What Are You Trying to Achieve?

This post will be short and sweet. Just like the question I'm going to ask: What are you trying to achieve?

This question is for all companies that are using (or trying to use) AI.

This question is also not about AI. It’s a question of how you want to live your life, and your purpose for doing everything within it.

Why I Ask This Question

I was at an AI in Life Sciences Commercialization conference. It was a gathering of people with a clear mandate to get the world to Say Yes to Drugs.

Attendees were complaining about the cons of AI tools and, in consequence, the accumulation of AI Slop.

So I asked a very simple question to the audience:

“Is any company here crystal clear on what you are trying to get out of AI? Because if you're not clear what your goal is, and you're drowning your people in tools and AI outputs, what's the point?”

People sheepishly smiled. Some scanned the room for a peer who could answer in the affirmative.

There wasn't a single Life Sciences Commercial person who could pinpoint why their company was adopting AI. Even though the purpose of any business is to exchange goods for profit. And I was talking to the people in charge of creating said profit. Using AI to directly improve P&L would be an easy start.

The Real Question: What Will You Get?

Here is my message for any organization using AI: It’s worth your effort to answer, “What are you trying to achieve out of it?”

Companies have named me Chief Strategy Officer because strategy is what I do best. I believe that for any company, if you're not clear what you're trying to achieve, you end up spending a lot of time, energy, and resources not getting to your goal. Because there was no goal set in the first place.

Lessons from the “Innovation Era”

It’s not the first time we’ve seen this. Remember when innovation was a thing? Every company had a Chief Innovation Officer.

I always asked one question: “How do you define ‘innovation,’ and what do you hope to get out of it?”

Sometimes the answer sounded like R&D. Sometimes it implied chasing the shiny new tool (“digital,” anyone?). More often than not, companies were “innovating” because everyone else was. After all, no CEO likes being known as the industry slowpoke.

I saw innovation as a concerted effort to stand out in the industry in order to benefit P&L. Maybe by creating a new product line. Maybe by changing external perception to generate deeper customer loyalty. Or simply by making your company less dorky so you can recruit better workers. But there has to be a very clear goal, and I didn’t always see companies with one.

Unsurprisingly, innovation is a less sexy buzzword these days. Not because the intent wasn’t good. Innovation is important. It’s what keeps us alive, both figuratively and literally. Just ask Darwin.

But that wasn’t the point. Being clear about your corporate doctrine is.

Apply This Thinking to Your Own Time

Here’s what this means for you.

Take a look at how you’re spending your time. What are you trying to achieve out of the effort spent, both at work and home?

How I Think About AI

I use AI for both short- and long-term purposes. It saves me time today and will create new revenue opportunities tomorrow.

Today, as a consultant, I exchange time for money. Reducing time spent means giving myself a raise.

Looking into the future, I’m applying the idea that disruption creates opportunities.
The 2008 financial crisis gave us the best real estate shopping spree opportunity of our lifetimes. COVID made Zoom and Peloton stocks skyrocket.

I play with AI not because I inherently love tech (I don’t). I do so because it will benefit my P&L. AI should ultimately benefit your company’s P&L, too.

This Also Applies to Life

Here’s the purpose to other things I’m doing this week:

• Exercise: helps me sleep better today and is the best insurance policy I know to enhance my retirement years tomorrow.

• Speak at events: fun and profitable today and opens professional networks tomorrow.

• Write: a creative outlet today and increases my personal and professional visibility tomorrow.

• Have fun: spikes my body with dopamine and other delicious neurochemicals. At the end of the day, isn’t chasing feel-good neurochemicals (dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin) the reason many of us do anything?

Your Turn

So back to you.

Why do you do what you do?

And why does your company do what it does, AI adoption and all?

If you haven’t already answered those questions, today would be a fantastic day to start.

Today’s Takeaways

1. Being clear on your company’s AI strategy improves business output. Plus, it reduces employee frustration.

2. Feel-good neurochemicals are good for you. Harvard’s overview on how they affect your mood and body, and how to get more of the good stuff.

Until next time,
Rachel

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