The first time I heard the phrase, "Why don’t you just Google it?" I had no idea what Google was. Seriously.

I was a teacher at the time, and a student casually threw that line at me when I asked a question. My response? "Um, what is GOOGLE?" (Cue collective Gen Z gasp.)

But let’s rewind even further. When I was in college, cell phones weren’t a thing. The Internet was just becoming known when I was wrapping up my degree. When I worked in banking, we didn’t have image databases. We had microfiche, and I waited in line for HOURS to retrieve information. Oh, and I was the only person in my department who knew how to use a mouse.

Fast-forward to my Salesforce days, when I went from waiting in those microfiche lines to convincing an entire bank—over 8,000 end users—to adopt cloud-based technology. And my dad? When I explained "the cloud" to him, he was so intrigued that he proudly told me the next day, “I downloaded that 'cloud thingy' you were talking about.” He pulled up Amazon Cloud Player, and I laughed until I cried.

Now? I feel like my dad. The “silly old person” squinting at AI tools and wondering what I’m supposed to do with them.

From Skeptic to Curious: Why AI is Worth Embracing

If you’re 50-ish or beyond, you’ve seen technology completely transform your industry, your home, and probably your dinner conversations. But AI? It’s a whole different beast.

I get it. I’ve spent years leading technology adoption across industries, and I still catch myself wanting to say, “I know enough. Do I really need to learn this, too?” But here are a few things I have recently learned from my younger and/or more curious compadres:

AI isn’t replacing us—it’s empowering us.

AI isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about knowing how to ask the right questions.

AI isn’t something "younger people" understand better—it’s a tool we ALL can use.

It’s not about being a tech guru. It’s about curiosity—something we’ve relied on our entire careers.

And, if we want our businesses to stay competitive and our teams to work smarter, we don’t have a choice. We must adapt. The good news is that we already know how to do that.

AI + Flow: The Secret to Working Smarter, Not Harder

At Five to Flow, we talk about flow all the time—that state of effortless work where time flies, creativity peaks, and you’re ridiculously productive.

AI, when used right, can help us access flow more often by:

✔ Automating repetitive tasks so we can focus on high-impact work.

✔ Providing real-time insights so we don’t waste time guessing.

✔ Enhancing creativity by generating ideas, summarizing data, and helping us problem-solve faster.

But here’s the trick: AI only works for us when it’s integrated into a system that actually makes sense—which is why we still rely on the Five Core Elements™ to make sure AI supports people, not the other way around.

The Five Core Elements™: How to Make AI Work for You

1. People: AI can enhance learning, collaboration, and coaching, but it should never replace human connection and leadership.

2. Culture: AI-powered tools can provide real-time feedback on engagement and morale, but organizations need to create environments where employees feel safe to innovate.

3. Process: AI can analyze workflows, automate busywork, and eliminate redundancies, making businesses run more smoothly than ever.

4. Technology: AI should be an enabler, not a distraction. The best AI tools don’t add more noise—they streamline and simplify.

5. Analytics: AI is a game-changer for decision-making, helping us predict challenges, spot trends, and optimize performance with real-time insights.

Top 5 Tips for AI, Flow, and the Five Core Elements™

1. Start Small & Experiment – Don’t try to “master AI.” Pick one tool (like ChatGPT, Notion AI, or Grammarly) and explore how it can help your daily work.

2. Use AI to Remove, Not Add, Work – The best AI tools eliminate tedious tasks. If AI is making things more complicated, you’re using the wrong tool.

3. Keep People at the Center – AI shouldn’t replace human creativity, leadership, or decision-making. Instead, it should support and enhance human potential.

4. Make Learning a Team Sport – No one has this all figured out. Encourage cross-generational learning where younger employees teach tech, and seasoned leaders bring wisdom and experience.

5. Trust Your Instincts, but Let AI Help – We’ve spent decades making smart business decisions. AI is just another tool in our arsenal—it helps us move faster, think bigger, and work smarter.

The Takeaway: We’ve Done This Before — And We’ll Do It Again

If you’ve been around long enough to see technology change the world before, you already have the skills to adapt to AI.

The same curiosity that got us through Google, the cloud, and every digital transformation since? That’s all we need to navigate AI.

So, to my fellow leaders, business owners, and lifelong learners—let’s embrace it. Not because we have to, but because it’s the next step in working smarter, leading better, and unlocking the best in ourselves and our teams.

We’ve got this.

If you’re ready to integrate AI, optimize your business, and get your team into flow, let’s talk. Take our Wellness Wave® diagnostic or book a discovery session today.

Because the future isn’t waiting for anyone. But lucky for us—we’ve been keeping up just fine.

Final Thought: Next time someone explains AI to you, just remember: You don’t have to "download the cloud." (Love and miss you, Dad. ❤️)