03/30/26
STORY
Recently, I was preparing a keynote on how we lead through AI, and I kept reading about how people are saying:
“AI is taking over.”
“It’s going to take our jobs.”
“Soon enough, everything is going to be run by AI.”
You’ve heard people say things like this, right?
Here’s one quote that summed it all up:
“Day by day…machines are gaining ground upon us; day by day we are becoming more subservient to them.“
Do you think there’s some truth to this?
Machines, technology, and AI are gaining ground, and we’re becoming more reliant on them every day.
You agree?
Here’s the thing.
That quote was written by Samuel Butler in 1863.
You can look it up.
It was published as a letter to the editor in The Press newspaper.
Yes, we are living through major technological changes.
But the anxiety around it is NOT new.
In 1863…
The same year as The Battle of Gettysburg…
A man was writing a newspaper letter warning that technology was taking over faster than we could comprehend.
Reading that quote made me think about how I react to technological disruption.
It’s easy for me to fall into a pattern of being “stuck in my old ways”.
For example, a software update on my cellphone can drive me insane!
I have ways of doing things that I’m accustomed to, and I get easily annoyed when there are changes.
It’s really natural and human for us to want things to be predictable; it gives us a sense of safety and security.
It’s natural to have concerns over how new technology can impact our careers.
It’s human to consider how all of these things can impact our ability to earn a living for our families.
And the truth is…
Change is constant.
If we try to hold on to things being the way they were…
We suffer unnecessarily.
Therefore, we must learn to let go of what feels “normal” to us.
We need to be more adaptable.
Otherwise, we’re fearful, anxious, and stressed like our friend Samuel Butler over a century ago…
And we’re not able to make the important adjustments required to be able to provide for our families.
So yea…AI is powerful and disruptive.
Will you fear it?
Will you resist it?
Will you fall into the victim mindset that made Butler write those disparaging words back in 1863?
Or will you choose to embrace it?
Will you adapt?
Will you rise with it?
OBSERVATION
Research on psychological flexibility shows that people who are more open to change and uncertainty experience lower stress and adapt more effectively to new situations. Those who resist or avoid change, on the other hand, tend to experience greater anxiety and emotional distress over time.
(Kashdan TB, Rottenberg J., Psychological flexibility as a fundamental aspect of health, Clin Psychol Rev. 2010 Nov)
STRATEGY
Notice how affected you get this week when things don’t go your way, specifically related to technology.
Don’t try to fix anything; just notice how bothered you get.
If your phone is slow to load something…
You get an error when trying to download a file…
Or if you’re trying to send a text and your auto-correct keeps writing the wrong words (this one gets me all the time!)…
Watch yourself as you get irritated.
If you can observe it with levity, you may be able to even laugh at yourself.
The simple observance of your reaction will help you to respond better and train your mind to be less reactive when things out of your control are creating disruption.
In other words…
This is a simple and effective way to train your mind to be more adaptable.
P.S. — If your team, association, or organization is in the middle of navigating change and uncertainty right now, this is exactly what I speak on.
I’m happy to explore how I can help → Click here to schedule a 15-minute chat
Rooting for you,
Jay (inviting you to stay calm when your phone incorrectly auto-corrects)
Global keynote speaker
Host of the “Unstuck” podcast
A recovering nail-biter (I used to be so bad at this; still not perfect, but much better!)