ISSUE #70

Welcome to the Forward Obsessed Founder, my newsletter with insights, awesome tools, and real-world advice to grow your business and career.

GO FORWARD THOUGHT OF THE WEEK ➡️

I used to think AI was all business.

Make content faster. Automate my calendar. Scale without hiring.

But then something changed.

My 3-year-old became obsessed with screens. Trucks, fire engines, tractors, you name it. And like a lot of parents, I was worried. He wasn’t playing. He wasn’t imagining. He was consuming.

So I tried something different.

I fired up an AI image generator and created custom coloring pages of his favorite trucks. Next thing I know, we’re on the floor, coloring. Laughing. Connecting. Not a screen in sight.

AI broke the pattern.

Instead of pulling us apart, it brought us together.

Now I use it to write personal bedtime stories and come up with unique date night ideas with my wife. Just like that, AI became a quiet little engine running behind the scenes. It didn’t replace me, but gave me ways to show up better. As a dad. A husband. A founder.

Here’s Bobby the jeep and Tommy the tow truck at a monster truck show (something we took my son to recently). We have a whole universe of characters that is opening up new ways to connect. All because of what AI made possible.

So much of the AI noise is about tools, tactics, and speed. But let’s be real:

The real value of AI? It gives you back what matters most.

Your time.

Your people.

Your presence.

Now we’ve got “Family Creativity Days” on the calendar. I’ve printed some of my son’s wild artwork. I’m also using AI to give me regular prompts that are becoming letters that I’ll share with him when he turns 18. Last newsletter I showed you the DaddyTime app I vibe coded to show us local events we could attend together.

It’s not perfect. I can still be a workaholic. But I’m learning to channel that obsession into something that supports both my work and my family.

And with Father’s Day around the corner, I’m reminded that being present isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, fully.

I’m always here to help you stay ahead and build brands people and machines love. Newsletter readers get the “friends and family” rate for a coaching hour. I would love to talk about how I can help your brand and business stay ahead of the AI wave. Schedule your call here.

If you want to spend a few extra minutes talking about how to use the same tools to show up better in everyday life, well, I would like that too!

Here’s to being more human… with a little help from our robot friends.

Always here to help,

Pete

Please take a second and hit the FWD button ▶️, to share this email with your favorite growth-obsessed peer. I want to inspire 1 million awesome minds like you.

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