The Critical Time to Ask Better Questions is Now. ChatGPT: the Future has Arrived.
When I was pregnant with my firstborn 10 years ago, I asked my doctor about cord blood banking, if we should do it. It promised STEM cell research, health improvements and much more. To which the doctor replied: “Not in our lifetime.”
Well, hate to disagree with you, doc, but the future is already here. Just at the most recent #biohacking conference in September in Beverly Hills, there were several companies presenting research about STEM cells, about how they (scientists themselves) have found plants, systems and things that stimulate the release of STEM cells, how injections (not legal in the US, which is bizarre) are helping the elderly heal wounds and fractures, how STEM cells save lives around the world. Imagination is no longer a fantasy, it’s the present. And you can deny it or you can get ride the wave.
I was born in 1983 and watched a bunch of movies just like any teenager during the nineties. I grew up in the Soviet Union, where food was still by vouchers (you got a certain limit of food per day per family), stores had empty shelves and s3x didn’t exist (it was a forbidden topic for adults).
Through my childhood and teenage years, I watched lots of movies and my imagination got really vivid. Psychologists say that a child’s psyche develops along with imagination and with imagination come fears. That’s a natural and expected flow of things.
Sure enough watching movies showing the future, like Demolition Man and Terminator (older) or Eagle Eye (more recent), I totally believed the future like that was possible. And with #ChatGPT it already arrived.
We are living in the future, my friend. You can deny it all you want, but in this case you will fall behind the curve and will eventually be that grandpa that doesn’t know how to send an email or go live on Instagram.
Since 2012 I kept telling my husband “We need to always be ahead in technology because the kids will outsmart us! can’t let that happen!” 😂
Well, the bad news is that they will probably still outsmart us anyway. But there is something we can do about at least riding this wave of AI.
Elon Musk said some time ago that “AI is the biggest threat to civilization” and I think he is right. As a creative, he sees a future that doesn’t yet exist. And just like with imagination in kids and teens, imagination in adults (that also results in action) brings along fears, and when it comes to AI, those fears are warranted and undeniable. Just watch Eagle Eye when you have a chance.
There is a chance for all of us to become obsolete and so what do we do then? How do we live? Work? Create a legacy?
What’s all the fuss about?
I’ve been an accountant since 2005 and many say accountants are tunnel-visioned, and I dare to disagree wit that, at least when it comes to me (accountants always had huge egos, what can I say).
Since 2019 I’ve coached clients as part of my work with them. I taught them to understand and use numbers in their business, to make smarter decisions, to pursue opportunity without wasting time or money.
One important caveat : you have to understand what coaching really (despite what you may think it is) before we move on: they have no agenda of their own, they listen to you, they’re present for you 100% and are focused on your inquiry, your life, your business, they reflect back to you to confirm their understanding of your thought process (and you confirm yours, too, at the same time) and they ask you questions so that you use your own resources to solve your dilemma.
The beauty of a coach, unlike a friend or a spouse, who tries to help you and solve this problem for you (because they love you), is that they enable you to activate your own resources and come to a resolution that aligns with you.
And the real power of a coach is in asking the right question, and the questions have to be precise and powerful.
Why I am the one to talk about this?
Late last year I started out on the journey of writing my next book and I wanted to focus it on helping humans have happier lives through self-discovery, self-awareness and self-help.
Why me? Because I’ve always been known to ask great questions: in school, at work, in the family: I would ask a question that makes others think. I would challenge assumptions, preconceived notions and the status quo. I was simply curious and often don’t have a reason to be.
But here is the hardcore honest truth: you don’t need a reason.
Curiosity is what powers creatives and non-creatives equally, and if we forget how to be curious… We stop being relevant.
A powerful part of this work for me has been the unleashed potential to create things that matter, to do life work that makes the world a better place. And all that with the power of the right question.
And my next book is teaching exactly that. How do you ask the right question so that you get a non-generic answer. And answer that lifts you up and propels you forward. An answer that gives you your own creative ideas. And answer that will enable more powerful questions.
Why this is so critical now?
Enter ChatGPT.
When my friend Dmitry messaged me a few days ago all excited I was skeptical. He was like “It will change the world! Those who don’t get on board will be obsolete in a few months! It’s so unbelievable!”
I was like “Can you explain to me in 1 sentence WHY?”
He struggled. He was telling me about the questions you can ask and that Bill Gates wants to invest $15bn. That copywriters can now create content easily. That content now creates itself. I wasn’t super impressed.
But I got curious. I had to remind myself what I used to tell my husband!
OKAY. I got in. It was “At capacity”. Then in the evening I tried again. I created an account and started asking questions. I’ll be honest. I was impressed.
Did you know that there are 80,000 CPA firms in the US? That there are 75,000 EA (Enrolled Agents) in the US? That happiness depends on factors like: positive relationships, purpose and meaning to life, positive emotions that you enjoy, good physical and mental health AND can fluctuate?
With every new answer, your next question becomes more precise. And staying curious is what will drive all of us forward, well those who actually get on the bus.
What you should do.
Recently I recorded a podcast with a very special guest Prajit. He is at the forefront of what is now called, 4th Industrial Revolution — he is a data scientist and a highly intelligent individual with a track record that impressed me. Listen in. We barely scratched the surface on this topic just 2 weeks ago and voila!
Forget everything you know about life and get on board. Get all of your guards, insecurities and fears down and join now. Think about how you can pivot what you do now that this exists.
Make no mistake, the future is no longer a distant thing you care nothing about. It’s the present and it’s coming at all of us like a tornado.
And my only question to you is: what will your next question be?
Tatiana Tsoir
P.S. Do you want to be a part of my next, unparalleled curiosity and powerful questions book? opt-in here.
