In 1948 C.S. Lewis (I named my dog after him - Clive) wrote an essay “Living in an Atomic Age.”

(Link in here– read it. It’ll sober you)

He opens with this:

“In one way we think a great deal too much of the atomic bomb. ‘How are we to live in an atomic age?’ I am tempted to reply: Why, as you would have lived in the sixteenth century when the plague hit London every year, or in the Viking age when raiders might cut your throat any night; or indeed, as you are already living in an age of cancer, syphilis, paralysis, air raids, railway accidents, and motor accidents.”

Next paragraph, first line:

“In other words, do not let us begin by exaggerating the novelty of our situation. Believe me, dear sir or madam, you and all whom you love were already sentenced to death before the atomic bomb was invented—and quite a high percentage of us were going to die in unpleasant ways.”

Now pivot to AI trite as it seems.

Your business and your job were already going to die. All businesses die. That’s capitalism, and it’s beautiful. Life implies death—deal with it.

Everyone’s talking AI right now. The more certain someone sounds, the more narcissistic I find them.

Your business has always carried threat + opportunity. Nothing new here.

Lewis’s answer to the bomb?

“If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting over a pint and darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep thinking about bombs.”

The market eats the status quo.

If AI can kill your business, it was already fragile. They were coming for you before AI showed up—they’re still coming.

Printing press, telegraph, steam engine, microchip… every ‘new thing’ shook the world. You’ve never been safe. Now it’s just obvious.

Count it a privilege that you get to live through this.

So to every business leader I know, channeling CS Lewis:

So when AI finally comes, let it find you doing real work: serving customers, building things that matter, making hard calls, helping your team navigate tough situations.

Not doom-scrolling or pontificating about things you can’t control.

Step onto the field. Play the game. Live with the outcome.

Cheers to the Doers!

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