Why the IBM CEO Report Matters to Everyone—Not Just CEOs
Curious? Read the full IBM report here:
🔗 The CEO's Clarity Crisis
IBM recently released a 2025 report titled “The CEO’s Clarity Crisis: 5 Mind Shifts for Growth.” While it's aimed at business leaders, I found it surprisingly relevant to everyday life. In fact, I’d argue that anyone—regardless of job title—can benefit from the insights in this report.
The presentation is clean and impactful, but more importantly, the message is clear: the future belongs to those willing to rethink how they work, make decisions, and integrate AI. And that doesn’t just apply to corporations—it applies to all of us.
How AI Is Already Helping Me Every Day
One of the report’s central themes is that innovation and adaptability are essential in the face of uncertainty. For me, that’s meant using AI to simplify my own life. I built an AI agent using n8n that acts as my personal assistant. Every morning, it sends me:
The top news stories
Weather and air quality updates
My calendar tasks
A recommendation for how to tackle the day
This setup helps me focus on what matters, instead of getting bogged down by repetitive decisions or forgotten details.
Think about the small, repetitive tasks you do each day—the ones you don’t enjoy. There’s a good chance AI could handle them. Sure, some tools cost money, but many—like ChatGPT—are affordable or even free. And the time they save might be worth far more than their price.
The 5 Mind Shifts for Growth (In Plain English)
Here’s a summary of the key shifts IBM recommends for growth in an AI-powered world—and why they matter far beyond the C-suite:
1. Make Courage Your Core
Use both data and direction to move quickly, but with purpose. It’s about making steady progress even when the path ahead isn’t fully clear.
2. Embrace AI-Fueled Creative Destruction
Sometimes, growth means letting go of the old. AI will change how we work—so holding onto outdated systems or habits will only slow you down.
Example: I saw a YouTube demo of an AI voice agent calling people to ask about products they were selling. Now imagine a business using this kind of tech to confirm appointments or check in with customers. The AI could log the conversation, summarize it, and even help schedule follow-ups—freeing up your team for more meaningful work.
3. Cultivate a Vibrant Data Environment
Technology should make life easier, not more complicated. AI doesn’t need to replace people—but it should empower them.
Yes, that kind of line can sound like something out of Orwell’s 1984, so we need to approach AI with care. This technology is likely to grow, not go away. The more we educate ourselves on its capabilities and risks, the more we can shape how it serves society—rather than be shaped by it.
For example, salespeople shouldn’t be buried in admin work. With AI handling the repetitive parts, they can focus on building real relationships—the human part of business that really matters.
4. Ignore FOMO, Lean into ROI
You don’t need to chase every flashy new AI tool. Instead, focus on building strong systems that deliver real value—and make sure your foundation is solid enough to grow with the technology.
5. Borrow the Talent You Can’t Buy
You don’t need to hire a massive AI team. You can use smart tools to amplify your own capabilities. For instance, ChatGPT has helped me with everything from writing and research to workout routines and weekly meal prep. Every Sunday, I get a custom meal plan and shopping list—so all I have to do is shop and cook.
Final Thoughts: AI Isn’t Replacing Us—It’s Assisting Us
I get it—saying “AI is doing the thinking for me” can sound a little scary. But for me, it feels more like having a personal assistant I never could’ve afforded before.
There are tasks I simply don’t want to spend my energy on—and that’s okay. Offloading the busywork lets me focus on the things that really matter, whether that’s personal growth, creative work, or meaningful relationships.
If we use AI thoughtfully, it won’t make us less human. It will make us more focused, more present, and more empowered.
Transparency Note:
I want to be clear that I use large language models (like ChatGPT) to help edit some of my blogs—including this one. My goal is to focus on researching interesting topics and getting my ideas out quickly and clearly.
Here’s how I typically work:
I research and brainstorm with tools like ChatGPT.
I explore related articles and YouTube videos to deepen my understanding.
I jot down notes and form a rough draft based on the ideas I want to communicate.
Finally, I use GPT to refine the language—cleaning up grammar and improving flow.
Some people may see this as “cheating,” but I see it as efficient communication. Like the IBM article discusses, I’m using AI to enhance my ability to share ideas—not to replace them. What used to take hours of editing, I can now do faster and with more clarity.
This blog reflects my research, thoughts, and voice—GPT just helped polish it. And I believe that’s exactly the kind of assistive role AI should play: helping us communicate better, not replacing the thinking that goes into what we say.
