For anyone living under a rock, by all accounts, an AI revolution appears to be upon us.

Yes, we’ve talked about using AI for years, but often this leaned more towards wishful thinking around automation than the genuine arrival of the future and sci-fi capabilities. Somehow this time it feels different

This is a probably as a result of it genuinely starting to exceed our own personal capabilities. It pains me to say this, but unless it is in our own personal area of expertise, digitally AI is just better in terms of understanding and getting things done.

What we have seen here is exponential growth, something us humans often struggle to fully grasp. It ticks along for years, appearing to apparently do very little only for to suddenly it explode… “Linear is fine, but what do you mean it keeps doubling, we can’t keep up”.

AI certainly feels like it is falling into this category.

But here we are, and of course now we can all have a team of experts on hand at all times to help, so may as well make the most of it.

Take, for example, my latest AI based project… music.

Now I’m not a natural musician – the most optimistic I could possibly be would be to say, I dabble, but that is it. But, to be able produce something quite this catchy is still amazing.

Not plug and play

That said, whilst I didn’t spend three weeks sweating over decks and synthesisers, it wasn’t plug-and-play either.

What I have been finding is each creation takes input and time to shape, tweak, and design for the final desired output – especially if you want something more creative – I suppose it takes work.

Of course similarly many musicians also play covers or take inspiration from other artists… but it is creating something truly new that is a skill. (just to note musicians of course also play the instruments… another huge skill… and respect for this… but I am not talking live music here).

And as an analogy it feels like this is where we are with AI.

Being first, fast, and creative is quickly becoming a new currency in this evolving environment. We need to have the ideas and know what to do not necessarily know how to do it. (although this helps, esp when thing go wrong or you need custom tweaks! – a topic for another post at a later date).

In this new world, once something is released, it becomes easy to replicate… but the originality, this is what remains hard, and for this there is a premium, a first mover advantage you could say.

Not getting easier

Despite what we may have been promised, this means it AI is unlikely to make our lives easier. If anything, as a results we may all be busier.

Busier using new tools to output more, accelerate our capabilities and generate more new ideas… it is these new ideas that will be the competitive edge.

Using AI to accelerate our learning, to unlock and explore new capabilities is a journey we can all get on.

Rock the Spreadsheets!

For me, for now, that journey currently seems to be music…

It started pretty safe with rock… but tastes evolve. One point found myself passing through a thrash metal phase… minus the long hair and studded jacket… there was just no time… we all do it, I was just (ahem – cough) 40 years too late!

However now I’ve arrived at EDM / Future House… it is growing on me. Is this growing up or just moving into the modern world…. anyway spreadsheets are still a joy… enjoy!

PS – Next track, currently under development: a dance track about the vendor selection process—RFIs and RFPs… I clearly needed a new challenge.

Stay creative, everyone… and go see live music (and comedy!)

Fresh off the back of my comedy course experience the other week, last week I spent the evenings enthusiastically looking for gigs. 

Okay, I am a newbie and not in central London, but how hard can it be.  Time to get a little practice and build some experience before throwing myself to the wolves at an industry event, I thought.

It was at first a little disappointing.  Outside of London the circuit is a little different, smaller gigs, open mics for new material or new performers seemed pretty thin on the ground.  Most of the gigs I could find were more established acts, those that were more bankable for smaller venues it seemed.

For a few days, it felt as though geography might be a limiting factor, thwarting this shot at stardom, the bright lights and comradery of the stage, and opportunity to experience more of the motorway service station network.

I grumpily persevered however, and something changed.  Following a few leads via Facebook, slowly, organically, I started to notice more and more comedy nights in my local area, often in the small venues in the pub, or community spaces. I went for a coffee at a local cafe and noticed they also had one too. They were everywhere.

Far from being dead, there is in fact, a quiet, but thriving, comedy circuit operating most nights of the week.  I was just never aware of it.  It seems I just had to tune myself to the right frequency to find it.

Now this reminded me of the red car effect (or more accurately the frequency illusion or Baader–Meinhof phenomenon).  

This is the effect where once you buy a new (red) car. Being pleased with your choice, the choice of a sophisticated and discerning customer of course, you head out onto the road…. only to then start to notice all the other (red) cars on the street… “everyone is buying red cars now, I can’t believe it”.

Of course nothing has changed in the world itself, we are just more aware of it. It is a mix of selective attention and confirmation bias. 

In my case comedy hadn’t suddenly become popular across the country in a single week I just tuned to the right frequency and started noticing it.

Back at the day job, in the office, this got me thinking this week, this is a similar effect here.

• Once you become aware of a problem, you start seeing it everywhere. 
• Once you notice an opportunity, similar opportunities start to surface.

So, by choosing what I pay attention too… I can potentially find more of it! 

It is not just there this this psycological bias, but by knowing about it and what the effect is, we can potentially use this, direct this, for our own benefit. There is something powerful here.

Obviously this needs a bit of active work and engagement to fully tune in and activate.  But, choosing is a choice… so here is the thought for the week.

What should I/you/we choose to find more of this week?

Problem’s, no… opportunities, yes… a comedy gig, hopefully… biscuits, definitely.

Have a good week everyone.

This last week I spent time on Dec Munro‘s intensive stand-up comedy course, at the Angel Comedy Club, at the Bill Murray in London.

It was a great bunch of people, all very interesting and I learned a lot.

Now, I am under no illusions that I will ever be the next Bill Bailey, Jack Dee or Kevin Bridges… but it has been eye-opening and, prancing around on stage aside, hopefully with some tips for future events.

But there are also a few wider lessons or observations, ones we can all take away, which have also happened as a result of getting out the the usual orbit.

Every industry has more “jobs” that you notice

Getting a peak behind the curtain, the week illustrated just how many different roles sit behind what you see on stage.

It’s not always just about the “lead guitar player” or the star of the show, because behind this are an army of writers, producers, bookers, organisers, loggers and advisers making it work.

And, honestly, that’s true everywhere. Every industry has a whole ecosystem of roles that matter, even if they are not the ones you may immediately think of.

Sometimes the most useful or influencial, person in the room isn’t the one holding the microphone. Something also true back at the office this week.

It’s not just about the content – it’s the way you tell it

Comedy is very much about delivery. As the saying goes, it is “not just what you say, but how you say it”.

Timing, tone, confidence and rhythm all matter.

The same words can land completely differently depending on how they are positioned ordered or communicated.

It is hard not to see the parallel of this at work.

Thinking about the audience, the environment, and how a communication is positioned is as important as say the messsage itself… bring people along with you.

Get out of that cosy circle (it wakes you up)

Last week reminded me just how important and powerful it is to get out and meet new people.

Getting out, going to different events, meeting people (great people) outside of your normal ‘bubble’ is completely refreshing… you end up buzzing with new ideas.

In 2026 doing something that nudges you out of that safe, familiar loop can really open up new ways of thinking and new opportunities… it is worth a shot.

Get over your fear and try new things

Finally, and simply, you just have to go and try these things. There are a millions reasons to hestitate, put stuff off and just not do it…. ignore this.

Putting yourself out there, feeling a little bit of fear and doing something new is so rewarding. If it doesn’t work, so what, try again.

And, this is the attitude to take back to work, not necessarily because you’re going to become the next comedian, but because it moves us forward.

And with the January Blues well and truely upon us, it feels like a good time to be thinking about all this as we head into 2026.

Have a good week everyone

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PS.. look out for me on the OpenMic circuit next 🤣 – open for recommendations 😂 #SproutsAreFun @SproutsAreFun

PPS.. there were some great comedians in the the group this week… future stars right here. Follow them on instagram for the latest gigs and sets at the links below.