You’re Not Behind on AI
But It’s Time to Catch Up
You’re not behind on AI. You’re just busy, and perhaps overwhelmed by the hype.
But here's the good news: you don’t need to master it. You just need a smarter starting point. If you’re new to my network, I’m not an AI coach nor am I an AI consultant. I’m a B2B revenue leader working with growth-stage financial services and SaaS companies. I specialize in helping CEOs do more with the resources you have: align teams, remove barriers to growth. And for years I’ve been using the latest tech and automation trends as part of my strategy. AI just happens to be the latest thing in tech.
I used to be a corporate executive, pre-ChatGPT. And even then, it was hard to find time to upskill. These days? The pressure to keep up has grown exponentially, but the time to do so hasn't.
You’re running a business, managing a team, staying accountable to clients, and maybe even parenting. When exactly are you supposed to train on new AI tools? between bedtime and burnout? I did the burnout thing - 0/10, do not recommend!
So let me say this clearly: If you feel like you should be getting smarter on AI but just can’t make space for it, you’re not alone. And you’re not behind. But you do need to start moving because the longer you wait, the harder it is to catch up.
Let’s put this into perspective before we start - ChatGPT exploded onto the scenes about 2 1/2 years ago, to the surprise of everyone who wasn’t a tech bro. And now there are thousands of experts. The truth? They’re just beginning too. So it’s not too late for you to at least familiarize yourself.
Here’s What I’m Seeing Behind the Scenes
I spend time every day studying AI and tech trends from a business perspective, so you don’t have to. Disclaimer - all from the revenue growth perspective, I am not a coder, only interested in what move the revenue and profit needles in the right direction.
I listen to the self-proclaimed geeks on podcasts from HubSpot, Gartner, and other go-to-market thought leaders.
And even they admit:
Nobody really knows what AI will look like in 6 months, let alone 3–5 years.
Agents (those “do-it-all” AIs) are still in early experimentation, not mainstream automation.
We’re closer than ever, but not as far along as the hype makes it seem.
What’s happening now is a lot more “automate mundane tasks” and a lot less “robot are taking over.” Think of it more like an upgraded version of the automations you already use in HubSpot or Zoho and not a personal assistant that runs your business.
So What Should You Do Right Now?
Here’s what I’m seeing work inside growth-stage companies right now—the companies staying ahead of the curve without falling for the hype:
1. Pick a “good enough” tool
No platform does it all. Well. Choose based on what you need most:
ChatGPT: Best for planning, strategy, and structured thinking
Claude: Best writing quality
Gemini: Works if you're already deep in Google Workspace
Microsoft Copilot: Seamless for Microsoft shops, but weaker writing
None of these are perfect. But they’re good enough to move you forward, and easy enough to replace if something better comes along. Earlier in my AI journey, someone told me that the cost or barrier to switching is very low with AI, and I can confirm. I have packed up my AI toolkit and moved it around a few times.
2. Use the business version
Don’t let your team rely on the free version of a tool. Use the secure version under your firewall. Protect your client data and trade secrets. This is basic, but often overlooked.
3. Create responsible use policies
Just like we had to establish rules around email, social media, or workplace internet use, you need them for GenAI:
What can and can’t be uploaded
What decisions still require human oversight
What AI can and shouldn’t be used for
When it’s okay to use it, and when it’s not
Pair that with training, not just a doc in a shared folder.
4. Train your people to prompt and critique
Good output starts with good prompting. Bad output gets caught with good human judgment. If you’re using GenAI for content, customer communications, or anything public-facing, you need consistency. Confused buyers don’t buy.
Don’t rely on AI-generated drafts without giving your team the skills to tune it for your audience and voice.
5. Watch Out for BYOAI (Bring Your Own AI)
Gartner recently reported that 22% of AI usage inside organizations is employee-driven and unsanctioned.
They’re not using your chosen tools. They’re using whatever works for them, probably on their phones. That means:
You don’t know what they’re uploading
You can’t control the tone or accuracy of outbound content
You’re not aligned across teams
This is where risk lives: security risk, messaging risk, and reputation risk. And it’s fixable. You can ask your employees what tools they’re using. So you don’t scare them, but upfront about the fact that you’re working on creating AI policies, list of sanctioned tools, and training. Then, go back up to #1 and pick that “good enough” tool.
One More Thing to Think About
You don’t need a perfect AI strategy. You need a good enough starting point, and a plan to improve it over time.
For my clients and for my own business, here’s what that looks like:
I have my model backed up twice, in case a tool disappears overnight
I’ve migrated models when my business or a client needed better planning or writing capability
I help companies train models with their voice, ICPs, and tone, so the AI output aligns with their strategy
You can do the same. And you should. This is what growth-stage companies need to stay sharp. Not flashy tech, but secure, usable systems that evolve with you.
Before You Go: One Question
What’s one area of your business that you could improve with a magic wand?
Let’s explore if AI or automation could be that “magic wand”. If I can help you unify your teams around an AI-assisted revenue growth strategy, I’ll tell you. If not, I’ll be up front about that too.
Thanks for hanging out with me,
Summer
P.S. If this helped you reframe how you’re thinking about AI, I’d love if you’d subscribe or share with a colleague. I’m just getting started here and I’m building this space for leaders like you.
P.P.S. Subscriber-exclusive. Get my free “AI Starter Pack” with recommendations aimed at growth-stage financial services and SaaS business owners.
AI thrives on hype and urgency right now. The truth? It’s all a lot of drama! While doing learning recently, I was relieved to hear a couple of self-professed “geeks” admit the tech isn’t where the news cycle would suggest and even they don’t know what the next few years looks like. Want to know what AI looks like for growth-stage companies right now? I break it down for you on the latest edition of C-Suite Sidekick.