A few days ago, I got access to something called Manus—a programmable assistant that doesn’t just automate tasks, but collaborates in context.

And as soon as I logged in, it greeted me with:

“Hello Leon Basin. What can I do for you?”

Not revolutionary. But it landed. Because it wasn’t just a prompt—it was a posture.

That small sentence mirrored something deeper:

• What am I building?
• What type of operator am I becoming?
• What role do tools play in how I lead?

Manus didn’t feel like another dashboard. It felt like an invitation.

To shape how I work. To think in blocks, not bullets. To architect flows, not just execute tasks.

Inside the Tool

• Generating startup lists (hello, GTM research)
• Creating travel handbooks
• Sourcing suppliers
• Running stock deep dives
• Structuring insurance policy comparisons

But what mattered wasn’t what it could do—it was that every example had structure and soul. Not “do this for me.” But: “Let’s think together.”

Thinking With Your Tools

What Manus reminded me is this: we often evaluate AI tools on performance. But great tools shift our posture—not just our productivity.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be using Manus to:

• Build a GTM signal lab
• Prototype secure systems with agentic scaffolding
• Think with my tools, not just through them

What can your tools do—for the leader you’re becoming?

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💬 Your Turn

Have a tool that’s shifted how you think or lead? Drop your favorite below—I’d love to hear how you’re navigating the new posture of leadership in an AI-first world.