Hey folks!

A couple things on my mind…

1. The Edge of LLMs: Chandler and I started leading premarital counseling for some friends at church this week. First time doing this, so I (obviously) had Claude help me build some questionnaires, analyze their answers, and map out themes for the sessions. Amazing. My plan was that Chandler and I would just take it from there and do the actual in-the-room part. But then I read Claude's week-one communication framework, and it was garbage. It gave me the best the internet has to offer, which is to say it gave me what the internet produces: bad marriages. What I keep thinking about is that I've always assumed AI's edge ran right up to the moment only a human can be in the room, like marriage counseling or leading marketing meetings (in my instance). But at least this time it was one step earlier than that. The part it did poorly was the key insight that all good work hinges on, the "I made this because I've felt this specific human thing, and it's hard" part, which only comes from actually having lived it. So my resolution: I want to be careful not to full-send my work or insights to the robots. I'm going to protect the part where my own history and soul still have real estate. There's still plenty of use for the soul. For now anyway.

2. Cold Plunge Recommendation: We've been cold plunging in the Ohio River since we got our sauna last fall, but with the weather warming up it's no longer much of a "cold" plunge. So I went down the research rabbit hole on what to buy, and here's where I landed (no affiliate). We got an ice bath and chiller from The Pod Company, mostly because their chiller runs about 50% cheaper than any other chiller/filter combo I could find. The tub is inflatable and I assume it'll die in the next 18 months, and when it does I'll just swap in a trough from Tractor Supply and some insulation. Our current cold plunge rhythm is after lunch Chandler and I sauna, cold plunge, then have a cup of espresso, and it's like you get to start a brand new day. For us it's less about the health stuff and more that it just feels great. AMA.

3. Penny's 10yo Trip: A while back I mentioned we take each of our kids on a 2-on-1 trip every five years, and this weekend it's Penny's turn for the 10yo one, so I figured I'd follow up on what makes this one different from the 5yo version. At 10, we solicit letters from influential women in her life (men, for our sons) and ask for the advice they wish someone had given them around this age. Chandler and I also write our own letters, affirming what we see coming to life in her, really trying to establish trust for the next five years. If you're a parent, I highly recommend the trip every 5 years, give it a try. Also, if you've got a piece of advice you'd give a 10-year-old girl heading into her next five years, send it my way, I'd love to read it to Penny on the trip!

That's it for this week!

Best,

Blake

P.S. Quick shout-out to my client TypeCoach, just featured in Harvard Business Review: Harvard Business School went from 45 team conflict issues one year to just 1 the next using their technology. That's a 98% drop. Way to go, folks!