Your AI Isn't Underperforming. You Are. (Let's Fix That.)

Are you getting lukewarm, "meh" results from AI?

You're not alone—and it's not the tech's fault.

We expected magic and are getting mediocre.

But settling for 'good enough' isn't just costing you time and business—it's robbing you of great ideas.

It's time to stop blaming AI and start challenging your own creative approach.

So, maybe it’s time to rewrite the rules and turn that AI from a mediocre tool, into an extension of your innovative genius.

We live in a world drowning in the ordinary, where AI has inadvertently become an enabler of the predictable.

Today, we’re going to dismantle that and explore how to turn AI into a force multiplier.

Ready to elevate your game?

Let's get started.

The Problem Isn't AI. It's Your Brain's Laziness.

Here’s the painful truth: when your AI outputs are underwhelming, your mind may be the reason.

Human brains are wired to seek the easiest path (it's an energy saver for our energy-consumptive brains); we inadvertently accept whatever works…instead of striving to create things that are brilliant.

It's this tendency that allows AI to become more of an enabler of ‘ok’, instead of a catalyst for ‘great’.

We hit "generate" and then accept what appears, thinking that this will do – instead of making AI fight for its keep.

We're wired to settle. We "satisfice," as Herbert Simon put it, choosing the first solution that's good enough instead of pushing for great. It's time to ditch the 'okay' mindset; unleash excellence in yourself and your team

• Actionable Insight: Before you even think about your AI tools, define your version of ‘great’. What does that look like, specifically? Then hold it up against every AI response you get and be honest. Does the output match the ambition? If not - push for better.

AI: A Powerful Tool, Not a Creative Savior

AI helps you avoid bad ideas, but it can also prevent you from discovering truly great ones

In some ways it's trained to exist within the average, to play it safe, providing something unchallenging and safe.

It tends to provide, therefore, what is expected rather than truly original.

I'm sure you've heard people say (repeatedly) garbage in, garbage out—that's AI if you treat it like a default. This tool has staggering potential; don't squander it.

The value doesn't come from AI thinking for you but in augmenting, becoming an engine to supercharge your creativity and ideation process.

The level of brilliance your AI outputs depends on your commitment and intentions. Remember the goal is not to make better AI outputs but to force the machine to amplify your thoughts.

• Actionable Insight: Don’t view AI output as an ending point, but a beginning. When you see a “good” result ask: how can this be made better? Ask for more ideas. Different points of view, angles, and directions. You are trying to break down AI thinking into parts to push your understanding of your own potential.

Five Core Strategies to Truly Leverage AI

All right, let's cut to the chase. Here are the five core strategies that will transform how you interact with AI, and unlock its true potential:

1.???? Start with Voice: Ditch the keyboard. Engage with AI through voice. Tools like OpenAI's Whisper are great for this. Let your thoughts wander, allow for tangents, and don't get stuck in perfection (for the other perfectionists out there :). The shift from typing to speaking can free up your brain, allowing for a more playful and creative interaction. Think of it as a brainstorming session where you're saying your thoughts out loud. This creates flow rather than forced precision.

• Actionable Insight: Next time you interact with AI, start by speaking, allowing your thoughts to unfold naturally. Don't worry about perfect phrasing – just talk it out as if you were brainstorming with a colleague.

2.???? The Messy First Draft: Don't aim for prompt perfection initially. Think of this first interaction with AI as a way to explore the possibilities, not define the output. Embrace the messy... AI can take chaotic input and refine it, so let your opening prompts be that creative playground where anything is possible. This frees your brain up to wonder, rather than be constricted by rigid structures and formulas.

• Actionable Insight: Stop overthinking your first prompts. Let them be an exploration and maybe even a little random. Embrace the unknown and see what the AI builds upon it.

3.???? Reverse the Questions: Stop tasking and start collaborating. Ask your AI what it needs from you to provide better output; how can you help it to think more creatively, and how can your inputs push it toward higher standards of output? Challenge it to explain its responses. This can create a more productive relationship with the tool, transforming it from following instructions to co-strategist.

• Actionable Insight: Instead of focusing solely on what you need, ask AI "What information would help you provide a better or 10X response?" or "How can I ask this question differently to find new insights?" Let it drive the information flow for a change.

4.???? Demand Explanations, Not Just Results: It’s time to move from simply consuming AI outputs to understanding how those outputs were generated. After every output you appreciate, specifically ask: "Why is this good?" or "What makes this a good answer?" Force the machine to break down its process, this will help you understand how the machine thinks, and where the gaps might lie; transforming your creative journey into one of learning and growth. This creates a feedback loop that benefits you both.

• Actionable Insight: ask AI to explain its process. What data influenced the output? Why is one recommendation better than another? Use this opportunity to learn its thinking and make your approach to output all the more powerful.

5.???? Refine and Iterate: Never settle for the first AI output, or even the first ‘good’ AI output. Always treat the initial result as a starting point. Use the 'regenerate' button like it's a superpower, forcing the AI to provide you with multiple, different angles and perspectives, so you can find the strongest possible solutions. This transforms AI from being a solution-generator into your critical-thinking partner.

• Actionable Insight: Treat the 'regenerate' button as your new best friend. Don't just settle for 'good enough', keep pushing the machine, iterate and refine relentlessly, and push the boundaries at every step.

Final Thoughts: It's All On You (And That's Great News)

AI isn’t going to deliver your career's big breakthroughs for you. However, if you use AI in creative, demanding, and iterative ways, you will.

The challenge, therefore, lies within you: stop settling for “good enough”, and start pushing your creative boundaries. Demand excellence, don't settle for average, and use AI to transform your creativity to new heights of achievement.

So, here's the thing. You're ready, you have all the knowledge you need, so… will you choose the ordinary or something much, much more exciting?

Over to you…

Let me know what you think – or share some of your strategies for using AI as a way to augment your abilities.

I'm always learning, and you should be too :).