Picture this…

Benjamin Franklin, a polymath and Founding Father of the United States, and Elon Musk, an entrepreneur known for his futuristic ventures, are considering a partnership.

Their goal? Let’s say it’s to revolutionize the public education system. Intriguing, isn't it?

But wait, their styles, timelines, and even their worldviews are centuries apart. How can they ensure their partnership will work?

Enter Generative AI Chatbots.

Chatbots, powered by advanced AI, are not just customer service tools. They're conversational agents that can help bridge the gap between different personalities, cultures, and even timelines.

In a business setting, these bots can facilitate dialogues to align values, set expectations, and make the partnership more productive. They can emulate the mindset of each party involved, identifying both converging and diverging points of view.

You might wonder why you should consider this approach. Imagine a machine that can assess human emotions, values, and operational preferences with near-human accuracy, 24/7. A well-calibrated chatbot can effectively identify potential stumbling blocks in a partnership before they become an issue.

For example, Benjamin Franklin may value slow, methodical progress based on community dialogue, while Elon Musk might be geared towards rapid implementation and technological solutions. A chatbot can help them find a middle ground that honors both approaches.

AI Partnership Analysis: An Example Using Famous People

I used ChatGPT 4.0 to help me walk through this example.

PROMPT 1:

Type the following into ChatGPT or your other favorite generative AI chatbot.

Results:

Benjamin Franklin is one of the most studied and respected figures in American history, known for his varied interests and contributions to multiple fields. Through his writings, especially his autobiography, along with actions and accounts from biographers, we can discern some of his most important values.

1. Frugality

Proof: One of Franklin's famous aphorisms is "A penny saved is a penny earned." He was known for living frugally and wisely managing his resources, as detailed in his autobiography.

2. Industry

Proof: Franklin was keen on hard work and productivity, famously creating a daily schedule he tried to follow. His rise from a printer's apprentice to one of the most influential figures in America is a testament to his industrious nature.

3. Integrity

Proof: Franklin was appointed the Postmaster of Philadelphia, and later, for all the American colonies, primarily because of his reputation for fairness and honesty. His dealings, as documented by biographers like Walter Isaacson, were often marked by integrity.

4. Self-Education and Intellectual Curiosity

Proof: Franklin had little formal education but was a voracious reader and self-taught polymath. He also founded the Junto, a club for mutual improvement in Philadelphia.

5. Civic Duty

Proof: Franklin founded Pennsylvania's first firefighting brigade and the American Philosophical Society. He was deeply involved in public works and believed in contributing to the welfare of his community.

6. Optimism

Proof: Franklin was known for his positive outlook on life, encapsulated by his famous saying, "Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight."

7. Humility

Proof: Franklin initially included "Imitate Jesus and Socrates" in his list of virtues in his autobiography. Though he admitted he was never able to live up to this completely, the intention shows humility.

8. Pragmatism

Proof: His role in the drafting of the U.S. Constitution and his famous compromise proposals show a deeply pragmatic streak. He was known for finding middle-ground solutions in tense situations.

9. Innovation

Proof: From inventing bifocal glasses to his experiments with electricity, Franklin was a tireless innovator. His work laid the foundation for many practical applications of new technologies.

10. Pursuit of Happiness and Well-being

Proof: Franklin paid close attention to personal improvement, not just moral virtues but also physical well-being. His 13 virtues, which he practiced and charted weekly, aimed at creating a fulfilling life.

By studying Franklin's life and writings, we can gain a comprehensive understanding of his values, many of which are as relevant today as they were in his time.

PROMPT 2:

Results:

Elon Musk is an entrepreneurial icon of our time, known for his ventures that aim to alter the course of humanity in various ways. His values can be gleaned from his numerous interviews, his companies' missions, and biographies like Ashlee Vance's "Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future."

1. Innovation and Risk-Taking

Proof: Musk is a serial entrepreneur who has been involved in groundbreaking ventures like PayPal, SpaceX, and Tesla. His willingness to invest personal funds in his companies, like when he poured much of his PayPal earnings into SpaceX and Tesla, demonstrates his affinity for risk in pursuit of innovation.

