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Articles

Ideas worth keeping, not just publishing

AI agents

3 min article

10

The JAR Framework for Business AI Agents

Give a business AI agent a clear job, defined authority, and regular review so it keeps producing what you expect.

Assign the agent a specific job instead of a generic goal

  • Assign the agent a specific job instead of a generic goal
  • Define what information it can access and what it can say
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Automation

2 min article

11

When Automation Has No ROI

A working automation can still waste time and tokens. Judge it by the outcome, and kill it when the simpler option works better.

A technically working automation can still have no return.

  • A technically working automation can still have no return.
  • Compare the automated process with the fastest simple alternative.
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AI implementation

2 min article

12

Keep Your AI Blast Radius Small

A practical sequence for simplifying work, using conventional automation, and adding AI without taking on more risk than necessary.

Simplify the workflow before adding technology.

  • Simplify the workflow before adding technology.
  • Use conventional automation when it can do the job.
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Business systems

2 min article

13

Starting Business Systems Is the Hardest Part

Starting can be the most daunting part of putting systems into a business. Once the work is moving, the skills and benefits begin to follow.

The initial start often takes the most effort.

  • The initial start often takes the most effort.
  • Building systems develops the skills to keep improving them.
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AI governance

2 min article

14

Your Business Needs a Ministry of Magic

When anyone can vibe code a business tool, someone still needs to keep the models, data, security, stability, and architecture accountable.

Easy software creation can produce rogue tools with little accountability.

  • Easy software creation can produce rogue tools with little accountability.
  • Businesses need visibility into models, data location, security, stability, and architecture.
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Operations

3 min article

15

Catch the Work Before You Automate It

Learn a small habit for spotting repetitive work and choosing one worthwhile change to test before reaching for AI.

Notice recurring work before choosing a tool.

  • Notice recurring work before choosing a tool.
  • Use LIFT to compare which task is worth changing first.
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Operations

2 min article

16

The Cheapest Automation Might Be Deleting the Step

Before you automate a clumsy workflow step, check whether the business would be better off without it.

Automating a bad step only makes the bad step faster.

  • Automating a bad step only makes the bad step faster.
  • Extra interaction can make a useful tool harder to use.
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AI

2 min article

17

Cheap AI Coding Can Still Make Software More Expensive

AI coding accounts are cheap. The surrounding work and the time pulled away from your business can make the finished software much more expensive.

Coding is only one part of getting software ready for people to use.

  • Coding is only one part of getting software ready for people to use.
  • Data integrity, tenancy, networking, integrations, and polish still take time.
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Business systems

3 min article

18

Build Systems Before Your Company Is Perfect

A practical way to start building useful business systems while your company and deliverables are still changing.

Your company does not need to be perfect before you document how it works.

  • Your company does not need to be perfect before you document how it works.
  • Start with repeatable supporting work such as lead intake, sales, and customer satisfaction.
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