How to make your businesses obsolete

The best way to make your business obsolete is to ignore the changes around you. In 1986 I started my company on a CRM that ran on a Compaq Deskpro using DOS. I bought a little product called The Sales Manager—one of the very first CRM systems ever built. I loaded in names, tasks, and notes and couldn’t believe how well it worked. It kept everyone on the same page. Remember, this was 1986. When I showed it to people they asked, “Why not just stick with index cards?” Well, that didn’t work out for them. The same danger exists today. If you’re ignoring AI and the tools it puts at your fingertips, you’re slipping behind. Technology and markets are changing faster than ever, but using the right tools—rather than clinging to “how we’ve always done it”—keeps you ahead of the game. Don’t let that habit write your company’s obituary. 3 Biggest Takeaways Resistance to Change Leads to Obsolescence: The speaker emphasizes that the quickest way to kill a business is to ignore the changes happening around you. Staying anchored in old methods (like the index cards of the '80s) while the world moves forward is a recipe for irrelevance. AI is the New "CRM": Just as CRM systems revolutionized business in 1986, AI is the current technological shift that cannot be ignored. The video positions AI not as a fad, but as a necessary tool for staying competitive in a rapidly changing industry. Enhancement, Not Replacement: A crucial distinction made is that tools like AI should be used to help you, not be you. The goal is to use technology to amplify human capability and maintain a strategic advantage, rather than letting it strip away the personal essence of the business. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 1. How do I know which new technologies are worth adopting and which are just fads? Focus on tools that solve a specific pain point or improve efficiency in your core operations. If a technology aligns with your long-term goals and has a proven track record of saving time or increasing output (like early CRMs or modern AI), it's likely worth the investment. 2. My team is resistant to changing our current workflow; how can I get them on board? Start small. Introduce tools that provide immediate, visible wins for the team. Emphasize that these tools are meant to make their jobs easier and more effective, not to replace them. 3. Is AI really necessary for a small business with only a few employees? Yes, often more so than for large corporations! AI can act as a "force multiplier," allowing a small team to handle tasks (like data analysis, customer service, or content creation) that would otherwise require several additional hires. 4. How can I use AI without losing the "human touch" that my customers value? Use AI for the "heavy lifting"—data processing, scheduling, and initial drafts. This frees up your time to focus on high-value human interactions, strategy, and building deeper relationships with your clients. 5. What is the first step to modernizing an "old-school" business? Conduct a "tech audit." Identify the parts of your business that still rely on manual, repetitive tasks. Research modern software or AI tools that can automate those specific areas, starting with the one that causes the most frustration.