In a recent LinkedIn post, Heather Monahan highlights a critical disconnect between executives’ stated desire to adopt Artificial Intelligence and their actual daily operational realities. Monahan, sharing her experiences from a recent AI Breakthrough Weekend, observes that the demanding schedules of many senior leaders present a significant, often overlooked, barrier to meaningful AI integration.
Monahan recounts an observation from a gathering of executives who expressed a strong commitment to AI. However, upon reviewing their calendars, she identified a stark contrast. She notes:
“These leaders live on manager schedules, back to back 30-minute meetings with every minute accounted for. AI doesn’t work on a manager schedule. ☝️ You can’t redesign how your business runs in the 4 minutes between a Zoom and a lunch.”
The Myth of AI Adoption on a Manager’s Schedule
Heather Monahan argues that the conventional, fragmented meeting structure that characterizes many executive calendars is fundamentally incompatible with the deep, focused work required for effective AI implementation. She emphasizes that genuine progress in building AI systems necessitates extended, uninterrupted periods for strategic thinking, experimentation, and workflow redesign.
Monahan references Joshua Wohle’s concept of “maker time,” which she posits is essential for this type of work. Wohle’s insight, as shared by Monahan, is that the commitment to this focused time is “boring on purpose.” The implication is that dedicating consistent, albeit seemingly mundane, blocks of time is the key to long-term, transformative progress.
Protecting ‘Maker Time’ for AI Success
According to Monahan, the executives who were genuinely advancing with AI initiatives shared a common practice: they protected a recurring weekly block of time dedicated to building their AI operating system. This “build block” was treated with the same importance as a board meeting, signaling a serious commitment to AI development.
Monahan elaborates on this point, stating:
“Those weekly blocks compound. You barely notice the progress until suddenly your whole workflow is different. 🔥”
She draws a parallel to her own 20-year career as a CRO, where significant breakthroughs occurred during periods intentionally set aside for focused thought, rather than reactive tasks. This personal experience reinforces her assertion that structured, protected time is not a luxury but a prerequisite for innovation.
Identifying the Real Blocker
The core issue, as Heather Monahan identifies it, lies in the gap between the desire to implement AI and the actual utilization of it. She frames this challenge as a question directed at leaders:
“When was the last time you had 2 uninterrupted hours to actually build something? If you can’t answer that, you found your real blocker.”
Monahan shares her own decisive action upon returning from the AI Breakthrough Weekend: blocking two hours every Tuesday morning for AI development, a significant departure from her previous calendar management. This personal commitment underscores her belief in the power of dedicated time for strategic initiatives.
In conclusion, Heather Monahan’s analysis on LinkedIn serves as a compelling reminder that successful AI adoption requires more than just executive intent; it demands a fundamental shift in how time is managed and protected to allow for the deep, focused work essential for innovation.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Heather Monahan on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on August 8, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →