50,000 lines of code. Four months. Part-time. In the evenings.

Normally takes 12-18 months full-time.

Bernhard isn't a coder. But he built RolePlays.AI anyway—using AI.

You have 12 months before corporates catch up.

CREATIVE TIME BLOCKS:

Bernhard blocks 1 week every 2 months for creative time. No plan, no judgment.

Summer 2025: Coaching book idea → Lovable discovery → Coach Bernhard (built in days) → RolePlays.AI (4 months, part-time)

Coach Bernhard: Free AI coaching app (ICF criteria) for clients between sessions

RolePlays.AI: AI-powered roleplay platform

• Practice difficult conversations with personas that push back
• Example: 30-year-old coach practicing retirement coaching with 60-year-old
• Customizable for companies (values, frameworks, criteria)

The Scale: Talk in Graz, Austria last week. Asked Lovable: "How many lines?" 50,000 lines = 12-18 months normally. Bernhard: 4 months part-time with Lovable + AI.

PRIVATE UNIVERSITY WITH CLAUDE:

Traditional AI courses = expensive + outdated.

Solution: Built two courses with Claude (Anthropic):

• AI Deep Dive: "You are a top AI professor" + 10-20 min content + discussion + homework
• Philosophy & Coaching

AI Scaling Problem insight: Every LLM hits a "scaling wall"—more computing power or time (plateaus at ~4 min) doesn't help past a point.

BUILDING YOUR AI TEAM:

Claude Desktop: CSO, CMO, Finance, Operations roles

Claude Cowork (Sales Agent Example):

Problem: 300 contacts, no time for sales research

Task: Excel with names + emails → "Prioritize by sales potential. Give context. Suggest pitch."

Results (30 min): Priority ratings, classifications (L&D/Coaches/Facilitators), color-coded top 10, context, pitch approach

What takes a colleague 1+ week: Done in 30 minutes.

The Human Touch: "If you're in L&D, you might get an email from me. But I'll write it personally—personal contact still matters most."

THE 12-MONTH WINDOW:

Small businesses have massive AI advantage NOW.

Corporates stuck: "An AI bot from a big company which is really crap." Can't use good tools yet (procurement, security, compliance).

Window: ~12 months before they catch up.

The Call: "We should use that window."

THIS WEEK:

Block Creative Time: 1 week/2 months, 1 day/month, or 2 hours/week

Try One Tool:

• Lovable → Build a platform
• Claude → Private University
• Claude Cowork → What task takes you a week that AI does in 30 min?

Try RolePlays.AI: 3 free scenarios, practice conversations you avoid

Use the Window: 12 months. What will you build?

THE STACK:

Lovable (12-18 months → 4 months) | Coach Bernhard (free coaching) | RolePlays.AI (practice) | Claude (University + team + Cowork)

12-month head start on corporates

LINKS:RolePlays.AI: www.roleplays.aiCoach Bernhard: www.coach-bernhard.aiLovable: www.lovable.devClaude: www.claude.aiBernhard: www.bernhardkerres.com

Coffee chat: Virtual or in Vienna

#AI #Solopreneurs #SmallBusiness #Lovable #RolePlaysAI #ClaudeAI #Cowork

Your smartwatch has more computing power than NASA used to put a man on the moon.

Let that sink in.

This episode is about what happens when computing power becomes essentially free—and why that's both terrifying and liberating.

THE JEVONS PARADOX (1865):

British economist William Stanley Jevons observed something counterintuitive: When steam engines became MORE efficient, Britain's coal consumption TRIPLED (not decreased).

Why? Efficiency makes a resource cheaper → more applications become viable → total consumption increases.

The AI parallel: As AI becomes more efficient, we don't use it less. We use it MORE. Three years ago, nobody used AI. Today? Every listener probably uses it daily.

THE FOUR-LAYER AI VALUE CHAIN:

Layer 1 - Infrastructure (Chips): NO differentiation. Chips are so cheap your smartwatch > NASA moon computer.

Layer 2 - Foundation Models (LLMs): Anthropic, OpenAI, Perplexity, etc. Not differentiating on quality anymore—now it's politics & branding. Example: Anthropic set conditions for U.S. Defense Dept work; OpenAI accepted all conditions. Branding matters: "I love Claude" vs. "Have you heard someone say 'I'm chet-chi-pting'?" (Like "Googling"—but it'll never catch on.)