2. Long-Term Vision

Proof: His goal to make humanity a multi-planetary species through SpaceX showcases his long-term vision. Similarly, Tesla's mission isn't just to make electric cars but to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy.

3. Tenacity

Proof: After multiple failures of SpaceX launches, Musk decided to keep going when many others would have given up. His tenacity was rewarded with successful subsequent launches that have since changed the landscape of private space travel.

4. Pragmatism

Proof: Musk is known for setting ambitious timelines that are often not met but do serve to push his team and create a sense of urgency. This shows a pragmatic approach to achieving grand visions.

5. Openness and Transparency

Proof: Musk is incredibly active on social media platforms like Twitter, where he directly communicates with the public. He frequently updates on the progress of his ventures, even discussing setbacks and failures openly.

6. Self-Improvement and Learning

Proof: Musk has famously mentioned that he read the entire Encyclopedia Britannica at age nine and taught himself rocket science through textbooks. His constant push for self-improvement is evident in the range of fields he has ventured into.

7. Autonomy and Independence

Proof: His desire to lessen humanity's dependency on non-renewable energy and make life interplanetary can be seen as a pursuit of greater autonomy and independence for humanity as a whole.

8. Sustainability

Proof: Tesla's mission is inherently tied to sustainability, aiming to reduce the world's reliance on fossil fuels. SolarCity, another of his ventures, also aligns with this value.

9. Competitive Spirit

Proof: From challenging established automobile manufacturers with Tesla to competing with national space agencies with SpaceX, Musk's competitive spirit is evident.

10. Curiosity and Wonder

Proof: Projects like the Hyperloop and Neuralink demonstrate Musk's curiosity to explore uncharted territories. His ventures often appear to be inspired by science fiction, pointing to a sense of wonder about the universe.

Elon Musk's values, showcased through his actions and visions, paint a picture of a man deeply invested in shaping the future, often in ways that many would consider audacious or even impossible. In terms of business philosophy, his values align closely with the idea that businesses should aim for more than just profit; they should aim to make a significant impact on humanity's future.

PROMPT 3:

This is the most important prompt, and is the one you will definitely be using for your own values and communication analysis. Replace [NAME 1] and [NAME 2].

Results:

Comprehensive Business Compatibility Report: Benjamin Franklin & Elon Musk

Introduction

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's not every day you analyze a hypothetical partnership between two epoch-defining figures separated by centuries. Today, we embark on a fascinating conative and psychological exploration of how Benjamin Franklin and Elon Musk would collaborate were they to design and roll out a new public education system. These analyses take into account their core values, working methodologies, and potential areas of synergy and conflict.

Areas of Overlap and Synergy

1. Long-Term Vision and Civic Duty

Both figures are guided by a long-term vision for humanity. Franklin's initiatives, like founding the first public library and Musk's goals, like making humanity multi-planetary, stem from their civic duty. Their collaboration would likely focus on the long-term impact of the educational system, striving for revolutionary change.

2. Industry and Tenacity

Both are exceptionally industrious and tenacious. They believe in the virtue of hard work and overcoming challenges. This shared value would drive them to put in the hours and energy required to make their venture successful.

3. Innovation and Intellectual Curiosity

Both Musk and Franklin are known for their broad interests and ceaseless innovation. Whether it's Franklin's bifocal glasses or Musk's Hyperloop, innovation is at the core of their values. An educational system developed by them would likely be filled with groundbreaking approaches and technologies.

4. Pragmatism

Both figures display a strong sense of pragmatism. While idealistic in their long-term visions, they also understand the importance of achievable, incremental steps. Their collaboration would balance the visionary with the feasible.

5. Self-Education and Learning

Both are autodidacts who value self-improvement and education. This commonality would drive them to create an educational system that fosters lifelong learning, critical thinking, and intellectual curiosity.

