While “Change” may not be life or death, it can have a significant impact depending on perspective, whether personal, business, or both. Our company, like almost every company today, is coping with the implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can do amazing things, yet, because of those same capabilities, it can create fear.
Ultimate success, as always, depends on attitude. Michael Sundquist, Chief Marketing Officer at Strong Automotive, was assigned the task of implementing AI into our SEO Content efforts. His go-to was Content Team Lead Erica Brock, and the final AI and Content proposal she put on my desk earned her the MVP reward – presented in front of the entire agency – with this accolade: ‘the most well-written, well-architected plan that I have ever been presented.”
What was Erica’s attitude? “As a writer, watching the advancements of generative AI has honestly been terrifying. It seemed, at first, like a machine that can do what we do, only faster. The first time Michael Sunquist presented me with the challenge of finding ways to use generative AI in my team’s workflow, my knee-jerk reaction was to reject it. But when change happens, rejection is essentially giving up the chance to control how it affects you. My vision statement was: How can I take charge of this shift and make sure it has a positive impact on me, my team, the company, and our customers?”
Erica’s plan had a deeply positive effect on me, as I realized a part of embracing change is that you never know where the great ideas are going to come from. Now two decades into this company, I am comfortable – and grateful – not all the good ideas are mine. In fact, the best ideas can come from people you never knew were thinking so deeply about the business.
If you ever need to convince someone on your team to put aside their fears and see the benefits of AI, let me share the assessment that swayed Erica: “Honestly, it was realizing that I was wrong…the more I explored AI, the more I realized it most definitely can’t do what we do, but it can make us better and faster at it. This is true of most new technology. A nail gun can’t put a builder out of business, but it will definitely make them a better builder.”
Recently, Saturday Night Live’s 50th Anniversary Show aired on TV, and Gilda Radner’s classic character Roseanna Roseannadanna appeared with her signature line, “It’s always something!” Artificial Intelligence is just one of the many ‘somethings’ we are facing in today’s world. For automotive, the daunting ramifications of tariffs are waiting in the wings. But, with a great team, I look forward to navigating whatever lies ahead with an even more positive attitude…
Embrace change…grab that nail gun!