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Know Decide Act: 10x Your Productivity at Work with AI and Automation
Practical tools to Make Everyday More Productive & Fun with AI and Automation.
"Know Decide Act" is your essential guide to navigating the AI revolution. Whether you're a seasoned executive, a rising professional, or just starting your career. Packed with real-world examples, from police departments to Fortune 500 companies, this book doesn't just explain AI—it shows you how to use it.
Discover how to:
- Future-proof your career by Knowing AI's strengths and limits.
- Decide to use AI as a force multiplier and amplify your work.
- Take Action by slashing task times by up to 80%.
The AI revolution is here. Will you lead it, or be left behind?
Let's Know, Decide, and Act!
"Know Decide Act" is your essential guide to navigating the AI revolution. Whether you're a seasoned executive, a rising professional, or just starting your career. Packed with real-world examples, from police departments to Fortune 500 companies, this book doesn't just explain AI—it shows you how to use it.
Discover how to:
- Future-proof your career by Knowing AI's strengths and limits.
- Decide to use AI as a force multiplier and amplify your work.
- Take Action by slashing task times by up to 80%.
The AI revolution is here. Will you lead it, or be left behind?
Let's Know, Decide, and Act!
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2024
8 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 8, 2025
rapid evolution has left many professionals questioning their job security (and rightly so)
- not sold on the emails, comms, and translation parts of this read
notes:
- those who master AI will outperform those who don’t
- Video didn’t kill the radio star, and Excel didn’t eliminate accountants. PowerPoint didn’t replace graphic designers either. Let’s challenge the idea that new technology makes workers obsolete.
- how can I use AI to gain a professional edge?
- Writers can use AI to tackle the dreaded editing process, generating insights and points of clarity they can refine. Marketers can analyze consumer sentiment at lightning speed, spotting trends immediately rather than in weeks. Developers can automate repetitive coding tasks, freeing up time for innovation, security and user experience.
- Start by knowing your landscape. How might AI transform your industry? Could it identify trends, process large datasets, or handle routine tasks? Once you understand these possibilities, think about how to adapt. For example, if AI takes over routine customer queries, could you focus on delivering personalized service for complex issues?
- Next, decide to move forward. Change can be intimidating, but embracing AI gives you an edge over those stuck in uncertainty.
- Don’t wait for change to happen around you. Take the lead in shaping the future of your work.
- context is critical - NL title?
- Revise your prompt to say: "We are walking into an Apple Store and I say to you 'These apples are great'". Suddenly the AI understands and adjusts its response to something like: "Ah, I see the misunderstanding now! You're talking about Apple products at an Apple Store, not actual fruit." This simple example highlights the first rule of using AI effectively: context is everything.
- Google's four-part model for AI prompting is close to foolproof. Those four parts are persona, task, context, and output.
- The difference between mediocre and exceptional AI results often comes down to how well you frame the task.
- Platforms like Guidde – that's G-u-i-double-d-e – make software walkthroughs easy. These tools use AI to capture your screen actions as you navigate a new system and automatically create clear step-by-step tutorials for users to follow at their own pace. When software updates inevitably roll out, these walkthroughs can be quickly modified, ensuring your organization stays current. And in this global world, Guidde can translate your documentation into more than 40 languages.
- there's almost certainly an AI solution for whatever task you find to be a time-consuming headache
- AI is a tool that can free up your workday for these essential human interactions.
- Pre-AI, this task would mean hours hunched over spreadsheets. But with AI, you can upload those reviews to a platform like ChatGPT and get an immediate synthesis of the raw data. Then drill down with targeted prompts, like: "Show me patterns in negative reviews from employees who left within their first year" or "Compare satisfaction scores between engineering and marketing departments."
- Tools like Power BI can automatically identify trends, detect anomalies, and even suggest which visualizations might be most relevant to your data set. For instance, a retail chain using Power BI might instantly visualize seasonal sales patterns across hundreds of locations, identify underperforming product categories, and forecast inventory needs.
- If you don't have access to Power BI, you can still use Claude or ChatGPT for a host of data visualization functions. Say you're pitching to work on a data viz project with a prospective client but don't have access to all their data. The solution? Simply prompt your AI: "Create a sample dashboard mockup for a healthcare provider tracking patient satisfaction scores across five departments. Include visualizations for monthly trends, demographic breakdowns, and key drivers of satisfaction." Within seconds, you'll have a host of workable visualizations that you can turn into compelling mockups for your pitch.
- When you let AI handle the data prep, you can focus on the true value-add you bring to your role, through interpreting insights and making strategic decisions. (apparently)
- Use AI to generate meeting minutes. Fireflies AI notetaker joins your meetings, transcribes everything, and delivers organized notes within minutes.
- Use AI to land your next great role. Leverage ChatGPT as an interview simulator, prompting it to create technical questions based on specific job requirements.
