Happy Think-Backwards Monday,
I want to teach you how to successfully guarantee failure when it comes to leveraging AI to grow your organization.
CHARLIE MUNGER HAD A TRICK for solving hard problems. Instead of asking "how do I succeed," he'd ask "how would I absolutely guarantee failure," then just avoid all of that. He called it Inversion Thinking. Warren Buffett became the richest man in the world and credits Munger's help for his success, so I'd say it works.
So let's invert. If I wanted to make sure AI never ever ever worked at your nonprofit, here's exactly what I'd have you believe.
Believe AI is just for emails and editing. Limit it to the writing box. Never let it near your grant research, your board reports, your donor strategy, or your financial reconciliation. It'll be like using your entire Colorado Gives Day campaign to raise $200 for printer ink
Do not touch AI because of the ethical and environmental concerns you heard about. Don't come up with your own conclusions based on your investigation. Listen to what the public says about how scary AI is. Never ask whether those concerns justify avoiding every possible use of AI, including low-risk uses that could strengthen your mission.
Believe you don't want Google or Microsoft "in your system" accessing your PII. Someone wise told me it's like a dishwasher already installed in your house. You didn't invite it in this morning. It's already there, installed and waiting. You can use it or hand-wash every dish for the rest of your life. Your organization may already trust Microsoft or Google with sensitive information through Excel, and Sheets. So don't investigate whether the AI tools inside that same ecosystem have appropriate protections for your organization. And definitely don't think of AI as another capability inside the software environment you're already paying for.
Believe AI is for the youngins. Let the brilliant driven 22-year-old on your team who plans to quit in the next year with dreams of grandeur of making 6 figures, quietly become the most efficient person in the building while you protect the honor of being the best delegator.
Ohhh ohhh, Believe you don't have time to invest in AI. This is the good one, because it feels extremely responsible. You're way too busy drowning to learn to swim. Meanwhile the 20% you'd lose learning it is the same 20% you burn every week on work it could have done. Totally ignore this post where I dove deeper into it. And do not take into consideration that AI has been proven to provide over 50% efficiency with instant ROI.
Believe it can't do what you need because it failed you once or twice...or three times.😓 You wrote a vague prompt earlier this year, got garbage back, and closed the case. Imagine hiring a new employee, giving them unclear instructions on day one, and firing them at lunch.
Do all six and I promise you'll stay exactly where you are. 🤷🏾♂️
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Actionable Task:
Find which one is yours.
Step 1: Read that list again and be honest about which belief you're actually holding. Not the one you'd admit at a conference. The real one.
Step 2: Open your AI tool and paste this:
"I'm the [TITLE] of [NONPROFIT, WEBSITE]. I've been avoiding or underusing AI because I believe [PASTE THE BELIEF YOU PICKED].
Make the strongest case for my belief first. Tell me honestly what's legitimate about it and where the real honest risk is. Then show me the strongest case against it, specific to a nonprofit my size. Then give me one small, low-risk thing I could do this week to test whether my belief holds up. Keep it simple and nontechnical, and be direct with me."
Step 3: Do the small thing this week. One test. Not a transformation.
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Remember:
Munger became successful on a simple idea: figure out how you'll fail, then don't do that. Apply it to AI and you'll pass most of the sector without ever chasing brilliance.
#ExistToServe
P.S. Drowning in tasks AI could handle? Don't know where to start? Need to save time and money? Sincerely, let's talk.
Let's hop on a 30-minute call. I'll show you how you can clock out on time, get home to your family, and still serve more community members:
Regis Arzu (he/him/his)
[email protected]
ETS AI Consulting | CEO
347.748.5078
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Mondays are rough. It's scary times for Nonprofits. Your time is scarce. That’s why I created the Monday Motivational Minute. Each week, I’ll send you one high-impact, actionable idea to help you leverage AI and save time. It will always be a 1-minute-ish read. If it adds value, great. If not, unsubscribe, but I’m betting you’ll want to stay. (Challenge Accepted ☺️)
