A year ago, I brought up AI in a business group I’m part of and people were like, “What is that?” 

Now? It’s basically all we talk about. In fact, in our weekly SRA leadership meeting this week, AI dominated the conversation – and usually does. Like many of you, I was also a skeptic at first. Now, I’m honestly starting to believe this is going to be more disruptive than the internet or the smartphone. 

That’s a big statement. But it feels right. 

Small Businesses Have a Real Shot Right Now 

Here’s what stands out to me: 

The bigger the company, the slower they move. 
The smaller the business, the more nimble you can be. 

That matters. 

If you can use AI to lower expenses and improve margins, you suddenly become way more competitive, even against much bigger companies. 

That window won’t stay open forever, but it’s open right now. 

Speed Matters More Than Perfection 

I don’t think this is about getting it perfect. It’s about getting started: 

  • Testing AI in your workflows 
  • Figuring out what actually saves time 
  • Building systems around it 

First movers are going to have a real advantage here. 

You Can’t Ignore the Human Side 

At the same time, people are nervous, and I get that. If you’re leading a team, you can’t just drop AI into the business and expect everyone to be fine with it. You have to show them how it helps them: 

  • Makes them better at their job 
  • Makes them more valuable 
  • NOT replaceable 

Handled the right way, AI doesn’t shrink your team, it upgrades it. 

This Might Create More Entrepreneurs 

One thing I keep coming back to… AI is going to make it easier for people to start businesses. You might not need a team of 5–10 people anymore to get something off the ground. One or two people with the right tools can move fast. I think we’re going to see a lot more business owners because of this. 

The Biggest Shift: Curiosity 

If I had to boil it down, this is really about one thing: 

Curiosity. 

A lot of people are reacting to AI with fear. I’ve heard it from all sides—doesn’t matter where you land politically or philosophically. Same reaction: “This is bad.” 

But the more you actually use it, the less scary it becomes. The challenge is, as we get older (and busier), we stop being curious. That’s something I’ve had to check in myself. 

Final Thought 

Right now, I see more opportunity than downside. That could change over time, but today? There’s a ton of upside if you’re willing to lean in and figure it out and this feels like one of those moments. The people who move early and stay curious are going to benefit the most.