Shocking AI Revelation: How It’s About to Change *Everything* About YOU!

Two years ago, on what was supposed to be a joyous birthday, I felt… wrong. Terribly, existentially wrong. Ironic, considering I’d built a career on helping others define their personal brands. Suddenly, I was the one adrift in a sea of self-doubt. The culprit? Not middle age. Not taxes. But the creeping dread that AI was about to render my entire skill set obsolete.

My first instinct was panic. Followed closely by a desperate Google search for ‘meaning of life in the age of algorithms.’ That didn’t help. So, I did something even more drastic: I embraced the unknown. Which, for me, meant a plant medicine retreat. (Don’t judge. Desperate times, desperate measures.)

There, amidst the swirling visions and questionable herbal tea, I stumbled upon a framework that, surprisingly, made sense: ID3 and three-dimensional AWE – Awareness, Wisdom, and Experience. Developed by Ryan Wegenast, it’s not just a catchy acronym; it’s a roadmap for navigating the AI-induced identity apocalypse.

The Identity Crisis is Real (and You’re Not Alone)

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one feeling like a digital dinosaur. Many leaders and entrepreneurs are grappling with the same unsettling sensation that their relevance is dwindling faster than a dial-up connection. ID3 offered a new perspective: this wasn’t about losing myself, but about evolving into someone new. Someone… AI-resistant, perhaps.

As Wegenast astutely pointed out, the very word ‘identity’ implies ‘sameness’. In a world demanding constant adaptation, clinging to the ‘same’ is a recipe for obsolescence. AI is rapidly automating tasks, shifting the value proposition of human labor. The skills that once defined us, the knowledge we painstakingly acquired, are now readily available at the click of a button. So, what’s left? Well, that’s where the AWE comes in.

Three-Dimensional AWE: Your AI Survival Kit

This isn’t about chanting affirmations or hugging trees (though, if that’s your thing, go for it). It’s about a practical, three-step process for reclaiming your identity in the face of technological disruption.

• Awareness: The Uncomfortable Truth.

  The first step is acknowledging the feelings of displacement, the nagging doubts about your worth. Ignoring them is like trying to ignore a ransomware attack – it’s just going to get worse. For me, it was admitting the fear that my personal branding expertise was becoming irrelevant. Who am I, I wondered, in a world of automated marketing and AI-generated content? Facing those questions, however unpleasant, was the catalyst for change. Fear, after all, is just opportunity in disguise (a poorly disguised, anxiety-inducing disguise).

• Wisdom: Making Space for the New.

  This isn’t about fighting AI; it’s about understanding its limitations and leveraging its strengths. As Ryan Wegenast so eloquently put it: ‘Natural order places human intuition first and foremost.’ AI is a tool, not a replacement. It can enhance our abilities, but it can’t replicate the human element: creativity, empathy, critical thinking (at least, not yet).

  Instead of viewing AI as a threat, I started asking: how can I collaborate with it? Where can I grow as a direct result of its existence? This shift in mindset opened up new possibilities and a newfound respect for my own uniquely human skills.

• Experience: Evolve, But Stay Grounded.

  Identity is a moving target. We evolve, our businesses evolve, our audiences evolve. The key is to stay rooted in your core values, your original mission. Remember why you started in the first place. For me, it was about providing optimal solutions and solving problems in meaningful ways. That goal remains constant, even if the tools and techniques change.

  So, instead of fearing replacement, I embraced the opportunity to evolve. AI became a partner in achieving my mission, freeing me up to focus on the aspects of my work that truly require human ingenuity.

The Takeaway: Don’t Fear the Robot Uprising (Embrace the Upgrade)

AI isn’t going to define us, but it will challenge us. It will force us to re-evaluate our skills, our values, and our place in the world. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. By embracing awareness, cultivating wisdom, and leveraging our experience, we can not only survive the AI revolution, but thrive in it.

So, take a long, hard look at your brand. At your voice. At your perspective. Acknowledge your fears, embrace the change, and remember why you started in the first place. The leaders who stand out in the age of AI aren’t the ones who resist change; they’re the ones who embrace it, adapt to it, and use it to build something even better. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll even find a little AWE along the way.