Don’t Boil the Ocean to Make Pasta: A Smarter Approach to AI Adoption

You don’t have to boil the ocean to make pasta. You just need a pot.

That simple analogy captures one of the biggest mistakes I see organizations make when approaching data and AI. Too often, leaders believe they must tackle everything at once, every dataset, every workflow, every system, before they can begin. The result is overwhelming scope, stalled projects, and missed opportunities.

The reality is that successful AI adoption doesn’t require you to transform your entire enterprise data strategy all at once. It requires identifying the right area to burst down: a focused, high-value use case where clean data, strong governance, and clear ROI can deliver immediate impact. By starting small, proving value, and scaling deliberately, organizations can build confidence and momentum without drowning in complexity.

In this piece, I’ll share practical principles for how to avoid overreach, accelerate adoption, and make AI work for your business—one pot at a time.

So how do you avoid boiling the ocean while still moving toward becoming a frontier firm? Here are five guiding principles:

1. Start Small, Win Big

• Identify one or two pain points in your business processes—those repetitive, frustrating tasks that drain time and energy.
• Build agents or AI solutions to address those specific challenges.
• Quick wins create momentum, demonstrate ROI, and build trust across the organization.

2. Clean Data Before You Cook

• AI agents are only as good as the data they consume.
• Focus on data hygiene: eliminate duplicates, enforce governance, and establish a single source of truth.
• Think of it as prepping ingredients before cooking—clean, organized data ensures your AI “recipe” works.

3. Security Is the Secret Sauce

• Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative highlights the importance of observability and identity-based controls.
• As agents gain access to sensitive workflows, security must be embedded at every layer, like “who has access to this agent?” and “what does this agent have access to?”
• Treat security not as a compliance checkbox, but as a core ingredient in your AI strategy.

4. Give Your Agents Knowledge

• Microsoft introduced Fabric IQ, Work IQ, and Foundry IQ; frameworks that give agents contextual knowledge.
• Think of IQ as the seasoning that makes AI agents effective. Without context, they’re bland; with it, they can deliver more nuanced, targeted outcomes.
• Invest in contextual data integration so agents can act like true co-workers.

5. Scale Iteratively, Not All at Once

• Resist the urge to launch enterprise-wide AI programs immediately.
• Instead, adopt a use-case-by-use-case strategy.
• Each successful deployment builds confidence and maturity, preparing your organization for larger-scale transformation.

Closing Thought

AI adoption isn’t about boiling oceans, it’s about using the right pot, at the right time, with the right ingredients. By starting small, focusing on clean data, embedding security, and scaling iteratively, organizations can transform workflows without overwhelming themselves.

The future of AI is here, but it doesn’t require a tidal wave. Sometimes, all it takes is a clear recipe for success.