How Can I Help?
Hi folks,
Already Q2? Whew! I hope you’re all doing well.
This morning, I had a call with Stefan Hager, who runs Weirdness As A Service. He walked me through a pre-mortem. We spoke about the ways this business could fail, and why. It was a good kind of discomfort and a safe space to think deeply and reflect.
My biggest takeaway: I’d regret it most if I failed because I didn’t commit. That the failing headline would be “Great idea. Poor execution.”
Not this time.
If you’re embarking on a new project, product, or service that you care strongly about, I recommend a session with Stefan. Also, a shoutout to Dave Gray's School of the Possible for this connection. I'm so thankful for this community.
As for Ethical Methods, it’s a good idea. It may take time to refine how I describe it, but it’s necessary, it’s valuable, and it’s rewarding work.
Stefan said something during our session that stood out:
“AI is going to put out what most people would put out, and that’s not interesting.”
I took the Anthem State of Social Impact Survey yesterday. It raised questions about AI and ethical technology I’m thinking about constantly:
How are you choosing your technology?
How are you educating volunteers, staff, and leadership about ethical technology and data practices?
This is what I wrote down after taking the survey:
The onslaught of AI and the impact of the current administration on DEIB, accessibility, and more are part of what led me to launch my consultancy. I am more concerned than ever about ethical practices for social impact orgs. I want to help them align their tech with their mission, and ensure privacy and security for those they serve and those who support them.
You can take the survey, and I’d love to discuss strategy with you.
Reflecting on my own business and communications, I recognize that we’re all tired of reading AI slop. I certainly don’t want to add to the pile. My writing will have errors and some poorly structured sentences, but it will be authentic, just as my services are. I believe in your business, your cause, your passion, or I wouldn’t work with you.
The simplest version of my mission:
“How Can I Help?”
How can I help you get your message out?
How can I help you choose more ethical technology?
How can I help you reach your audiences?
How can I help others find you?
Let’s explore what’s possible.
Other Stuff That Matters
“I’ve been very lucky in meeting incredibly talented people and hanging out with them. And so, that’s been my greatest strength.”
– Steve Jobs (via Daring Fireball)
“First we need freedom from billionaires. Then we need freedom from character limits. And finally we need freedom from machines who think they know better.”
“Choosing between a profitable publication and a fast, accessible user experience is not an either-or decision.”
"You can’t outsource your accessibility strategy to an LLM."
– Jacob Wood: The Machine-Readable Leader: Why Accessibility is the API for AI
☮️❤️
- Brian
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