Then invite others to share theirs.

For example, you might say, “I'm still figuring out how to judge when an AI result is good enough to use. What are you trying to figure out?”

You may learn that someone else has the same concern, or that they've tried something you could learn from. Either way, you've made it easier for them to ask.

What About You?

What's one AI question you've been hesitant to ask?

Hit reply and tell me. I'd love to hear what you're wrestling with.

Keep building,

-Dan

PS - I had a great time on JJ Peterson's podcast, Badass Softie. We talked about my crazy career path, how AI can be unhelpful, and where to start if you want your AI use to make you MORE human, not less.
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Listen in here: https://www.badasssoftie.com/episodes/let-ai-make-room-for-what-only-you-can-do​