mike.mainguy

Lost in Translation: Now With More AI Setting: Conference room. Morning. Coffee cups. One says “Disruptor.” The executive has just returned from a tech conference. The architect has just returned from debugging a production issue involving a single missing comma. 🎬 Scene 1: The Grand Vision Executive: "Hey! Quick sync. Big idea. We’re going AI-first." Architect: "Okay. What does that mean?" Executive: "It means we start with AI. You know—intelligent by default." Architect: "Like personalization? Recommendations? Chatbot support?" Executive: "Yes, yes, and yes. But simple. Frictionless. Invisible AI." Architect: "So... AI that does everything but nobody notices?" Executive: "Exactly! Like Netflix meets ChatGPT, but for our business." 🎬 Scene 2: Vibes-Based Strategy Architect: "Do you have a specific user flow in mind?" Executive: "Not ...

Strategy or Tactics? A Quick Gut-Check for Busy Builders Most teams move fast, talk louder than their calendars, and badge every decision as “strategic.” Speed feels good, and “strategy” sounds grown-up. The result is a blur of “initiatives” that last a quarter, retire quietly, and leave a litter of half-finished dashboards in their wake. After a few cycles you can’t tell whether you’re steering a ship or surfing debris. Getting clear on the difference matters because strategy is what lets you throw work away without losing your way . Tactics are the work. When you mix them up, short-term moves masquerade as destiny, and every pivot feels like starting over. What Real Strategy Looks Like Time horizon: Strategy: 12-36 months (or longer); Tactic: Days to quarters Purpose: Strategy defines the game you’re trying to win and how you’ll win it; Tactic executes a play given the current score Stability: Strategy endures market bumps and leadership changes; Tactic evolves or...