When most business owners say they want AI to "just do the work," what they're describing is actually a system that runs automatically and reliably, every time. If "X" happens, do "Y," no judgment or LLM required.

That's not AI, that's automation. Knowing the difference is one of the most underrated skills in this space right now, and it was one of the major recurring themes echoed by experts across dozens of sessions earlier this week at ZapConnect, Zapier's annual virtual conference.

When I start working with a new client, I'm never walking in with a preset, one-size-fits-all solution. I'm showing up the way a doctor does before making a diagnosis; asking questions, listening carefully, and trying to piece together the most accurate picture I can before recommending anything.

Ah, the Five W's. A foundational framework that's been taught in journalism for over 100 years, and one I haven't stopped using, even though I haven't worked in journalism for years. Turns out it's just as useful for documenting business processes as it is for writing a news article.

Last week I shared my thoughts on the Airtable acquisition. This week, a natural conversation has emerged that's less about Airtable specifically and more about something bigger: what happens when a tool you've built your business around changes in ways you didn't choose?