You've been training for AI all along

A few weeks ago, a CEO told me, “I know I should be using AI more, but I just can’t keep up. I feel like I’m already behind.”

I’ve heard that from CIOs, founders, CFOs. Smart, experienced people who’ve led serious change. And yet, many feel like they’re falling behind.

Here’s the thing. They’re not.

AI isn’t new. It’s just finally visible. What’s changed isn’t the idea, it’s the capability.

Old AI followed instructions: do X, then Y. Miss a step and it broke.

New AI, built on Large Language Models (LLMs), learns patterns instead of rules. It understands context, applies logic, and generates new ideas instead of following a script.

That’s why this wave feels different. We’ve moved from automation to amplification.

And here’s what most leaders miss – the same skills that made you good at business are the same ones AI feeds on.

If you’ve ever mapped a messy workflow, documented how to use systems, or found a faster way to get work done, that was AI training in disguise.

If you’ve ever built a forecast, made decisions with limited data, or balanced priorities under pressure, you’ve already been practising how AI thinks.

It doesn’t need you to code. It needs you to be clear about the problem, precise about the outcome, and curious about better ways to get there.

If you’ve ever:

• Fixed a clunky process that wasted time
• Turned messy data into a clear report
• Built a marketing or sales funnel that converts
• Or just said, “There’s got to be a better way”

Then you’ve already been training for AI. Same logic. Different interface. AI doesn’t replace your thinking, it multiplies it.

I’ve seen it first-hand. A logistics company used AI to predict delivery delays – not because they had data scientists, but because an operations manager knew which signals mattered. A law firm used AI to summarise contracts – not because anyone wrote code, but because a partner asked, “How do we reduce review time without increasing risk?”

Without your context, it’s just maths.

“That’s why the biggest wins in AI aren’t coming from people chasing the latest model. They’re coming from leaders who know their business inside out and ask better questions.”

Still, I get it. The pressure is real. Your peers are sharing their AI wins. Competitors are running pilots. Executives are asking about ROI. It’s not panic – it’s pressure.

But here’s the truth. You don’t need to “get into AI.” Start by solving a problem you already care about – just with a little AI help.

Use it to build a proposal faster. Clean up a spreadsheet. Draft a report or meeting summary.

You don’t need a roadmap. You just need curiosity and five minutes. Once you see the return, you’ll find time for the rest.

“Because this isn’t about catching up – it’s about cashing in.”

You’ve been building the very muscles AI now amplifies: logic, reasoning, structure, curiosity.

AI isn’t something out there. It’s already woven into the work you do. You’ve been preparing for this for years. You just didn’t call it AI.

The next generation of leaders won’t be defined by who knows the most about algorithms. They’ll be defined by who can connect AI’s potential to business value fastest – with clarity and confidence.