AI now writes, designs, edits, and even codes.
But the winners won’t be the ones who press the buttons faster — they’ll be the ones who see the big picture and orchestrate it well.
Daniel Priestley calls it the shift from operators to orchestrators.
AI can execute. Humans can direct.
I asked Daniel what it actually takes to stay ahead when technology moves faster than people.
His answer came down to three things — all about how we think, create, and lead.
1. Think like an orchestrator, not an operator
I don’t try to do everything myself — I design the system.
My team uses AI assistants across Gmail, LinkedIn, and Notion to handle daily work, while I focus on creative direction and outcomes.
I’m not editing videos or writing code — I’m shaping vision, tone, and strategy.
Daniel explained it best:
“You don’t have to know how every piece works — you have to know what good looks like and how to bring it together.”
That’s what leadership looks like today — building systems where people and AI work in harmony.
2. Influence is the new capital
Your audience isn’t just followers — it’s currency.
Investors now bet on trust and reach, not just products.
The same fund that once backed me — Slow Ventures — just led a new round for Steven Bartlett’s creator company at a $425 million valuation.
As Daniel said:
“Influence moves faster than capital — and the creators who understand that will build companies faster than investors can fund them.”
When your ideas move people, you’re not selling posts — you’re building equity.
Your brand becomes an asset that no market crash can erase.
3. Automate the scalable, elevate the human
AI should remove repetition, not replace contribution.
The smart founders use it to clear noise — and give their teams time for strategy, storytelling, and taste.
When you automate what’s scalable, you expand what’s meaningful.
That’s exactly what I shared in my previous email on Perplexity + Comet — how smart automation frees you to think, create, and lead.
Final thought:
Every era rewards those who understand its language.
Our grandparents mastered land and factories.
Our parents — capital and careers.
Now it’s code, content, and connection.
Be of the times you’re in — and you’ll never be left behind.