While others were playing video games, I started programming at age 12. In college, I earned a computer science degree because I knew then that technical skills were the key to opportunity in the late 80’s. After graduation, I joined Electronic Data Systems and was leading systems engineering teams in my 20s. By 1998, I became one of the youngest CIOs in the country for an $850 million organization.

Soon after, I left to launch CIO Partners, building a firm dedicated to shaping the future of technology leadership.

In short, I have been fortunate to have seen every major shift in the modern workplace, from the rise of the internet to cloud computing to mobile, and led through all of them.

But nothing is moving faster, cutting deeper, or offering more upside than artificial intelligence.

AI is not coming. It’s here.

And it’s not reserved for engineers or tech companies. It’s being used right now, by individuals who are moving faster, thinking sharper, and working smarter than those who are still standing still.

Don’t Just Learn About AI, Use It

Too many people are stuck in “study mode.” They’re watching TED Talks, bookmarking articles, waiting for someone to connect the dots.

But this isn’t something you watch. It’s something you do.

The tools are free or nearly free: ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, Gemini, Grok. You can use them to:

• Write better emails
• Summarize long reports
• Create first drafts
• Clean up messy data
• Brainstorm ideas
• Generate visuals

You don’t need training. You need usage.

Every day you delay is a day someone else gets ahead. This is a muscle. Build it.

Reinvent Your Role Before Someone Else Does

If you think AI is going to replace your job, you’re already missing the point.

AI isn’t replacing jobs. It’s reshaping them. The value is shifting, from people who complete tasks to people who use tools to produce more, faster, and better. In every field, individuals are finding ways to improve how they work. Not because they were told to, but because they took the initiative.

I’ve worked with high performers for decades. The ones who advance don’t wait for instructions. They rewrite their own job description. They find better ways before they’re told to.

If you’re sitting still, wondering what AI means for your future, you’re watching it pass you by.

You Don’t Need a Team, You Need Intent

In 2001, launching a new idea took money, people, and time. Not anymore.

With AI, one person can:

• Design a slide deck
• Draft a proposal
• Analyze data
• Create a campaign
• Validate a business concept
• Transform their work

It’s not about headcount. It’s about leverage. AI levels the playing field for anyone willing to use it.

The people who win won’t be the ones with the biggest budgets. They’ll be the ones with the boldest mindset.

Output Is the New Advantage

AI isn’t just changing who does the work. It’s changing the standard for what “good work” looks like.

What used to take a week should now take a day. What used to be “good enough” won’t be, because someone else can deliver faster, smarter, and cleaner, with AI at their side.

I’ve seen professionals across industries raise their game just by integrating one or two AI tools into their daily workflow.

More than just automation. It’s about acceleration. The same role, powered differently.

If you’re not exploring this, you’re not keeping pace, and you’re surrendering your edge.

“AI isn’t replacing jobs. It’s reshaping them. The value is shifting, from people who complete tasks to people who use tools to produce more, faster, and better. In every field, individuals are finding ways to improve how they work. Not because they were told to, but because they took the initiative.”

No One’s Going to Give You a Map, Make One

There’s no universal playbook for how AI fits into your job. That’s the point.

Everyone is waiting for clarity. For rules. For someone to explain what it means. That’s not how this works.

You gain clarity by getting your hands dirty:

• Pick a task you hate. Let AI help you do it better.
• Take 10 minutes to test a tool.
• Rewrite your next client update with a copilot.
• Use a chatbot to plan your week or structure your notes.

Don’t overthink it. Just start.

Every shift I’ve seen, from legacy systems to cloud to mobile, all rewarded early adopters. This is no different. Only this time, the tools aren’t locked in the IT department. They’re already in your browser.

The Wrap

I’ve been through nearly every major wave of workplace disruption over the last 35 years. And the same pattern shows up every time: the ones who thrive don’t wait for clarity. They take action. They experiment. They learn as they go, before anyone asks them to.

It’s always been that way.

Not because they get it right every time, but because they move when it matters.

Those who leaned into mobile redefined how business gets done. The early adopters of cloud moved faster and scaled smarter. The ones who built a voice online didn’t wait for permission, they built visibility while others stayed quiet.

The edge has always gone to those willing to try before it’s comfortable.

No, AI isn’t taking your job. But if you don’t move, don’t test, don’t learn, it won’t have to.

The tools are in your hands. What you do next is up to you.