A Personal Operating Model for the AI World

by Shadab Farooqui

Artificial intelligence has humbled us. It's turned the world into something of a blank canvas again. I feel lucky to be building during what might be one of the most creatively charged periods in human history.

Over the years, I’ve had the chance to work across a range of industries, solving real problems and watching small ideas find traction. Along the way, I’ve also found myself helping other builders—sometimes with product strategy, sometimes with a nudge of encouragement, and occasionally with a small check to help them clear a hurdle.

Now, in 2025, we live in a world where intelligence is just an API call away. That sounds magical, and in many ways, it is. But something’s shifting too. Words are cheap, answers even cheaper. It’s the thoughtful questions that cut to the core of what people really want that seem to be fading. Maybe that’s the cost of abundance: when everything is available, clarity becomes harder to find.

So I’ve been sketching something out for myself. A personal operating model. Nothing too rigid, because creativity needs room to breathe. But something pragmatic enough to keep me grounded while I try to build things that matter.

Here’s a first pass of a working document:

1. What DRIVES ME

I build things that feel inevitable in retrospect and human in the moment. I’m driven by curiosity, pattern recognition, and a belief that the best ideas cut across disciplines. My goal is to build products with clarity, emotional resonance, and taste. I’m not chasing trends. I aim to be early to what matters and execute with elegance, precision, and integrity.

2. What I’m World-Class At

  • Pattern Recognition Across Disciplines
    I see connections across literature, AI, psychology, and culture. I notice what others overlook.

  • Creative and Strategic Synthesis
    I operate in both modes, artistic and analytical. I can shift between bold vision and granular execution seamlessly.

  • High Taste
    I know when something feels off and I may push harder until it feels right.

  • Clarity in Complexity
    I distill complexity into intuitive frameworks to help bring structure to ambiguity.

  • Legacy-Driven Thinking
    I care about building things that last and reflect what matters. Substance over flash.

3. How I Work Best

  • I move fast when trusted. I don’t need hand-holding. I need mission clarity and space to think.

  • I value tight feedback loops. Be direct, not vague.

  • I do best with thought partners who push my thinking and sharpen the work.

  • I want full context. Don’t just tell me what to do, tell me why it matters.

4. What I’m Working On

  • Choosing depth over breadth. Fewer bets, sharper focus.

  • Letting go more so others can lead and move fast.

  • Systematizing operations so what I build is scalable by others.

  • Sharing earlier. Raw insight beats polished delay.

5. What Frustrates Me

  • Bureaucracy that slows momentum.

  • Performative work that passes for progress (what metric are we trying to solve for?).

  • Surface-level takes when the moment calls for rigor. (Your timely thoughtfulness when sharing a POV or feedback does not go unnoticed)

6. What I Value in Others

  • People with strong taste and judgment.

  • People who learn fast, explore widely and are restless to take action.

  • People who build with emotional intelligence.

  • People who move fast but stay grounded.

7. Outside of Work

I’m a father, a partner, and a student of life. I care about how ideas are passed forward. I spend real time building with my son and thinking about what the next generation inherits. I value clarity, laughter and good vibes.

8. If You’re Working With Me

  • Bring insight. Have a POV.

  • Speak up early if something’s off. I respect directness over politeness.

  • Expect to be pushed. I’m always raising the bar.

  • We’re not just shipping features. We’re building something that matters to both of us for reasons we’ve put in writing.