Anthropic’s new mid-tier model does nearly what its flagship does at half the price — and the week’s bigger story is that control, not raw capability, is becoming the thing worth paying for. Originally published as The Decision Layer, Issue 9 (week of July 20–26, 2026). References to “last week” and “Friday” reflect that period….
Business AI may change the expectations placed on LBM dealers before it changes the lumberyard itself. The competitive threat isn't an AI-powered dealer — it's a well-run dealer whose people now have better tools. AI may change the expectations placed on LBM dealers before it changes the lumberyard itself. Builders, remodelers, and contractors are beginning…
Not a technology initiative — a leadership tool. Six months of using AI to stress-test decisions, protect margin, and sharpen execution. Over the past six months, I have used AI as a structured thinking partner in my role as CEO to bring greater clarity, discipline, and execution focus to Tara Manufacturing. This has not been…
Most small and mid-sized companies don’t need to build their own AI model. They need a better way to organize and use the knowledge they already have. I have been working through what a company-wide AI knowledge system could actually look like inside a real business, and the more I work on it, the more…
The most useful distinction in AI right now: the AI you drive, and the AI you delegate to. Knowing which mode you’re in is the whole game. I read a piece recently on how reliable AI actually is. It was careful work, and it stuck with me—not because of anything it got wrong, but because…
A step-by-step exercise for creating a reference that helps people and AI tools collaborate with you the way you actually work. Purpose This exercise helps you create a personal operating manual that explains how you think, communicate, make decisions, lead, solve problems, and prefer to work with AI. The goal is not to create a…
AI isn’t about robots or automation — it’s about real, measurable improvements in sales, operations, and profitability. Every department can start small, stay secure, and scale what works. Picture this: a salesperson walks into a call already knowing their customer’s top products, pricing patterns, and two smart questions to start the conversation. That’s not science…
Dealers are finding practical, low-cost ways to use AI — not to automate jobs, but to help people work faster, see patterns sooner, and make better decisions. Artificial intelligence has officially crossed from novelty to necessity in the LBM industry. Roughly half of U.S. businesses now use AI in some capacity, and dealer adoption is…
The first meaningful AI ROI may come from one leader using it well. We recently ran an internal valuation exercise at Tara Manufacturing based on one executive’s use of Generative AI over the last 8 months. Using a disciplined business-value framework, we estimated that work created roughly $650,000 in company value during that period. That…
Most AI coverage tells you what happened. This brief tells you what it means, and what to do next. Opening Note Something shifted in June, and it is worth naming before we get into the details. For two years the AI story was about which model is smartest. In June it became a different story:…