- not sold on the emails, comms, and translation parts of this read
notes:
- those who master AI will outperform those who don’t
- Video didn’t kill the radio star, and Excel didn’t eliminate accountants. PowerPoint didn’t replace graphic designers either. Let’s challenge the idea that new technology makes workers obsolete.
- how can I use AI to gain a professional edge?
- Writers can use AI to tackle the dreaded editing process, generating insights and points of clarity they can refine. Marketers can analyze consumer sentiment at lightning speed, spotting trends immediately rather than in weeks. Developers can automate repetitive coding tasks, freeing up time for innovation, security and user experience.
- Start by knowing your landscape. How might AI transform your industry? Could it identify trends, process large datasets, or handle routine tasks? Once you understand these possibilities, think about how to adapt. For example, if AI takes over routine customer queries, could you focus on delivering personalized service for complex issues?
- Next, decide to move forward. Change can be intimidating, but embracing AI gives you an edge over those stuck in uncertainty.
- Don’t wait for change to happen around you. Take the lead in shaping the future of your work.
- context is critical - NL title?
- Revise your prompt to say: "We are walking into an Apple Store and I say to you 'These apples are great'". Suddenly the AI understands and adjusts its response to something like: "Ah, I see the misunderstanding now! You're talking about Apple products at an Apple Store, not actual fruit." This simple example highlights the first rule of using AI effectively: context is everything.
- Google's four-part model for AI prompting is close to foolproof. Those four parts are persona, task, context, and output.
- The difference between mediocre and exceptional AI results often comes down to how well you frame the task.
- Platforms like Guidde – that's G-u-i-double-d-e – make software walkthroughs easy. These tools use AI to capture your screen actions as you navigate a new system and automatically create clear step-by-step tutorials for users to follow at their own pace. When software updates inevitably roll out, these walkthroughs can be quickly modified, ensuring your organization stays current. And in this global world, Guidde can translate your documentation into more than 40 languages.
- there's almost certainly an AI solution for whatever task you find to be a time-consuming headache
- AI is a tool that can free up your workday for these essential human interactions.
- Pre-AI, this task would mean hours hunched over spreadsheets. But with AI, you can upload those reviews to a platform like ChatGPT and get an immediate synthesis of the raw data. Then drill down with targeted prompts, like: "Show me patterns in negative reviews from employees who left within their first year" or "Compare satisfaction scores between engineering and marketing departments."
- Tools like Power BI can automatically identify trends, detect anomalies, and even suggest which visualizations might be most relevant to your data set. For instance, a retail chain using Power BI might instantly visualize seasonal sales patterns across hundreds of locations, identify underperforming product categories, and forecast inventory needs.
- If you don't have access to Power BI, you can still use Claude or ChatGPT for a host of data visualization functions. Say you're pitching to work on a data viz project with a prospective client but don't have access to all their data. The solution? Simply prompt your AI: "Create a sample dashboard mockup for a healthcare provider tracking patient satisfaction scores across five departments. Include visualizations for monthly trends, demographic breakdowns, and key drivers of satisfaction." Within seconds, you'll have a host of workable visualizations that you can turn into compelling mockups for your pitch.
- When you let AI handle the data prep, you can focus on the true value-add you bring to your role, through interpreting insights and making strategic decisions. (apparently)
- Use AI to generate meeting minutes. Fireflies AI notetaker joins your meetings, transcribes everything, and delivers organized notes within minutes.
- Use AI to land your next great role. Leverage ChatGPT as an interview simulator, prompting it to create technical questions based on specific job requirements.
Read
July 8, 2025In "Know, Decide, Act: 10x Your Productivity at Work with AI and Automation", Keith B. Carter explores how professionals can harness artificial intelligence not as a threat but as a powerful tool to gain a competitive edge. While many worry that AI will make their roles obsolete, Carter flips the narrative: AI isn’t replacing professionals—it’s enhancing those who know how to use it effectively. The rapid evolution of AI, from a far-off concept to an everyday workplace tool, offers those who adapt a massive advantage. The message is clear—adopt AI now or risk being left behind.
The core framework of the book revolves around three essential actions: 'Know', 'Decide', and 'Act'. Knowing means understanding your industry landscape and the types of AI tools that can help you automate routine tasks or uncover new opportunities. It requires assessing where AI can fit into your work and how it might improve efficiency. Deciding involves committing to embrace these changes rather than fearing them. Acting is about putting those insights and decisions into practice—being proactive instead of reactive. Carter reinforces that history is full of examples where new tools didn’t destroy jobs but shifted how we work—just like Excel didn’t eliminate accountants or PowerPoint didn't wipe out designers.
