What I Learned Using AI to Help Me Write "The Fab Four Pillars of Excellence"

When I first considered writing a book about The Beatles and their blueprint for excellence, I faced a familiar author's dilemma: how to efficiently transform decades of knowledge, research, and passion into a cohesive manuscript. As someone who had spent years studying The Beatles' journey and connecting their story to principles of business success, I had accumulated mountains of material—presentations, notes, recordings, personal reflections. But organizing it all felt overwhelming. Then I discovered the potential of AI as a writing partner, and it transformed my approach to "The Fab Four Pillars of Excellence." Here's what I learned along the way:

Just as The Beatles embraced innovation to redefine music, today’s leaders must harness AI to revolutionize business and teamwork.

The Power of Conversation Over Composition

I discovered that speaking my thoughts aloud produced better results than traditional writing. When sitting down to write, I'd get stuck on sentences, fussing over word choice and structure. But when simply talking through my ideas—explaining Beatles history, drawing connections to business principles, or sharing personal anecdotes—the words flowed naturally.

Recording these conversations helped me transform them into polished prose while maintaining my authentic voice. This conversational approach felt more genuine and allowed me to share insights more effectively than staring at a blank page.

Structure Emerges from Stories

One of my biggest challenges was organizing the vast Beatles mythology into coherent lessons. Throughout my writing process, I discovered that the structure of the book—the Fab Four Pillars of Excellence—became clearer as I shared more stories.

Rather than forcing stories to fit a predetermined structure, I found that the right framework emerged organically from the narratives themselves. The Beatles' journey naturally revealed these pillars: getting the right people in the right seats on the bus; creating a catalytic vision; building esprit de corps; and embracing the magical mystery of synergy and serendipity.

Personal Connections Matter Most

While AI tools helped with organization and research, I learned that readers connect most deeply with my personal reflections. My experiences coaching basketball with Ed Pepple, playing on a state championship football team, or leading Absher Construction became crucial bridges connecting Beatles lessons to real-world applications.

These personal stories weren't afterthoughts—they became central to the book's impact. With some technological assistance, I recognized patterns between Beatles experiences and my own that I might have otherwise missed.

Finding the Balance Between Expert and Storyteller

Technology helped me strike a balance between demonstrating Beatles expertise and being an engaging storyteller. Rather than drowning readers in facts and minutiae that only hardcore fans would appreciate, I focused on stories that illuminated leadership principles while maintaining accuracy.

Using AI as a research assistant helped me identify when I was getting too deep into Beatles trivia versus when I was making meaningful connections to excellence in business and teams.

The Joy Returns to Writing

Perhaps most surprisingly, using modern writing tools rekindled my joy in the writing process. What started as an overwhelming project became manageable and exciting. I could focus on what I loved most—sharing the Beatles' journey and the lessons I'd drawn from it—while technology helped organize my thoughts.

My passion for the Beatles and their lessons on excellence came through clearly because I wasn't bogged down in mechanical aspects of the writing process.

For anyone considering writing a book on a subject they're passionate about, I'd suggest considering AI as a research and organizational tool. It won't write your book—your knowledge, insights, and voice are essential—but it might help you discover connections, maintain momentum, and preserve the joy that made you want to write in the first place.

After all, as The Beatles knew well, sometimes the most innovative approaches yield the most enduring excellence.

Take Your Leadership to the Next Level

Just as modern tools helped me organize ideas and structure a compelling story, the right leadership approach can transform how teams collaborate and innovate. Led by me, Dan Absher, our in-person workshop brings Beatles-inspired leadership lessons to life. Through high-touch, interactive sessions, you'll learn how to build high-performing teams, foster creativity, and develop a culture of collaboration—just like The Beatles did.

Ready to lead with excellence? Explore Fab Four Academy and book a workshop with me today.