Layer 3 - Applications: NOT a differentiation. Why? Building is too easy now. Bernhard built RolePlays.AI in 4 months, part-time, 50,000 lines of code. He's not a coder—AI helped him build it.

Layer 4 - Context & Orchestration: ⭐ THE DIFFERENTIATION

• Proprietary data
• Domain-specific workflows
• Deep integration into user behavior
• Specialized knowledge orchestration

McKinsey and Bain agree: Context & orchestration is where human intelligence wins.

THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH ABOUT AI COACHING:

How do AI coaching apps compare to human coaches?

Answer: AI compares well to AVERAGE coaches.

If a coach goes by the book, uses tools correctly, follows frameworks—AI will match them.

This is fortunate: It frees humans to focus on what REALLY matters. Not just standard work. Not "good standard coaching."

Anything "good standard," AI will do better.

That sets us free to be creative. To focus on problems AI can't solve.

MUSICIANS ARE SAFE:

Many musicians fear AI. Bernhard's answer: You're in one of the SAFEST spots—as long as you make GREAT music.

Why? Great music requires:

• Life understanding of your audience
• Understanding what lays behind the music
• Human depth AI won't reach anytime soon

THE PATTERN:

Wherever you have:

• Specific expertise
• Specialized knowledge
• The wish to learn and develop

Use AI for:

• Tasks you hate
• Administrative work
• Simple things that take time but don't add value

That's brilliant use of AI.

THE LEARNING IMPERATIVE:

We need to continue learning. Otherwise, AI will enter our domain quickly.

But this is great: We can use our brains in ways AI never will.

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

1. Identify your Layer 4: What's YOUR context AI doesn't have? Your proprietary knowledge? Your domain workflows?
2. Audit your AI use: Using it for tasks you hate? (Good.) Avoiding deep work, AI can't do? (Warning sign.)
3. Invest in learning: What specialized knowledge keeps you ahead?
4. Try RolePlays.AI: Practice difficult conversations. See how AI helps you prepare for human moments.

FOR COACHES: If you're "going by the book," AI will match you. Your differentiation: Context, orchestration, human depth. Be extraordinary, not average.

FOR MUSICIANS: Focus on GREAT music. Use AI for admin, not the creative core.

SELF-AWARE ENDING:

"Yes, this AI episode was not generated by AI; it was generated purely by me." - Bernhard

www.roleplays.ai | www.bernhardkerres.com

#AI #HumanIntelligence #Context #Coaching #JevonsParadox #FutureOfWork

I love building AI tools. But I'm worried we're forgetting how to connect on a human level.

This episode is about presence, encounter, and why most leaders never practice the skill that matters most.

THE 20:20:20 RULE (from Jacob Barnes / Simple Revolution):

First 20 steps: How you enter the room. Bernhard practices his keynote entrances—wooden floor? Squeaky? How does it sound? Enter with full presence.

First 20 seconds: NOT about talking. Taking in the room. Creating the bond. Finding 3-5 people to "play the room."

First 20 words: Know them by memory. "If I wake you at 3am and say 'start your keynote,' you need to be able to say them." Everything else flows from there.

YALOM'S WISDOM:

Irvin Yalom (existential therapist, fiction writer—"When Nietzsche Wept," "The Schopenhauer Cure"):

"The act of revealing oneself fully to another and still being accepted may be the major vehicle of therapeutic help."

Not fixing. Not solving. Just creating space where someone can reveal themselves. And that takes practice.

THE POWER OF SILENCE:

Bernhard shares a coaching breakthrough: The client couldn't make business decisions. Brilliant at pros/cons lists. Would create 4th and 5th options rather than deciding.

The silence revealed: Fear. Fear of not being accepted. Fear of not being enough.

"Suddenly, the silence brought us to the core."

JAPANESE WISDOM FOR COUPLES:

When in disagreement, sit for 3 minutes and look each other in the eye, then start discussing.

"Like eternity. Really difficult. But fantastic."

THE VIKTOR NOVÁK SCENARIO:

Imagine giving feedback to Viktor—52, Czech, 9 years at an NGO. Blocking grant applications. Missing deadlines. Paralyzed by fear.

What you don't know: Wife chronically ill for 3 years. Daughter in university. Supporting an aging mother. Can't afford to lose this job.

When he asks, anxious, "Am I in trouble?"—can you hold that moment? Can you stay present when he's terrified?

Most leaders can't. Because they've never practiced.

WHAT PRESENCE LOOKS LIKE:

1. Specific evidence, not judgment: "3 applications pending 4 months" NOT "You're risk-averse"
2. Impact without blame: "When applications stall, partners lose trust," NOT "You're hurting the mission."
3. Create space: "What's been happening for you?" Actually listen.
4. Hold the discomfort: Stay present when they're afraid.

THE PRACTICE GAP:

Musicians practice before stage. Olympic athletes train before competition. Pilots simulate emergencies.

Leaders? We wing the difficult conversations.

WHY ROLEPLAYS.AI:

Practice Viktor's anxiety. His defensive excuses. The moment you have to balance safety and accountability.

Not because the AI conversation is the destination. But because when you're with the REAL Viktor, you're ready to be present.

THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE:

One conversation. Practice presence.

• 20:20:20 before you enter
• Hold silence when they're uncomfortable
• Don't rush to fix. Just be there.

Try the Viktor scenario FREE at www.roleplays.ai

Remember: The practice prepares you. The real conversation is still yours.

ALSO MENTIONED:

• Bernhard's "Private University" was built on Claude (AI)
• EU requirement: AI training for all employees who use AI
• Lou Salomé (Freud's muse, Rodin's muse—"probably inspired Freud for psychotherapy")
• Graz keynote: 2 minutes of silent eye contact = "most uncomfortable situation ever"

#Presence #Leadership #Coaching #DifficultConversations #Yalom #Practice

Guest: David Martin Holte (Strategy&) | Host: Bernhard Kerres | Duration: 56 minutes

One-third of McKinsey's consultants are now AI agents. So why did David still have to show up to his client meeting?

In this conversation, Strategy& consultant David Martin Holte breaks down how AI is disrupting consulting RIGHT NOW—and shares his three-phase framework for what comes next.

THE THREE PHASES:

Phase 1: Efficiency (Now) - AI makes analysis faster, but junior consultants have the hardest job. You can't hide behind slide-making anymore. Must master prompting + analytical thinking + client skills simultaneously.

Phase 2: Symmetry (Soon) - When clients catch up with AI, many consulting tasks disappear. Everyone must "act one level up." Partners focus on what AI can't do: human interaction and coaching.

Phase 3: Autonomous (Future) - AI systems communicate with each other. Proposals generated and evaluated by AI. The new market: influencing AI outcomes (like SEO, but for AI).

THE RESONANCE THESIS:David's surprise prediction: The more technology takes over, the more valuable human "resonance" becomes. Not solutions. Not efficiency. The ability to truly connect with another human being.

"The more we use technology for everything, the more we wish for human interactions. I think this is probably just how we humans are." - David

KEY INSIGHTS:

• Junior consultants must learn to think when AI does the analysis
• Research departments struggling: "But ChatGPT says it's this way"
• Consultants practice presentations but not critical conversations
• Strategy&: Exception through Workplace Coaching course
• David's confession: "I use AI excessively for everything. I'm pretty dependent on it. It's kind of scary."
• The rare combination needed: Tech skills + emotional intelligence + resonance

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Hartmut Rosa, Resonanz
• McKinsey: 25,000 AI agents, aiming for AI parity by end of 2026
• Mario Neururer's LinkedIn post: "Wer übt fällt seinen Kollegen in den Rücken"

ABOUT DAVID:David Holte is a strategy consultant and coach enabling public sector and healthcare leaders to design resilient, future-ready organizations.

ABOUT BERNHARD:Executive coach, founder of RolePlays.AI, former opera singer turned tech CEO. Coaches at Henkel, PwC, Allianz, Strategy&. Teaches at London Business School.

TRY IT YOURSELF:Free Valentine's scenario at RolePlays.AI: Can You Get a Second Date? Practice difficult conversations with AI personas that actually push back.

