The AI Shift: Sink or Soar?

¡AY AY AY, AI!

Weekly newsletter to help you master the new rules for success in the AI age

It’s late, and instead of resting like a sensible person, I’m chasing AI updates like abuelita chasing you with a chancla when you don’t listen. Every new breakthrough, every industry shift, every expert prediction—it’s all moving at lightning speed, and I can’t look away.

Some days, I’m energized by the possibilities. Other days, I wonder if the skills and strategies that built my success will soon be as outdated as a flip phone. The truth is, for seasoned leaders, this moment is both an opportunity and a test. We have the experience and wisdom to navigate change, but we also have to fight the instinct to cling to what’s familiar. Reinvention isn’t just about learning new tools—it’s about recognizing when the old playbook no longer works.

And let’s be honest, that’s not always easy. It takes courage to challenge what once felt like unshakable truths. It’s unsettling to take risks when we’ve spent years proving ourselves. But here’s the thing—adaptability has always been our edge. The same resilience, curiosity, and resourcefulness that got us here will take us forward. The only question is: are we willing to embrace the shift?

That’s what this newsletter is here for. Let’s dig in.

This Week’s Insights:

How China’s DeepSeek AI is shaking up the global AI race
The unlearning process: Why adaptability is your biggest asset
AI prompts to help you experiment, learn, and stay ahead

TRENDS

AI DISRUPTION: The DeepSeek Effect

DeepSeek AI launch shook up the tech world like a surprise plot twist in a telenovela—just when everyone thought they knew the storyline, a new player changed the game.

What you need to know:

DeepSeek's cutting-edge AI model uses less advanced chips and requires lower-cost hardware
DeepSeek's AI model efficiency requires less power and reduces data center energy consumption
DeepSeek learns by doing and develops its own reasoning abilities, leading to a more robust and adaptable intelligence

Why it matters:

DeepSeek requires significantly lower resources yet outperforms OpenAI, leveling the playing field, and challenging USA's dominance in AI. DeepSeek's success, however, is a net positive as it lowers the barrier to entry and accelerates research and innovation.

TIPS

The Real Key to Success: Unlearning First, Then Learning Fast

When everything around you is shifting at breakneck speed, the ability to adapt isn’t just an advantage—it’s survival.

But here’s the catch: before you can fully embrace new skills and strategies, you have to recognize what’s holding you back. Ask yourself: What belief or habit am I clinging to that no longer serves me?

Maybe it’s the idea that working harder is the only way to get ahead. Or that being the most knowledgeable person in the room is what makes you valuable. In reality, the people who thrive in times of transformation aren’t the ones who know everything—they’re the ones who are willing to question, experiment, and keep learning.

Growth doesn’t start with adding more to your plate. It starts with letting go of what no longer fits. The shift from all-knowing to always learning is where the real power lies.

TOOLS

Get Hands-On: The Fastest Way to Learn AI

The best way to understand AI isn’t by reading about it—it’s by rolling up your sleeves and putting it to work. Think of it like learning to cook from your abuelita—you don’t master the recipe by watching, you do it by getting your hands in the masa.

Start by signing up for one of the top AI tools—ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Claude—whichever one sparks your interest. Once you’re set up, use these step-by-step prompts to build new skills and insights with a structured approach.

AI Prompts to Get You Started:

Core Values: “Create a list of powerful questions to help me uncover my core values and align my goals with these values, using Self-Determination Theory by Deci and Ryan.”
Future Vision: "Develop a framework for conducting a ‘future self’ visioning session, including prompts and reflection questions to guide me, based on Possible Selves Theory by Hazel Markus."
Unique Strengths: “Generate a list of creative exercises or activities to help me identify and leverage my unique strengths in both personal and professional settings, using the Strengths-Based Approach by Clifton and Anderson.”

AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a collaborator. The sooner you start experimenting, the faster you’ll see how it can amplify your growth.

What is one thing you will unlearn this week?

Until next week… keep learning, keep growing, and keep blazing your own trail—just like Selena reminded us, “Lo imposible es posible.”

Abrazos,
Monica Marquez

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