Speed is only an advantage if you are moving in the right direction. Before you fall into the Sprint Trap—adopting a tool because it’s popular rather than because it’s profitable—use the AI Strategic Orientation Scorecard to gain the space to see your system as it actually is.
We are told that AI is about acceleration. The marketing says “do more, faster.” But as John discovered in Chapter 2, speed is only an advantage if you are moving in the right direction. If you are off-course by even a few degrees, “sprinting” only ensures that you reach the wrong destination sooner.
In the corporate world, there is immense pressure to “show movement.” This leads to the Sprint Trap: adopting a tool because it’s popular, or automating a process because it’s possible, rather than because it’s profitable.
For the deliberate leader, slowness isn’t a sign of being “behind.” It is a strategy for leverage. By refusing to sprint at the pace of the hype cycle, you gain the space to see the system as it actually is. You move from reactive urgency to proactive intent.
The Question for This Week: Look at your current AI initiatives. Are you rushing toward a decision just to have it off your plate, or are you moving toward actual progress for your organization?
The Next Step: The first step to shedding the weight is orientation. If you haven’t yet, take the AI Strategic Orientation Scorecard. It is a 2-minute diagnostic designed to help you determine if you are acting as an Architect of your future or a Troubleshooter for your technology.