A critical component of successful AI use is 'context'. AI systems, particularly language models, only deliver useful results when they're provided with enough information about the task at hand. Carter uses a simple example: saying 'These apples are great' in an Apple Store versus at a market requires completely different responses. Without context, AI misfires. To prevent this, users should structure their AI interactions with four elements: persona, task, context, and desired output. For instance, when generating an email to resolve a billing dispute, instructing the AI to act as a customer service expert with knowledge of company policies results in a far better draft. This method helps convert average AI performance into exceptional productivity outcomes.
Email management is another major area where AI shines. Carter illustrates how AI can help professionals handle emotionally charged situations more diplomatically. Instead of reacting harshly to a late-night, unfair email from a supervisor, users can prompt AI to reword their message into a calmer, more professional tone. Similarly, AI can support customer service representatives by identifying missing information in client messages and drafting responses. AI also bridges language and cultural gaps, as seen in the example of a help desk using AI to translate an English reply into Malay with appropriate context and tone. These use cases demonstrate how AI makes email communication smoother, faster, and more culturally sensitive.
Beyond emails and text generation, AI is also solving more complex workplace problems. One major challenge across industries is onboarding employees onto new software. Traditionally, this required time-consuming documentation, slide decks, or screen recordings. AI-powered tools like Guidde simplify this with auto-generated tutorials, translating training content into multiple languages and updating processes with minimal manual effort. Carter uses this to illustrate a broader point: whatever your time-consuming, repetitive task may be, there’s likely an AI solution out there to streamline it.
AI’s usefulness extends into human resources, a field often bogged down by administrative duties. Carter highlights how AI tools can analyze Glassdoor reviews in minutes, quickly uncovering trends—such as dissatisfaction among new hires due to weak onboarding. In onboarding itself, platforms like Workato automate the entire process, from setting up accounts to sending training materials. These systems ensure consistency, scale effortlessly, and allow HR professionals to focus on meaningful human interactions rather than bureaucracy.
In the realm of data analysis, Carter notes that AI helps professionals move beyond data wrangling to insights and strategy. While analysts love interpreting data, cleaning it can be a major time sink. AI platforms like Microsoft Power BI or tools like ChatGPT and Claude simplify data preparation and visualization. For example, a retail analyst can quickly generate dashboards that highlight seasonal trends or performance gaps across locations. Even without full access to a client’s data, AI can help users create compelling visualizations for proposals and pitches, saving hours of manual effort.
Financial professionals also benefit. Though client relationships in finance demand a personal touch, a large portion of the job—especially preparing investment proposals—is formulaic. Carter explains how AI can prepare draft proposals and client questions, allowing professionals to spend more time fine-tuning details. For example, a financial advisor planning for a child’s future education costs can use AI to generate an initial investment strategy based on the client's financial profile. The advisor then adds personal insights—perhaps adjusting for green investment preferences or local tax implications—making the final product more valuable than AI alone could provide.
Throughout the book, Carter emphasizes the breadth of AI’s potential. A lightning round of use cases shows AI’s ability to create meeting notes with Fireflies, produce explainer videos with InVideo, scan legal documents, and even simulate job interviews. These examples show how AI isn’t limited to technical or creative fields—it touches every aspect of modern work. Whether it's producing a business card design, reviewing contracts, or preparing for a big interview, AI offers tools to work smarter and faster.
Ultimately, "Know, Decide, Act" is not a book about technology—it’s a book about mindset. Carter makes a compelling case that the professionals who thrive in the age of AI will be those who approach it with curiosity, intentionality, and a willingness to evolve. The book encourages readers to be proactive learners who constantly refine their AI skills, treat AI like a smart intern who needs guidance, and focus on high-impact, strategic work.
In conclusion, Keith Carter's message is both urgent and optimistic. AI isn’t here to replace you, but to multiply your productivity—if you know how to wield it wisely. Those who embrace AI with thoughtful context, clear goals, and a commitment to action will not only keep pace with the future of work—they'll shape it.
The core framework of the book revolves around three essential actions: 'Know', 'Decide', and 'Act'. Knowing means understanding your industry landscape and the types of AI tools that can help you automate routine tasks or uncover new opportunities. It requires assessing where AI can fit into your work and how it might improve efficiency. Deciding involves committing to embrace these changes rather than fearing them. Acting is about putting those insights and decisions into practice—being proactive instead of reactive. Carter reinforces that history is full of examples where new tools didn’t destroy jobs but shifted how we work—just like Excel didn’t eliminate accountants or PowerPoint didn't wipe out designers.
A critical component of successful AI use is 'context'. AI systems, particularly language models, only deliver useful results when they're provided with enough information about the task at hand. Carter uses a simple example: saying 'These apples are great' in an Apple Store versus at a market requires completely different responses. Without context, AI misfires. To prevent this, users should structure their AI interactions with four elements: persona, task, context, and desired output. For instance, when generating an email to resolve a billing dispute, instructing the AI to act as a customer service expert with knowledge of company policies results in a far better draft. This method helps convert average AI performance into exceptional productivity outcomes.
