Chasing Tools vs. Doing Work
Don't be distracted by tools. Focus on impact.
Sometimes the most creative thing you can do is choose a different tool.
The most innovative move isn't always chasing the newest technology. It’s using what you already have differently, or knowing when the tool itself has become a distraction from the actual work.
For example, I’ll be honest: I’m not immediately impressed by your “AI business.”
Stating that you have an AI-enabled business is like saying you have a Home Depot-enabled business without specifying whether you are using hammers, screwdrivers, or lawn mowers, and for what purpose.
Nearly anything can be AI-enabled. So much so that I have even been reluctant to use the phrase to describe my own business. I’ve been deliberate about specifying exactly how and why we use the technology. Specificity builds trust, creates clarity, and makes it easier to prove value. Our customers want confidence that we know which tools to use and that we are not swinging hammers just because they generate more attention.
I am not anti-AI. Far from it. But I do not believe the presence of AI automatically makes something innovative.
Here are two questions worth considering before centering your business around AI, or any other tool:
What if [Latest Tool] disappeared tomorrow? Would your business still make sense?
What if every business became [Latest Tool]-enabled? What is your actual advantage?
There will always be a new shiny object to chase. The tool is not the point. The impact of what you build with it is.
I unpack this further on my website in AI, Hammers & Shiny Objects, where I share the "Disappearance Test" and the "Everywhere Test" to help you discover your actual competitive advantage.
Highest Leverage is Handcrafted for Entrepreneurs
Hi, I’m Kishau (pronounced Kih-shaw). I’m a computer scientist and systems thinker, and I’ve been a full-time entrepreneur for more than two decades. Throughout my career, I’ve led teams to deploy enterprise tech for hundreds of organizations, navigating everything from bootstrapping and grants to raising millions in venture capital. I partner with entrepreneurs to explore non-obvious moves, overlooked resources, and unconventional strategies for moving their ideas forward. Here, you’ll find raw snippets from my work notes, cautionary tales, and new inspiration for everyday people executing big ideas. Thanks in advance for reading!