AI: Open 'University Of Success'

2024 has me on the horns of a dilemma.. the paradox of recognizing that AI could be the greatest time-saving summarizer of facts & principles in all texts versus missing the heart & soul invested by scribes into their entire publications.

Welcome to issue 65 of 1idea.

In issue 64 of 1idea - Past. Present. Future. Musings From My 70th Year - 2024 - I point out why AI, for the layperson at least, is a boon for the instant-generation used to getting their messages in bite-size chunks (think X - formally Twitter; TikTok; WhatsApp).

Today, most books & videos can be instantly summarized by AI.

As I caught sight of a much-used, dog-eared, 50-year-old book on my shelves - Og Mandino's University of Success (publ. 1982) - two thoughts struck me:

1. Isn't that just what AI will represent for many - an OPEN 'university of success' - the ability to get all the information needed on any subject at any time.
2. Would anyone ever again take the time to read, study & apply the 50 Lessons (chapters) contained in the 521 pages of Mandino's book.

The dilemma, for me, is clearly that I have 20 to 30 books on my shelves that I regard as totally life-changing for anyone to absorb, amongst 100s that I can label as 'awesome & inspiring'.

In the instant / AI age, will such deeply-personal, caringly-produced content be consumed in its entirety?

Or, will there be a need for authors to produce their story-telling content into bite-size chunks?

I just witnessed a young family-member return from a class at mid-high school, setting aside her compulsory-purchase, very expensive, beautifully-printed set-workbook (with sample diagrams & working examples fully explained in color) for a print-out black-and-white summary of the year's syllabus & lesson-notes that the teacher pronounced that she will be following. What?!!!!!

Does this signal a current-day dismissal of mass-content (set-workbooks) in favor of summarized content that someone knows is what is required to pass a subject in any one year? It is concerning enough for me to keep a close eye on this apparent tussle between shallow summaries versus deep-content research.

So, I am deliberately attempting to balance this article between the providing of bite-size chunks of information versus the more voluminous free-flow writing of thoughts that I more commonly share. It is a tussle between short-copy, long-copy.. or both!

Try these AI exercises with me:

Go to Phind.com : Prompt it with - 'Og Mandino's University Of Success'

Extract/s: ANSWER | PHIND V9 MODEL

• "Og Mandino's University of Success" is a compilation of works from some of the greatest success authorities in the world. It is structured as a university curriculum, divided into ten semesters, each focused on different aspects of success.
• 'Each semester covers a different aspect of success, including taking stock of where you are now, developing a vision for your life, aligning your thoughts with your desires, becoming your own cheerleader, mastering time, attracting money, enlisting the aid of other people, dealing with the challenges of success, maintaining your success, and enjoying your success.
• 'As a set workbook, "Og Mandino's University of Success" can serve as a comprehensive guide to personal and professional success. Its structure allows for systematic exploration of the concepts of success, making it a suitable tool for both self-study and group study.'

Go to Perplexity.ai : Prompt it with - 'Og Mandino's University of Success'

• 'Og Mandino's University of Success is a self-help book that contains the wisdom and success secrets of some of the greatest success authorities in the world. The book is edited by Og Mandino, who is one of the most widely read inspirational and self-help authors in the world. The faculty he has assembled includes such celebrities as Dr. Wayne W. Dyer, Dale Carnegie, W. Clement Stone, Napoleon Hill, George S. Clason, Nena and George O’Neil, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Michael Korda, Lord Beaverbrook, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, and many more winners in life. The book is a collection of principles written by great people who have found success in their own rights.
• 'Some of the key principles in the book include the importance of self-discipline, persistence, positive attitude, goal setting, and the power of imagination. The book also emphasizes the importance of taking action, learning from failure, and developing good habits. Additionally, the book stresses the importance of enjoying success and finding satisfaction in one's achievements.'

Now, I'd like YOU to source a copy of Mandino's book and compare the above summaries to the ACTUAL reading of the collection of 50 book & article extracts contained therein. The idea is to do that for a number of AI summarized books and articles to get an idea of what you might be missing.. or not!

I went back and re-read the book again, and am blown-away at how much of it inspired much of what I and many of my partners & colleagues built-in to our many past & present enterprises, projects, books and articles, such as: The Academy of Learning; It's So Simple!; Growth Holdings; all of the former you can read about in Confessions of a SERIAL Entrepreneur ; then onto WISDOMS ? - World Center for Life & Business Success; and WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City ; amongst many others.

Mandino cites English philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795 -1881), who explained: 'If we think about it, all that a university or final highest school can do for us, is all but what the first school began doing - teach us to read.. the place where we are to get knowledge, even theoretic knowledge, is the books themselves. It depends on what we read, after all manners of professors have done their best for us. The true university of these days is a collection of books!'

Hoo boy! I imagine.. that old quote might stir up some of today's college professors, and stimulate some interesting AI debates on the topic.

The point really is.. will we allow AI to summarize all content (articles, books, set-work books, et al) into bite-size chunks, and thereby bypass or miss the very heart & soul essence of each author's intention in reflectively sharing their thoughts for others to learn from and apply if they so wish?

I suppose it is all about the BALANCE of information that YOU prefer. It is really up to YOU.. and me! Especially if AI is to be your OPEN University Of Success. Can anyone now stop YOU getting the information YOU need to be successful in YOUR endeavors? I doubt it.

Please feel free to comment below.

If you're new to us it is recommended that you read issue 1: One Idea is All it Takes

About:?Trevor Nel is an 'ideas-generating machine' and co-founder of WISDOMS ?. You can connect with WISDOMS? and become: 1. a PATRON and/or; 2. a PLAYER , and/or; 3. a PARTNER - follow each link for more info.

Next week:

Trevor Nel?is author of One Idea Is All It Takes and numerous publications & articles, including :

1. Another GREAT Day in Africa!
2. Confessions of a SERIAL Entrepreneur
3. Here's How To Be Well-Prepared For YOUR Cycles Of Success
4. Here's How YOU Can Make A Meaningful Difference In Other People's Lives
5. COMRADES Marathon: Metaphor For The Marathon Of Life
6. Riding the wild, wild River Of Life
7. Life Lessons Learnt as a Dusi Rat
8. Some simple life lessons learnt from 50 Midmar Miles

This post is brought to you by Trevor Nel co- developer of WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City - in collaboration with 1idea ? - the digital newsletter that explores the simple idea that just one idea can be all it takes to change YOUR entire life & business.

Coming soon.. to WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City of the world: Preview the "Milliondollarize? Your Business Ideas"? masterclass - and learn how to turn YOUR ideas into profitable ventures. Discover the secrets to creating and executing million-dollar ideas in this exclusive masterclass, designed for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders seeking a transformative experience.

Get your copy of The DifferenceMaker? e-book - Making a Difference in YOUR life by Making a Difference in the Lives of OTHERS . Available now for only $3 - Note: this e-book is included FREE to our Patreon members (see WISDOMS? DifferenceMakers? In Every City for membership details).

In this e-book we introduce you to the 10 simple, yet profound, principles that are the foundation of the more in-depth personal journey of The DifferenceMaker? Program.