You're Not Behind

People feel behind because AI is moving fast.

New models every month. New tools every week. New capabilities that make last month's approach obsolete.

It's exhausting. And the feeling of being behind? It's almost universal.

But here's what I need you to understand: if you're reading, learning, and experimenting - you're early, not late.

The Reality Check

Most businesses haven't started.

Not really. They've played with ChatGPT. Maybe automated a report or two. But the deep integration? The systems thinking? The cultural shift?

Still ahead for almost everyone.

You might feel behind because you're paying attention. You see what's possible and compare it to where you are.

That gap feels like failure. It's actually awareness.

Progress Compounds Differently

Progress isn't about keeping up with everything. That's impossible. Nobody can track every model, every tool, every development.

Progress is about building durable understanding. Learning principles that transfer. Developing intuition that compounds.

The person who deeply understands one AI workflow beats the person who's tried 50 tools superficially. Depth wins.

The Scout Model

This is why I built Ads to AI as a community.

The scout runs ahead. Tests things. Takes the arrows. Returns with clarity.

That's my job. I run ahead so you don't have to track everything. I filter the noise. I tell you what actually matters.

Your job isn't to keep up with AI. Your job is to keep up with your work - and use AI where it helps.

What Actually Matters

Here's what I'd focus on if I were starting today:

1. •

   Get comfortable with one model. Really comfortable. Learn its strengths and weaknesses.

2. •

   Automate one workflow. Something you do regularly. Make it work.

3. •

   Build trust through repetition. Do it 50 times. See what you learn.

That's it. Everything else is noise until those three are solid.

A Calming Truth

The people who seem ahead? They started exactly where you are. They just started earlier.

Starting now means you'll be "ahead" to everyone who starts next year.

The best time to start was last year. The second best time is today.

You're not behind. You're just beginning.