These aren't chatbots. They get defensive. They make it uncomfortable. Because if you can handle a difficult first date, you can probably handle telling a CEO their transformation is failing.

www.roleplays.ai

CONNECT: www.bernhardkerres.com#CoffeeAndCoaching #AIConsulting #Resonance #FutureOfWork

In this episode, Bernhard Kerres shares insights from an unexpected meeting with 30-40 banking executives who just completed an orchestra leadership workshop. Their biggest takeaway? Even world-class musicians practice daily—but leaders rarely rehearse difficult conversations. Plus: Why the PR2 Framework matters, what to do when your opera co-star doesn't sing her lines, and why AI can't replace consultants in high-stakes meetings (yet).

Bernhard's leadership framework is based on his opera background:

1. Prepare - Understanding the wider ecosystem, project context, and company environment
2. Rehearse - Working efficiently with your team within strict time limits (like 3-hour orchestra rehearsals with one 20-minute break)
3. Perform - Authoritative leadership when it counts (example: when the house is on fire, you can't discuss feelings)
4. Reflect - The hardest part as you move up in hierarchy; requires people who give you well-founded feedback, not just praise

LINKS:

• RolePlays.AI - www.roleplays.ai (free feedback scenario available)
• Onlettvint - www.onlettvint.com (Feedback framework partner)

If you run leadership workshops or training programs:

• Orchestra leadership workshops available (contact Bernhard)
• RolePlays.AI scenarios can be customized for your organization
• Free feedback scenario available for trial
• Reach out: www.bernhardkerres.com

This Week's Challenge:Before your next difficult conversation (feedback, performance review, objective setting):

1. Identify what makes it difficult
2. Actually practice it once (even just talking through it)
3. Notice the difference

Try It:

• Visit www.roleplays.ai
• Try the free feedback scenario
• Practice a conversation you've been avoiding

Bernhard Kerres is an executive coach, founder of RolePlays.AI, and the first opera singer to become a C-level executive of multi-million Euro tech companies. He was the only artistic director of a world-leading concert house to bring his startup to Silicon Valley. Based in Vienna, Austria, he coaches executives at firms like Henkel, PwC, and Strategy&, and teaches at London Business School.

More at: www.bernhardkerres.com

LinkedIn: Connect with Bernhard Kerres
Hashtags: #CoffeeAndCoaching #Leadership #Practice #RolePlaysAI #DifficultConversations

Leadership, Executive Coaching, Difficult Conversations, Practice, Feedback, Performance Reviews, Orchestra Leadership, PR2 Framework, AI in Consulting, Banking Leadership, Situational Leadership, RolePlays.AI

Key Takeaway: Even world-class performers practice daily. When's the last time you rehearsed a difficult conversation?

#Roleplace.ai, #coaching, #AI, #difficultconversations, #entrepreneurship, #personalgrowth, #consulting, #leadership, #feedback, #technology

In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses his journey in creating ⁠RolePlays.ai⁠, a platform designed to help individuals practice difficult conversations using AI personas. He reflects on his diverse career, the challenges of scaling coaching, and the importance of practicing feedback conversations in a world increasingly influenced by AI. Bernhard shares his personal experiences, including the anxiety and excitement of entrepreneurship at nearly 60, and emphasizes the need for human interaction in consulting, especially when dealing with complex strategies and client relationships.

Takeaways

• Building ⁠RolePlays.ai⁠⁠ is a personal risk at almost 60.
• Practicing difficult conversations is essential for leaders.
• AI can assist but cannot replace human interaction.
• Feedback conversations are crucial in every industry.
• The balance of anxiety and joy is part of entrepreneurship.
• AI's role in consulting raises questions about learning.
• Difficult conversations require practice and preparation.
• The future of consulting may depend on human skills.
• Roleplace.ai aims to enhance the quality of conversations.

Key Topics:

- Bernhard's California first date disaster

- Arthur Aron's 36 Questions to Fall in Love

- Why first date skills = leadership conversation skills

- Meet Marcus (guarded divorcé) and Maya (curious nomad)

- The verdict: Would they want a second date with you?

Key Insights:

- A first date is really just one question: Can we have a real conversation?