Email management is another major area where AI shines. Carter illustrates how AI can help professionals handle emotionally charged situations more diplomatically. Instead of reacting harshly to a late-night, unfair email from a supervisor, users can prompt AI to reword their message into a calmer, more professional tone. Similarly, AI can support customer service representatives by identifying missing information in client messages and drafting responses. AI also bridges language and cultural gaps, as seen in the example of a help desk using AI to translate an English reply into Malay with appropriate context and tone. These use cases demonstrate how AI makes email communication smoother, faster, and more culturally sensitive.
Beyond emails and text generation, AI is also solving more complex workplace problems. One major challenge across industries is onboarding employees onto new software. Traditionally, this required time-consuming documentation, slide decks, or screen recordings. AI-powered tools like Guidde simplify this with auto-generated tutorials, translating training content into multiple languages and updating processes with minimal manual effort. Carter uses this to illustrate a broader point: whatever your time-consuming, repetitive task may be, there’s likely an AI solution out there to streamline it.
AI’s usefulness extends into human resources, a field often bogged down by administrative duties. Carter highlights how AI tools can analyze Glassdoor reviews in minutes, quickly uncovering trends—such as dissatisfaction among new hires due to weak onboarding. In onboarding itself, platforms like Workato automate the entire process, from setting up accounts to sending training materials. These systems ensure consistency, scale effortlessly, and allow HR professionals to focus on meaningful human interactions rather than bureaucracy.
In the realm of data analysis, Carter notes that AI helps professionals move beyond data wrangling to insights and strategy. While analysts love interpreting data, cleaning it can be a major time sink. AI platforms like Microsoft Power BI or tools like ChatGPT and Claude simplify data preparation and visualization. For example, a retail analyst can quickly generate dashboards that highlight seasonal trends or performance gaps across locations. Even without full access to a client’s data, AI can help users create compelling visualizations for proposals and pitches, saving hours of manual effort.
Financial professionals also benefit. Though client relationships in finance demand a personal touch, a large portion of the job—especially preparing investment proposals—is formulaic. Carter explains how AI can prepare draft proposals and client questions, allowing professionals to spend more time fine-tuning details. For example, a financial advisor planning for a child’s future education costs can use AI to generate an initial investment strategy based on the client's financial profile. The advisor then adds personal insights—perhaps adjusting for green investment preferences or local tax implications—making the final product more valuable than AI alone could provide.
Throughout the book, Carter emphasizes the breadth of AI’s potential. A lightning round of use cases shows AI’s ability to create meeting notes with Fireflies, produce explainer videos with InVideo, scan legal documents, and even simulate job interviews. These examples show how AI isn’t limited to technical or creative fields—it touches every aspect of modern work. Whether it's producing a business card design, reviewing contracts, or preparing for a big interview, AI offers tools to work smarter and faster.
Ultimately, "Know, Decide, Act" is not a book about technology—it’s a book about mindset. Carter makes a compelling case that the professionals who thrive in the age of AI will be those who approach it with curiosity, intentionality, and a willingness to evolve. The book encourages readers to be proactive learners who constantly refine their AI skills, treat AI like a smart intern who needs guidance, and focus on high-impact, strategic work.
In conclusion, Keith Carter's message is both urgent and optimistic. AI isn’t here to replace you, but to multiply your productivity—if you know how to wield it wisely. Those who embrace AI with thoughtful context, clear goals, and a commitment to action will not only keep pace with the future of work—they'll shape it.
March 19, 2025
"Know, Decide, Act" is a must-read for anyone looking to harness AI for productivity and efficiency. Packed with real-world examples, it demystifies AI and provides clear strategies for integrating it into business and daily life.
The book highlights AI as a force multiplier—enhancing work rather than replacing jobs—and showcases how companies like Molex and Guidde have successfully leveraged AI. Guidde, for example, uses AI to streamline knowledge sharing and video documentation, making complex processes more accessible and efficient.
Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or AI enthusiast, this guide offers practical insights to help you navigate the AI revolution with confidence. Highly recommended!
The book highlights AI as a force multiplier—enhancing work rather than replacing jobs—and showcases how companies like Molex and Guidde have successfully leveraged AI. Guidde, for example, uses AI to streamline knowledge sharing and video documentation, making complex processes more accessible and efficient.
Whether you're a leader, entrepreneur, or AI enthusiast, this guide offers practical insights to help you navigate the AI revolution with confidence. Highly recommended!
October 9, 2024
Just finished reading this book and its brilliant! Easy to read and understand, it is like having a conversation with the author. Packed with practical tools that I could start using at work straight away.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews