A Grow Givers Project convo turned field guide for real-world builders.
Let’s keep it real: AI isn’t a magic pill, but it’s not optional either. The folks who learn how to use it will run laps around everyone else. And yes, access is uneven. Not everybody has fast internet or the same digital literacy. So the “playing field” isn’t level yet. That means there’s going to be opportunity and disruption at the same time.
So what’s actually different this time?
Change used to come in decades. Agriculture → factories → services → internet. Each jump took years. AI moves in months. Tools you learn in January can be outdated by June. That speed is exciting if you’re an early adopter, and terrifying if you’re waiting for perfect certainty.
“Will AI take my job?”
Not exactly. People who know how to use AI will take the jobs (and clients) from people who don’t. That’s the truth. The tool itself doesn’t replace you, but someone who’s faster, cheaper, and more consistent with the tool will.
But access isn’t equal (and that matters)
We can’t pretend everyone has fiber at home and a MacBook on the desk. In Detroit and plenty of other cities, there are still internet deserts. During the pandemic, that gap showed up in grades; with AI, it’ll show up in revenue. If you serve these communities, design for low-bandwidth, phone-first, and in-person support. It’s the difference between “nice idea” and “usable.”
What to learn (and what to ignore)
Here’s where a lot of people get stuck: tool tourism. They bounce from app to app, get overwhelmed, and do nothing. Don’t do that.
Try this instead:
Pick two workflows that cost you time or money (lead sorting, follow-ups, proposals, transcriptions, scheduling).
Learn one tool per workflow that makes it faster or better.
Document a one-page SOP so you (or your team) can repeat it.
General AI knowledge is good. Specific, revenue-linked workflows are better.
Where the wins are (right now)
Human connection as a moat. AI can clean your list. It can’t build trust like you can.
A recent real-estate deal closed because we started with the seller’s story—legacy, goals, frustrations—before we ever talked price. Ninety percent rapport, ten percent terms. Try automating that.Skilled trades + CRM. If you get invited into a home, you’ve earned trust. Capture it. Build a database. Offer seasonal plans. Stay top-of-mind.
Logistics & consolidation. As smaller carriers fold or merge, there’s a legit play in buying equipment/assets and reselling/leasing to the winners.
Therapy, coaching, companionship, wellness. Disruption spikes anxiety and loneliness. Services that meet human needs go up, not down.
Database monetization (ethically). Many owners sit on 2–10k contacts and do nothing with them. Acquire lists with consent, clean with AI, offer real value, and revive dormant revenue.
A simple 30-day plan (no fluff)
Week 1 – Map it
List 5 time-sucking tasks.
Baseline time/cost/error for each.
Week 2 – Pick 2 to automate
Choose one tool per task.
Write a one-page “When X happens, Tool Y does Z.”
Week 3 – Clean your contacts
Centralize in a CRM.
Use AI to dedupe/verify and tag.
Create one 5-email nurture and one 3-step re-engagement.
Week 4 – Add human touch back in
Make 5 relationship calls a day to the AI-flagged top contacts.
Track: convos held, meetings booked, deals advanced.
By Day 30, aim for:
25–40% less admin time on those two tasks
2× more qualified conversations each week
1 new, testable offer to your list
Two SOPs you can hand off tomorrow
Short on resources? Batch your AI work into one 90-minute block a week and use free tools. Public library Wi-Fi and community coworking exist—use them.
Hiring (and keeping) people in an AI world
Hire slow, test fast. Paid trial projects with a 24-hour deliverable.
Stress-test learning. New tool, short deadline, and see how they adapt.
Fire fast, land soft. If it’s not a fit, exit with respect and a warm intro.
The language that actually sells
People don’t buy “features.” They buy relief.
Start with their story (legacy, risk, desired outcome).
Translate features into felt benefits (less stress, faster answers, fewer mistakes).
End with a low-friction next step (10-minute audit, side-by-side comparison, quick call).
Mindset shifts that keep you in the game
Be vigilant, not frantic. A little paranoia sharpens focus.
Get uncomfortable on purpose. If it doesn’t pinch, it’s not growth.
Improve 1% a week. Learn → apply → codify → repeat. That compounds.
Quick recap
AI is a force multiplier, not a magic wand.
Don’t chase every tool—lock in on workflows tied to revenue or cost.
Double down on the human skills that AI can’t replicate: empathy, trust, leadership, nuanced conversation.
Clean your data, build your SOPs, and pick up the phone.
If this sparked something, share it with a builder who needs the nudge—and pick two workflows to automate this week. Let AI do the sorting; let you do the connecting.
If you’re ready to grow… subscribe, schedule a meetup, or just keep showing up. And…
🙏🏽 Thank you for being here with us.
The only way this platform grows is because of people like you, those willing to share what resonates. Every time you pass our work along, you help us reach more entrepreneurs, serve at a higher level, and bring more value to the marketplace.
As an aside, part of the reason we launched on this platform is to highlight and promote other entrepreneurs and Grow Givers. We’d love to hear your story — and possibly share it. Let’s build together.
The world around us wasn’t built by the exceptional. It was built by everyday people who were willing to do exceptional things. Let’s build taller buildings together.
