First, the printing press made knowledge and information distributable to those who could read.
Then, terrestrial radio and television broadcast knowledge and information to anyone with the hardware to receive the signals.
Next came the searchable internet which connected hardware so that the whole planet (mostly) could share knowledge and information.
Now, we are experiencing the transforming experience of artificial intelligence. With cohesion, prediction, and some semblance of cognition, AI now is offering recommendations based on the connected knowledge and information available throughout the world.
All that we know, now, is not only searchable, it’s also being delivered with a degree of specificity and utility never before achieved.
Want a letter written for a special occasion? Want a workout plan for a teenager? Want to create a speech for a donor dinner? All that, and far more, can be completed in seconds.
In this new world, then, how can individual humans add value? How can we enhance the connected wisdom, knowledge, and information that is within our immediate grasp?
Perhaps our value-add, as humans (and as professionals more specifically) looks very much like it always has. Perhaps our real value-add comes not from utilizing resources from around the globe, but, instead, comes from utilizing the resources within ourselves.
Our efforts to build trust with others.
Our willingness to encourage others.
Our consistency.
Our determination and grit.
Our genuineness.
Our willingness to make others feel special and included.
Our hopefulness.
Access to knowledge and information matter, of course.
But maybe how we choose to approach each day and how determined we are to positively impact the emotional worlds of others matters more.
This article was originally posted on Jason’s Blog in November 2023. To read more, visit www.jasonmcneal.com.
