Field notes from Cairn Advisory

A cairn on a trail marks the path.

Short, specific essays on AI for operators of small and mid-sized businesses. Direct, anti-hype, drawn from real work inside real companies.

Case study · 6 min read

44 handouts, four tools, one solo practice.

What AI advisory work actually looks like inside a single solo medical practice — a complete patient handout library, four interactive tools, and the reusable infrastructure that keeps it growing.

05 · 2026 6 min Read →
Engagement · 7 min read

What it actually means to run an AI assessment.

"AI Assessment" is becoming one of those phrases that sounds important — but often means very little. The five steps a real one walks through, and what you should walk away with.

04 · 2026 7 min Read →
Hiring & vendors · 6 min read

How to tell if someone actually knows what they're doing in AI.

There's a lot of confidence in the AI market right now. There's not nearly as much competence. Five filters for telling them apart before you spend.

04 · 2026 6 min Read →
Strategy · 5 min read

Start with the problem, not the model.

The companies actually getting value from AI aren't starting with the technology — they're starting with a specific, measurable problem. Why solution-first thinking stalls.

04 · 2026 5 min Read →
© 2026 Cairn Advisory · Jacob Fenton ← Back to home