Leveraging AI as a catalyst for growth in business and beyond

Deep fakes, chat GPT, self-driving vehicles, autonomous labor—whether our innovations will surpass humanity is an emerging 21st-century challenge that has reignited our culture of fear. Our economic landscape is changing by the day, and people are being confronted by the real possibility that AI will take their jobs.

In this article, I articulate what Intentionality can teach us about evading this singularity and forging ahead to a future where technological advancements enhance our talents. Instead of being threatened by AI, we can embrace this as an opportunity to explore what makes us innately human and separates us from machines: our creativity, our capacity to feel, and our cognitive abilities.?

The biggest thing that I see differentiating us from AI is our innate ability to feel. For too long, feelings have been seen as a liability in business, but when harnessed, they can guide effective decision-making and meet customers' needs more authentically. Emotions are the fabric of our existence, the essence of what makes us truly human. And yet, in the realm of business, feelings have often been viewed as a liability—a distraction from the cold, hard logic of profit and efficiency.

But what if we were to flip that narrative on its head? What if we were to recognize and harness the power of emotions as a guiding force in business?

Consider this: when we tap into our emotions, we gain invaluable insights into the needs, desires, and aspirations of our customers. Instead of relying solely on data and analytics, we can cultivate a deeper understanding of the human experience, leading to more authentic connections and resonant solutions.

For example, do you recall the popular but nonsensical saying, "It's not personal; it's just business?" This is just not true. When you have had a challenging day at work, it's doubtful that you will come home full of energy and in good spirits. Or vice versa, when you fight with your spouse, it's highly unlikely that it won't affect your energy and output at work. The more you can acknowledge your emotions, the more you can work through them, and the less they will hijack your energy and decision-making.?

When I started my private wealth management business, I never shared anything that might be going awry in my personal life because I thought this would devalue my credibility, and my clients might think less of me. Instead, it backfired, and when I got divorced, some of my clients were even angry with me because they felt misled. I realized that I missed opportunities for authentic and deeper connections and that this likely would have contributed to more trusting business relationships. Now, with everyone I work with, I share my personal experiences, especially when I'm having a challenging day. I've seen that people are naturally compassionate, and it can also open up space for them to relate to or share something they are going through that is similar.?

Another example is with my career as a keynote speaker. The truth is, people aren't paying for my intellect; they want to know my stories, my personal journey, and how I've transmuted my challenges into success. Everything that I share is universal knowledge, just presented through my lens of Intentionality, and it's all about the delivery and energy I give my audiences.?

Embracing our capacity to feel doesn't make us weak—it makes us stronger, more attuned, and more effective leaders. It allows us to create workplaces where authenticity thrives, innovation flourishes, and employees feel valued and empowered. Imagine a world where businesses operate not just with their heads but with their hearts. Where compassion and intuition are valued as essential tools in decision-making. In this paradigm, success isn't measured solely by profit margins or market share but by the positive impact we have on people's lives.

The sole reason that the fear of AI is effective is that it is by design, and it is a product of a capitalist world where our identity and our self-worth are inextricably tied to our profession. When we are told to fear the machines eclipsing our labor, what we are also being told is that these machines are stealing our purpose, dignity, and meaning in life. But this is a story being told to keep us in survival mode, to keep us in the existing conditioning most of the world lives in — with the belief that money and work are what will bring meaning to our lives.

Now don't get me wrong, I have concerns about AI and the ways its being implemented, but feeding it with fear only enhances the negative power it can have over us. And being ignorant isn't helpful either because AI is here to stay whether we like it or not. The truth is that this a complicated topic, but what I can definitively and succinctly say here is this:

Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize industries, streamline processes, and improve efficiency, but it is never going to be able to have the uniquely human experience of cultivating a feeling - for you or your customers.

When we can understand the paradigm shift of viewing AI as an ally rather than a threat, we can rediscover our innate creativity and experience previously unimaginable breakthroughs.?

Collaborating with AI enables us to amplify our skills and capabilities and enhances our decision-making; we can then offload the mind-numbing and energy-sucking tasks that are not in our zone of genius.??

Let's reclaim our humanity and recognize emotions as the powerful, transformative force they truly are. By doing so, we can chart a new course—one guided by intuition, fueled by passion, and rooted in the profound understanding that, ultimately, it's our ability to feel that makes us truly extraordinary.