About This Episode
If you lead a company, you’ve probably heard the buzz around AI and wondered, “Would it really be that helpful for us?” Maybe you’ve dabbled with AI tools like ChatGPT, or perhaps you’re more cautious, watching from the sidelines as others dive in. It’s natural to feel hesitant. The landscape is constantly shifting, and your concerns about security, ROI, or whether AI will truly integrate with your team are valid. But here’s the question: What if AI could help your business without replacing the humans driving it?
That’s what Alex Winter and Chris Duprey, Principal Coach at IMPACT, explore in the latest episode of Endless Customers. They discuss how AI, when used right, can help any sized business not just survive, but thrive.
Feeling AI Hesitation? It’s Not Just You
You’re not alone if you’re on the fence about AI. Chris has been traveling all over the country, talking to business leaders and CEOs. And guess what? Even though AI has dominated headlines, many CEOs and decision-makers still don’t quite understand it.
“I start every workshop,” Chris explains, “whether it’s with a CEO group or a company, with ‘On a scale of 0 to 10, how much do you use AI every day? Zero means you can’t spell ‘AI,’ 10 means it’s part of your workflow.’”
The result? Most responses fall between a 0.5 and a 2. People are aware of AI but often dismiss it as a tool for writing poetry or cheating on school papers, rather than something that can revolutionize their business. The fear of the unknown keeps them from seeing its full potential.
Changing the Narrative from Fear to Curiosity
Chris has witnessed firsthand how quickly a room can go from skepticism to excitement once people start understanding AI’s real capabilities. He recalls a workshop with a company in the security industry where the mood was initially tense.
“It was fear-based,” Alex adds. “They were a security company.”
But within 15 minutes, that fear started to dissipate, replaced by curiosity. Chris explains how this shift happens: “In just three hours, you can take people from thinking, ‘AI is dumb,’ to ‘Oh, holy smokes, this could help us.’” Once people see AI as a tool to make their jobs easier, the anxiety melts away.
AI Is Not Here to Replace You—It’s Here to Help You
One of the most important messages from Chris is that AI isn’t here to take over human jobs. In fact, it’s more like an advanced assistant. You wouldn’t hire someone today who refuses to use email, right? That’s how AI will soon be perceived—an essential tool that makes your life easier.
Chris emphasizes that many business leaders fear AI because they think it will replace human workers, but the reality is different. AI is here to handle the tedious, repetitive tasks that take up valuable time. That leaves your team free to focus on high-level work that drives real results.
“I’ve been in rooms with CEOs who were initially afraid AI would replace jobs,” Chris says. “But when I show them how AI can actually make training, onboarding, and even translation tasks easier, they start to see the potential.”
Real-World Applications
In Chris’s travels, he’s seen some surprising places where AI can make an impact. You might think AI is all about marketing and sales, but he’s found it can be incredibly useful in areas like training and onboarding.
“Most people think of AI for things like creating landing pages or writing articles,” Chris explains. “But when I ask CEOs how they would experiment with AI, many of them think about training and onboarding.”
For example, companies can now use AI tools like HeyGen or Synthesia to create training videos in multiple languages without needing a professional film crew. That’s huge for businesses that need to train employees quickly and cost-effectively.
Another example? AI tools can create an avatar of you that speaks in the primary language of your clients. Chris shares how he used an AI tool to translate a video of him speaking English into French for a presentation in Quebec. “It wasn’t just a direct translation,” Chris says. “It even had the Quebec accent. People thought I’d suddenly learned French!”
The Fear of AI in Sales and Marketing
Of course, a big concern for many businesses is how AI will affect sales and marketing. Will AI automate too much? Will it take away the personal touch that’s so crucial in building relationships with customers?
Chris’s answer? Not if you use AI the right way. The key is to view AI as a co-pilot, not a replacement. It’s there to handle the tedious work—like gathering customer data or organizing reports—so your team can focus on what they do best: building connections and closing deals.
And when it comes to content creation, AI can streamline processes without compromising quality. But again, it’s not doing the work for you; it’s enhancing your ability to deliver personalized, relevant messages faster than ever.
Don’t Fall Behind on Learning AI as a Tool
Imagine running a construction company where you refuse to use power tools. Sure, you can still build a house with hand tools, but how long would it take? How many more mistakes might you make? Now imagine your competitor is using power tools. They’re working faster, producing better results, and growing their business. That’s what AI is like—it’s a power tool for your business.
As Chris puts it, “If you’re not trying to figure out how to sharpen the saw—how to get better, more efficient, and more useful—you’re going to struggle.” AI isn’t going away. It’s here to stay, and businesses that don’t adopt it will get left behind.
Getting Started with AI
The best advice Chris gives to companies? Start experimenting. The only way to know if AI can help your business is to try it out. Begin with small tasks, like asking ChatGPT how it can help with a specific job function. The more you use it, the more you’ll discover how powerful these tools can be.
For instance, when Chris first used ChatGPT, he simply talked to it like he would a colleague. “I asked it questions just like we’re talking now,” Chris recalls. “And it gave me exactly what I needed.” The key is to not overthink it—just start the conversation and see where it leads.
Be Curious, Not Judgmental
Chris leaves us with a piece of advice borrowed from Ted Lasso: “Be curious, not judgmental.” If you’ve only tried AI once or twice and didn’t see the value, try again. AI evolves rapidly, and what didn’t work six months ago might now exceed your expectations. The more curious you are, the more you’ll uncover ways AI can benefit your business.
“If you’re judgmental and not curious, you’re not going to die,” Chris says with a laugh. “But you will get left behind as more people adopt AI and start finding efficiencies. And cash flow is king.”
So, take the first step—experiment, learn, and grow. AI isn’t just for big tech companies or the future. It’s here now, ready to help you drive your business forward.
AI is not a threat—it’s an opportunity. Whether you’re looking to improve your sales, streamline your onboarding, or create multilingual training videos, AI can help you do it better and faster. Start small, experiment, and stay curious. That’s the key to embracing AI without losing the human touch that makes your business unique.
Connect with Chris Duprey
Chris Duprey is a sought-after speaker and business coach with over two decades of leadership experience.
Get to know Chris through his IMPACT bio page
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn
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