Why originality is overrated. We must build AI for people; not to be a person. Leadership: a matter of love.

One “must” for this week: why originality is overrated

At one point I felt the pressure to create something 100% "original" that no one had ever seen before.

But then I gave myself permission to “imitate”.

Looking at the metaphors and ideas from other creators I admired, not to steal them, but to be inspired.

I'd see how someone else visualized an idea, I’d put it in my backlog and then and I'd ask myself:

What's my take on this? What twist would I add?

And mentioning them as the source of inspiration is also a way to give credit and show that I care about them.

I've found my best ideas don't come from a magical spark, but from connecting the dots between things that already exist.

It's like playing with creative Lego blocks. And yes I see a lot of Lego in my house these days with my son Luca.

And this doesn't just apply to art. I see it everywhere:

A founder who combines a tired industry with a new business model.

A manager who borrows a communication framework from psychology.

A developer who remixes two existing APIs to create a new tool.

It’s not about copying. It's about combining.

Does the pressure to be "original" ever hold you back? How do you deal with it?

---

Personal development

• Why originality is overrated

• Become a better negotiator

• Irrational dedication

• I’m switching careers. How can I effectively rebrand with my network?

• The snake chasing effect

• Via Negativa: the process of making good decisions by eliminating bad ones

• World talent ranking 2025

• You must avoid getting corrupted by this

Innovation

• We must build AI for people; not to be a person

• How to productize AI anxiety

• Kraft Heinz's breakup: the end of mass produced food?

• On working with wizards

• Solve customer problems

• Tectonic times: 5 shifts

• The 7 stress tests that prevent zombie startups

• Why genai leadership requires an alien mindset

Leadership and management

• Leadership: a matter of love

• Protecting your team in a toxic organizational culture

• Return to office mandates and brain drain

• Soft skills matter now more than ever

• The 'Secret Ingredient' for effective Training: middle managers

• The CEO’s guide to bolder bets and fewer regrets

• The perils of using AI to replace Entry-Level jobs

• The safety to dissent

One book

“Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It” by Chris Voss.

---

See you next Saturday,

Roberto