You can't lose both ways

“What are you afraid will happen?”

This is a question I often ask friends and editing clients who are hesitant about getting started with writing publicly.

It generally boils down to one of two concerns:

• “What if it’s… not good? What if a bunch of people see it and don’t like it?” Or,
• “Will anyone even notice? Is this just shouting into the void?”

What I always tell them is this: You can’t lose both ways! That may feel like two legitimate concerns… but they actually cancel each other out.

Either: You start writing and no one pays attention to you. That’s discouraging in some ways, but it’s also liberating! No one is critiquing or complaining. You can figure some stuff out before the critics come.

Or: Instant attention! People start sharing and responding, which means that you’re making progress.

Both paths have advantages and disadvantages, but the point is: it’s actually not possible for both to happen.

Either you get attention and the criticism that may come with it. Or no one really notices and you can write without fear.

You can hear silence or the crowd booing, but not both.

I’m starting to think something similar may be true about AI and work.

But this one starts with a different question:

Do you love your job?

If not… I’m sorry. Being in a role or occupation you don’t enjoy can be painful and frustrating. So, I’d invite you to consider: If AI dramatically changes or replaces your job, what part would you miss? If the only thing that comes to mind is the income and stability… is it possible that you could get another job that you’d enjoy? Oftentimes, this is a trade-off: A job you find fulfilling, but doesn’t compensate you as well. But… could that be a good thing?

I’m still thinking through all of this, but I do think it gives us something valuable: A reason to hope. Yes, the future is scary, but we need change. You want change.

Again: You can either remain stuck in a job you dislike or AI could take away that job... but both can't be true.

(Oh, and if you do love your job... congrats! In this delightful and unfortunately rare scenario, I'd say you can't lose, in a different way: authentic passion for your work is very difficult to replace, even by AI. "You can't compete with someone who is having fun" holds up, even for the machines. Yes, your income may go down and you may have to adapt... but doing something you uniquely enjoy can't be completely taken from you.)

My conclusion right now: When I’m feeling anxious, I find it’s helpful to be specific about what’s worrying me. When I say it out loud, I often see that I’m concerned about two things that would cancel each other out. You can’t lose both ways!