You're Not Doing AI. You're Just Using It.

Like many of you, I’ve spent my career helping businesses evolve through waves of technology: cloud, big data, digital transformation. When AI came into the picture, I treated it the same way. Adopt the tools, optimize the workflows, keep moving forward.

But I had a moment of clarity.

I wasn’t truly doing AI. I was using it.

And there's a big difference.

Using AI vs. Doing AI

I see this all the time now in the SMB space. Business leaders tell me:

• “We have ChatGPT licenses.”
• “Our apps are AI-powered.”
• “Our team is experimenting.”

That’s a great starting point. But real AI transformation? It goes much deeper. What I’ve come to learn is this:

Real AI adoption isn’t about tools. It’s about transformation.

What Real Transformation Requires

To lead with AI, we must be willing to:

• Rethink how decisions are made
• Redesign processes from the ground up
• Reskill teams to collaborate with intelligent systems
• Treat data as a strategic asset
• Build AI into our business model, not just our tech stack

This is not about technology. It’s about culture, mindset, and leadership.

Why This Matters for SMBs

SMBs are uniquely positioned to lead with AI. You're more agile. You’re closer to your teams and customers. You can adapt faster than the enterprise giants.

But you can also fall into the trap of doing “just enough.” Just enough to check the box. Just enough to feel like you’re keeping up.

A Few Questions to Ask Yourself

If you're leading an SMB, ask yourself:

1. Are we using AI to change how we operate or just to enhance what we already do?
2. Where can AI free up your team to focus on higher-value work?
3. How are you helping your people grow in a world where AI is part of the team?

We don’t need to have all the answers right now. But you do need to be asking better questions.

If you’re on this journey or wondering where to begin, I’d love to connect. I don’t pretend to have it all figured out. But I do believe we’re stronger when we learn together.

👇 What’s one question you’re wrestling with when it comes to AI in your business? Drop it in the comments. Let’s start a real conversation.