ChatGPT told me to stop yak-shaving.

A few months ago I was deep in a conversation with ChatGPT about the shape of my company and planning engineering work. I probably spent an hour or two trying to save $20 a month.

At one point ChatGPT told me straight out:

"Stop yak-shaving and start thinking like a founder!"

At first I got triggered. Felt angry. But yes, ChatGPT was right.

Based on our conversations over months, AI realized what I was doing. Engineering is easy for me to hide in. There is always another bug, tool, workflow, architecture problem, whatever. I can work all day and feel very accomplished.

But as a founder I need to work on the uncomfortable. Pick up that phone and make a call. Send an email. Reach out on LinkedIn. Stop yak-shaving and do the work that moves the startup forward.

Even for a software startup, software is only a small part of the company.

Did AI ever call you out?

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ChatGPT told me to stop yak-shaving.