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GO FORWARD THOUGHT OF THE WEEK ➡️
Here’s the hard truth: AI won’t save your business. But your approach to using AI will.
Most companies assume AI is a plug-and-play solution. Buy the tools, use the prompts, and productivity skyrockets, right?
Wrong.
The truth is, AI is only as effective as the systems you build around it. Without structure, it turns into just another distraction: wasted potential, wasted time, wasted money.
Think about an F1 pit crew. The guy lifting the car isn’t the one changing the tires. The tire gunner operating the wheel gun isn’t the one watching for oncoming traffic. Every role is precisely defined, and the whole system works because each person is executing exactly what they need to do at the right time.
AI adoption should work the same way. It’s not just about getting the tools. What you need to focus on is making sure that every team member knows their role in the system and how AI fits into their workflow.
There are a few ways to go about this. First and most important is rewarding early adopters. The employees who experiment, build, and test AI tools should be recognized for using AI and helping the entire team move forward. Highlighting their wins creates momentum, turning small successes into company-wide adoption.
Here's what most people miss. The true value of AI doesn’t come from the tools themselves, it comes from how people use them. AI isn’t here to replace your best employees; it’s here to make them better at what they do best.
The companies that are thriving aren’t using AI to shrink their teams; they’re using it to increase margins, unlock new opportunities, and push their best talent further (I talked about this a few months ago).
Too many businesses get stuck in cost-cutting mode, thinking AI is a way to reduce payroll. That’s the wrong mindset. AI isn’t about replacing people, it’s about expanding what’s possible with the people you already have.
Instead of asking, “How many jobs can I replace?” ask, “How much more can my people achieve with AI?” The companies leading in AI aren’t shrinking, they’re growing! Every day I see companies who are outpacing competitors stuck in a scarcity “cost-cutting” mindset.
Amazon plans to terminate over 14,000 managerial positions to save $3.5 billion annually. Meta, Microsoft, and countless others are making similar moves. The message is clear… operational efficiency is king, and specialization is becoming a luxury.
AI adoption is about growth, not just efficiency. And the shift is happening faster than anyone expected:
- 23.5% of U.S. companies have already replaced workers with AI
- Businesses using AI agents see a 61% productivity increase
- Brands now expect agencies to deliver twice the work in half the time
- AI is eliminating agency jobs 9x faster than predicted just a year ago
This isn’t something that’s coming in five years, it’s happening now.
If your team isn’t using AI to its full potential, you’re leaving time, money, and opportunities on the table.
If this sounds interesting to you—it's exactly what I help founders do—turn AI from an expense into a real growth driver.
I've built multiple professional services companies over the past 20 years, and I believe that any service-based business or consultancy is facing an existential threat right now. The good news? There's a solution. I call it Eat Your Agency.
If you're serious about making AI work for your business, mention this email when you reach out, and you'll get 10% off your workshop. Let’s future-proof your company together.
Talk to you soon,
Pete
Please take a second and hit the FWD button ▶️, to share this email with your favorite growth-obsessed peer. I want to inspire 1 million awesome minds like you.
