“Dad… that’s so AI.”
It’s wild to me how quickly the younger generation can spot what’s AI and what’s not. My 11-year-old will read something or watch a video and call it out instantly, while I’m still trying to figure it out or miss it completely!
#MillennialProblems
I don’t know how Gen Alpha got so locked into it, but they can sniff out something fake faster than a hound dog.
And here’s why that matters for your business: if an 11-year-old can feel it, so can your customers.
AI is writing emails, building marketing plans, answering customer questions, creating content, and in some cases, running entire businesses. And if you’re a business owner, you’ve probably felt both sides of it:
“This could save me a ton of time.”
“This also feels a little… soulless.”
Here’s the tension no one talks about enough:
The more powerful AI becomes, the easier it is to accidentally remove the very thing that makes your business work, your humanity.
And if you lose that, then what?
You might gain efficiency… but you’ll lose connection. And connection is what actually drives trust, loyalty, and long-term growth between you, your staff, and your customers.
So the question isn’t, “Should I use AI?”
The real question is: “How do I use AI without becoming a soulless robot?”
1. Use AI for Speed—Not Soul
AI is incredible at helping you move faster.
- Cleaning up emails
- Organizing your thoughts
- Summarizing meetings
- Cranking out content ideas
But here’s the deal: AI can help write a draft, but it should not be your final version.
If you copy & paste from ChatGPT or Claude, and then hit send, you’re outsourcing your personality. And people can feel that. Even if they can’t explain it, something just feels… off.
Your job isn’t to avoid AI. Your job is to refine what it gives you until it actually sounds like you.
2. Don’t Automate Empathy
This is where things require a little more attention.
Yes, you can automate customer responses, follow-ups, and support messages. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
Because customers don’t just want answers. They want to feel understood. And AI, no matter how good it gets, doesn’t actually care.
But YOU do.
So use a simple filter: let AI assist the communication, but step in when the moment requires care, nuance, or emotion. If someone is frustrated, confused, or struggling… That’s not a workflow problem. That’s a human moment.
Saying phrases like “I know how you feel” or “I’ve been there too” hit different. They’re just real. Your team and customers feel the emotion behind it. And when they do, trust grows. Loyalty grows. Buy-in grows.
3. Let AI Handle Repetition So You Can Be Present
There’s no denying that there are parts of your business that just drain you:
- Rewriting the same emails
- Creating routine spreadsheets
- Answering the same questions
- Formatting content
This is where AI comes in as your MVP/Employee of the YEAR!
When you offload the tedious, repetitive work, you can be more present where it actually matters. With your clients, your team, your family, and your own creativity.
AI should create margin, not just output. If it’s not giving you time back to be human, you’re using it wrong.
Here’s a personal example: I recently had a detailed appointment with a specialist who covered a lot of ground. Honestly, some of the terminology went right over my head. I had permission to record the conversation, so afterward I dropped the transcript into AI and asked it to summarize the meeting, pull out the key takeaways, and outline next steps. It saved me hours of trying to piece everything together.
How has using AI saved you time recently? I’d love to hear from you.
4. Your Story Is Still Your Superpower
AI can generate content all day long. Blogs, captions, emails, ads, you name it.
But it cannot replicate:
- Your lived experiences
- Your failures
- Your turning points
- Your relationships
- Your convictions
That’s your edge. And as AI becomes more common, your story doesn’t become less valuable, it becomes more valuable. Because people aren’t just looking for information anymore. They’re looking for connection. For something real.
Almost a decade ago, in August of 2016, our home flooded. We lost everything.
Up to five feet of muddy, nasty-smelling water filled our house and sat there for days, destroying everything we owned. And we weren’t alone. Like much of South Louisiana, we had no idea what was coming.
At the time, I was running my art business out of a spare bedroom. When we evacuated, I left it all behind. Years of work, supplies, pieces I had poured myself into. Gone.
But on the other side of that loss, something unexpected happened. When I shared my story, people showed up. The art community rallied — financial support, donations, grants. People stepped in and carried us through.
What I thought might be the end of my business actually became a turning point. It launched me into a new level of growth and productivity. I even had the chance to show a few damaged pieces in an exhibit… and some of them sold!
Who would have thought there was a market for flood-damaged art?
That’s the kind of story AI can’t replicate. And it’s exactly the kind of story people connect with.
5. Build a “Human Filter” Into Everything
Before you hit send, publish, or automate anything, ask:
- Does this actually sound like me?
- Would I say this in a real conversation?
- Is this honest or just polished?
- How can I make this more personal?
If it feels generic… it probably is. Generic doesn’t build relationships.
Clarity builds trust. Personality builds loyalty. Honesty builds connection.
6. Remember What People Actually Want
At the end of the day, most of your customers aren’t thinking, “I hope this company is using cutting-edge AI.”
They’re thinking:
“Can I trust you?” “Do you understand me?” “Am I talking to a real person?” “Are you actually going to help me?”
AI can support outcomes. But it can’t replace someone looking them in the eye and saying: “I got you.”
That’s what your team needs. That’s what your customers need.
Final Thought: Use the Tool. Don’t Become It.
AI is a tool. A powerful one. But it’s still just a tool.
And the businesses that win in this next season won’t be the ones who use AI the most. They’ll be the ones who use it wisely:
- Fast and thoughtful where it matters most
- Efficient behind the scenes
- Human out front
The flood took everything from us once. What brought it back wasn’t technology. It was people. Stories shared, community formed, trust earned. That’s still true today, no matter how advanced the tools get.
People still want to do business with people. Make sure they can still find you in everything you put out.
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