- Most people fail first dates for the same reasons they fail work conversations

- The skills that work differ by person: Marcus needs safety, Maya needs genuine curiosity

- If you can pass the first date test, you can handle difficult conversations anywhere

Links:

- Try the first date scenario FREE: www.roleplays.ai

- Learn more about Bernhard: www.bernhardkerres.com

- Arthur Aron's 36 Questions: Search "36 questions to fall in love NYT"

Hashtags:

#firstdate #valentinesday #conversations #dating #communication #coffeeandcoaching

Call to Action:

Sign up at RolePlays.AI and try the first date scenario for free. See if you can get a second date from Marcus or Maya. Let Bernhard know how it went!

In this episode, Bernhard Kerres discusses the challenges and importance of effective conversations in the implementation of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results). He reflects on his experiences as a CEO and coach, emphasizing that the failure of OKRs often stems from inadequate conversations between managers and their teams. The episode highlights the need for practice in these conversations to ensure alignment and focus, ultimately driving better results. Bernhard introduces a new tool designed to help managers rehearse these critical discussions, making the case that understanding the theory of OKRs is not enough without the ability to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Key Topics:

• Why OKRs fail (it's the conversation, not the framework)
• Bernhard's OKR failure as CEO (trusted too much, didn't challenge enough)
• The five patterns that make OKR conversations difficult
• Why practicing with AI that pushes back prepares you for real conversations
• The 30-minute challenge: Why this scenario takes real time and real skill
• - How to adapt the scenario to your company's actual OKRs

Key Insights:

• OKRs fail when managers approve weak Key Results to avoid conflict
• The conversation requires challenging people without demotivating them
• Most managers have never practiced pushing back on activity-based OKRs
• January is when these conversations happen—practice before they go live
• Each persona conversation takes 30 minutes because real coaching takes time

Links:

• Practice OKR conversations: www.roleplays.ai or https://roleplays.ai/s/BpMSFqCJ6MMH
• Learn more about Bernhard: www.bernhardkerres.com
• Adapt the scenario to your company: Contact us at [email protected]

#OKRs #leadership #goalsetting #management #difficultconversations #performancemanagement #coffeeandcoaching

In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres discusses the impact of AI on our lives and the importance of integrating technology into education and coaching. He emphasizes the need to embrace technology, particularly AI, as a tool for accessing knowledge and enhancing our daily lives. Bernhard also highlights the unique human ability to think outside the box and the role of music and creative practices in fostering this skill. He encourages listeners to engage in daily creative exercises to unlock their potential and improve their problem-solving abilities.

Find out more about Bernhard Kerres on www.bernhardkerres.com.

Takeaways

• AI is transforming how we access knowledge and information.
• Technology is an integral part of our future and won't disappear.
• AI excels in specific subject areas but struggles with broader connections.
• Humans have the unique ability to think outside the box.
• Engaging with music can enhance creative thinking skills.
• Learning an instrument can improve cognitive abilities.
• Daily creative exercises can significantly impact problem-solving.
• Writing by hand fosters creativity and self-expression.
• AI is effective for specific tasks but lacks human intuition.
• Meta-thinking is a skill that develops with experience.

Sound bites

"Technology is always there to stay."

"AI is brilliant to think inside the box."

"Writing by hand is a great start."

#coaching #ai #artificialintelligence #execed #training

In this episode of Coffee & Coaching, Bernhard Kerres explores the use of AI in coaching, highlighting his own tool, Coach Bernhard. He underscores the significance of maintaining high-quality AI responses by using content derived from his personal coaching resources. Bernhard critiques generic AI tools for often providing subpar information and argues for adopting specialized AI applications that draw from credible, authoritative sources.

Here is a link to the tools, Bernhard mentioned:

• Coach Bernhard, an executive coaching AI chatbot based on Bernhard's teaching materials and aligned with the ICF criteria: www.coach-bernhard.ai
• RolePlays.AI, a platform to practice challenging conversations around various topics: www.roleplays.ai
• Ask Bernhard, a mentoring and guidance AI chatbot for classical musicians: www.ask-bernhard.com

Find out more about Bernhard and Bernhard Kerres & Friends on www.bernhardkerres.com!

#AI, #coaching, #chatbot, #mentoring, #largelanguagemodels, #digitaltools, #executivecoaching