The Analog Path to AI Mastery
Countless enterprise AI initiatives launched and failed in 2025. However, that’s less of a commentary on the usefulness of the technology, and more so a glimpse into the shortcomings of the enterprise mindset.
Which means that AI is still marching onward to confront SMBs and solopreneurs. And thankfully, the enterprise leaders have already shown us what not to do.
So, rather than doom ourselves to leap off the same AI cliff as early-adopting enterprise organizations, this week we’re taking a look at what business leaders and their teams need to do to prepare for the inevitable integration of AI into their operations.
While the “well-intentioned” AI-insider folks out there are suggesting the best strategy for us all is to upgrade our Claude subscriptions and vibe code an app that will be deprecated six months from now, I’d like to suggest a more viable approach to surviving in the age of AI.
1.) Get organized
“Do as I say, not as I do” works about as well with AI as it does with children. When it’s all said and done, they will follow your example over what you tell (prompt) them to do. So set yourself up for success by getting your operations house in order before you decide to introduce AI into your business.
First impressions form the foundation for everything that follows, and that is the case here. If you don’t know where to start, check out our “What’s Happening at FTLOS” section below for a new service we’re beta testing for free with three newsletter subscribers.
2.) Focus on process
AI operates at the task level, so you’ll need to transition to visualizing your business operations as a convergent flow of processes and tasks, rather than an arrangement of roles in an organizational hierarchy.
At our Main Street Summit talk “Think Like Software to Scale” in 2023, we introduced a framework we created called Business Mapping that facilitates the transition from people-oriented to process-oriented operations.
Our Business Mapping framework is built into the functionality of our free Delegation Planner, and will be helpful to anyone embracing this perspective shift.
Okay, this last one sounds ridiculous at first, but hear me out…
3.) Read more, and cook from recipes
Constructing robust descriptions and assembling coherent, logical sequences of operations are non-negotiable skills when it comes to working with AI.
But you don't need to spend hours watching YouTube videos on effective prompt engineering. Instead, build these skills through lifestyle habits that actually enrich your life: reading quality prose and cooking from recipes.
Allow me to explain.
What we read shapes how we think and communicate. And we, on average, spend almost 1 hour per day consuming short-form content, according to Deloitte’s 2025 Digital Media Trends report. This is not good for getting our brains to “think like software” because AI needs long-form information and guidelines to provide successful outputs.
In other words: AI needs minds shaped by authors who craft vivid imagery and nuanced narratives, not IG carousels, LinkedIn Shorts, or hot takes on X.
Meanwhile, cooking from recipes helps your brain be more process-driven, with every recipe containing a series of sequential steps that require attention to context and components. This is exactly the type of instruction that AI wants from you.
We all need to eat, we all need entertainment, and we all need to upskill for AI. Why not accomplish all three through your lifestyle? 📚🍰🧐
Our Approach vs. Going Analog
There's been a lot of chatter around "going analog" as a defense against the digital age, but I want to clarify that we're reframing the idea of going analog as a strategy for success in the age of AI.
There’s no escaping it, and honestly, we’ve found some really helpful uses for it in For the Love of Systems that save us time and get us out of the “busy work” so many of us dread.
So what should you do?
Read a novel before bed. Follow a new recipe for a weekend dinner. Organize your operations before adding new tools.
These aren't retreats from technology—they're the small actions and habits that prepare our brains to harness technology’s full potential.