vol 21 | April 14th, 2025

After spending some time in Atlanta with friends and family, Kaylee and I are heading to Mexico this week for some much-needed couple time. Since becoming a parent, I've had to get a lot more intentional about protecting time to be a husband, too. Oh, and I just finished the manuscript for my book! Can't wait to share more..

Leaked memo: "Don't hire, use AI instead"

Last week, an internal memo from Shopify co-founder and CEO Tobi Lutke leaked online, where he shared that "AI usage is now a baseline expectation" at his company. There are other elements of this memo that make it worth reading in full, but this note on hiring stuck out to me:

If you're wondering how you can AI-proof your career, I've got a few suggestions:

1. Learn how to use AI: One of the best parts about any popular AI tool is that it makes an excellent tutor for learning AI. A prompt as simple as "How do you work?" can lead you down a rabbit hole that can teach you so much. Beyond that, try to think of ways to demonstrate your knowledge of these tools on your resume. If you're currently employed, bring a proposal to your manager for how you'd like to run an AI pilot project in your organization.
2. Build skills that AI can't replace: The best AI tool around can never replicate a large professional network and solid professional relationships. Now, more than ever, is the opportunity to lean into the more human aspects of your career. Seek opportunities to have face-to-face interactions at conferences and events and in the office. And this is a perfect time to start building your online reputation as a Career Creator.

You got this.

My camera roll

Some favorites from my camera roll recently:

Career Creator Corner

Stop trying to educate. Offer understanding instead

I came across this post on Threads that really stuck with me:

In the age of ChatGPT, Gemini, and other sophisticated tools, knowledge is cheap. Free, basically. So you showing up everyday to only "educate your audience" is a losing battle in my opinion.

But no one can replicate feeling seen, or heard, with your unique POV. If you're making somewhat educational content, I'd think about how you can better relate to who you're talking to as well.

All too often, the videos I make that feel like I'm talking to literally one person, are the ones that go the most viral.

What I'm reading, watching, and listening to:

Becoming a Sellout, The Last of Us, and my Drake marathon

I came across this article in Vox on how social media is changing the creative industry. Fair warning: it's quite cynical. But I do think it illustrates just how important it is in today's world to be posting online. Whether you are a creative or in corporate, building your own audience is the key to more exposure and better opportunities.

I've never played the games, but I was addicted to the HBO TV adaption of The Last of Us during their first season. It's a zombie apocalypse story, but with so much more plot and character development than the usual slaughter-fest. Season 2 dropped last night, and I am so glad my Sunday Rot Slot™ is now filled since White Lotus ended.

I spent a lot of time in the car this past weekend visiting family and friends in Atlanta. And I ended up listening to the last 10 years of Drake albums I had on my phone. It actually had me reflecting on how our careers naturally evolve over time as we evolve as people and that we shouldn't be afraid of that process. Thanks, Drake!

That's all for this week! I hope you enjoyed this edition, and if you have any feedback, questions, or just want to say hey, just respond to this message!

See you soon,

Colin