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:
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:
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:
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.