In short, turn every “generic” decision into a specific choice.

All AI-generated interfaces look the same because they are all following a generic template. To be fair, what AI can do is far better than what the vast majority of humans can do when it comes to design.

But it’s not better than what the top tier of professionals can do.

The difference is in intentionality and meaning.

On Behance, you’ll see countless examples of amateur designers doing something flashy because it looks cool.

But it seldom has meaning other than the looks.

The best designers start from something that looks cool, and then keep pushing:

• Ask “why” about every major design decision. Can we inject more meaning or significance into this decision?

• Use natural language to talk about the design problem. What is the product called? What does it mean? What are we selling? Is there any way to put that meaning into this design decision?

• How can a seemingly random design element tell a deeper story?

These explorations won’t always work out. But a design that has thought about these questions will always be better than one that is just cool for the sake of cool.

My brother has always talked about the path to happiness. Fundamentally, it’s about acknowledging that we can’t change the past, so which decisions/actions can we take right now that will lead to happiness?

But few of us ever put this into practice. The Netflix show Beef is about what happens when people can’t let go of a small slight and how it spirals into greater misery.

Someone bumped our car? Let it go. That’s the path to happiness.

But instead, so many of us believe that we have to get even. Vengeance is never a path to happiness.

Seneca said: “…the one who is indeed a great spirit and a true judge of his own worth takes no vengeance for an injury, because he just doesn’t feel it.”

On the contrary, a book written by a certain president once said, "When somebody screws you, screw them back in spades.”

Of course, it's up to us whether we want to read or listen to a book like that.

Or be that kind of leader.

You can do EVERYTHING right and still fail (or everything wrong and still win).

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn used to talk about “the soil and the seed and the sunshine and the rain.”

As a big believer in the concept of mental models to help us make sense of our lives and careers, this is a powerful model I keep coming back to.

Technically speaking, we can do everything right and plant the right kind of seed in the right kind of soil at the right time of year… and nothing will grow.

We cannot guarantee that food will come from following the process. Just ask every civilization before ours what they struggled with most.

BUT, the metaphor says that IF we do the right things, a good result tends to follow.

Whether that’s marketing, thought leadership, company culture building or any other “soft” discipline, when we build the right kind of systems, good results tend to follow.

We cannot guarantee results. That’s just silly.

But to quote Westley from The Princess Bride, “anyone who says differently is selling something.”

And it’s a shame, because I was blown away by it.

But all of this is temporary.

If you don’t feel like you’re making literal magic with AI every day…

…you’re not taking advantage of this moment.

It’s an AI bonanza!

But my favorite model can disappear overnight! you say.

But AI subscription costs will increase! you say.

Almost certainly. Claude Code will likely soon be $2,000/mo., and small business owners will happily pay it. (I’ll happily pay it. Cough.)

But like all things in life: the only thing we can do is focus on (and take advantage of) this moment in time. Right now.

“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may…”

For who knows how long cheap AI will last.

The first trillionaire was just minted.

We now live in a world where one man can have more wealth than the GDP of all but the top 20 countries.

…while 27 million people under 65 in the US lack health insurance.

…while around 673 million humans experience chronic hunger in the world.

…while 2.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water.

SpaceX? It’s a cool company, no doubt.

But this is not a milestone to be celebrated. This is a global tragedy.

And if there’s one thing I hope super intelligent AI can do better than we barely-evolved apes can, it would be to manage and distribute resources far better than we have done.