Areas of Potential Conflict and Friction

1. Autonomy vs. Community Involvement

Franklin's civic duty often extended to community involvement and public works, whereas Musk's sense of autonomy and independence can lead him to operate with less communal input. This difference might cause tension in how they believe the educational system should be managed.

2. Risk Tolerance

While both are innovative, Franklin’s approach is often based on gradual, thoughtful experimentation, whereas Musk is known for taking significant risks. Their different levels of risk tolerance could lead to disagreements on the pace and scale of implementing new ideas.

3. Transparency and Public Persona

Musk is very public and transparent, often sharing updates and thoughts on social media. Franklin, although a public figure in his own right, was more reserved and diplomatic. Their different approaches to public communication could be a friction point.

4. Focus on Sustainability

Musk's focus on sustainability, especially in the context of climate change, might not align entirely with Franklin's historical context, which lacked today's emphasis on sustainability.

Strategies for Harmonious Collaboration

Approach by Benjamin Franklin

1. Communicate Openly: Given Musk's value of transparency, Franklin should openly share his thought processes and potential reservations about risk levels or community involvement.

2. Incremental Innovation: Franklin could appeal to Musk's innovative spirit but suggest a more phased approach to changes, presenting this as a form of "iterative innovation."

Approach by Elon Musk

1. Community Focus: Musk could make concessions to include more community input, recognizing Franklin's strong belief in civic duty and community involvement.

2. Balance Risk with Reward: While Musk might advocate for high-risk, high-reward initiatives, he should also consider Franklin's more cautious approach as a balancing strategy for long-term success.

Conclusion

"In the long history of humankind, those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed." - Charles Darwin

The hypothetical partnership between Benjamin Franklin and Elon Musk offers a tantalizing blend of shared values and complementing qualities. By acknowledging and mitigating their differences, they could combine their strengths to create an educational system that is not only revolutionary but also sustainable and inclusive.

And so, in this imagined alliance, we find a model of how leaders with differing methods but overlapping values can synergize their efforts for the greater good.

Through conscientious dialogue and compromise, Benjamin Franklin and Elon Musk could indeed rewrite the rules of public education, each enriching the project with their unique but harmonizing sets of values and virtues.

Now it’s your turn…

The 7-Step Framework for Partnership Values and Communication Alignment (for the not-as-yet-famous-people)

1. Find your values

1. Find a list of values by searching on the internet or make the process more tactile by getting The One Thing Core Values Deck.

2. If using the cards method, look through the deck of values and consider each card.

3. Create a shortlist pile of value cards that resonate with you and discard the rest. (Most people choose 10-15 at this stage.)

4. Review your shortlist pile and choose your Top 3 values.

5. Yes, many people find it hard to narrow it down to just three. If that’s you, then you can try creating a column of related cards and float one to the top that, for you, encompasses all the others below. Get it down to three columns and whatever you find on top are the winners.

6. Some people choose a Business Top 3 and a Personal Top 3. That’s actually great for what comes next.

2. Prompt the chatbot with YOUR values

Prompt:

Replace the [values] with yours and remove the brackets.

I won’t muddy up this already long newsletter with the results for the values listed in the prompt above.

3. Ask your prospective partner to go through the “finding your values” exercise in Step 1 above

4. Prompt the chatbot with THEIR values

5. Now use PROMPT 3 from the Elon Musk, Benjamin Franklin example above

6. Read and discuss results with your prospective partner. The dialogue is where the magic happens.

Essentially NO ONE does this when creating a new business or entering into a creative collaboration (or before getting married)! Do this and you will create a solid foundation built on trust, honesty, and transparency.

7. Say “Yes!” emphatically or call it quits before you waste any more time

Summary

Generative AI chatbots aren’t simply useful for getting information and cleaning up how you express that information.

It’s also a tool to help you think through problems strategically, explore philosophical quandaries, and work through conflicts with colleagues, partners, lovers, and family.

What an amazing time to be alive!!!

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