When people ask me how we became an AI-first company, they usually think I have a perfect playbook. Let's be honest—there's no magic AI playbook. When we decided to go AI-first, we were just as lost as you probably are. But that's where the fun started. Here I’ll share our real, messy, exciting journey that began in July 2022 and the practical lessons that might help you kickstart your transformation.
The Hard Truth About AI Transformation
Most companies are paralyzed by the perfect plan paradox—waiting for the ideal moment, the complete roadmap, or the perfect tool. But here's what I learned: the best time to start was yesterday, and if you didn't do that, start today.
Our "Weds.AI" Revolution
In October 2022, we were moving at a snail's pace. I blocked my calendar, declared Wednesdays' AI Day,' and told my team, 'We're figuring this out together.' No excuses, no permission needed.
The F.I.O Approach That Worked
(Yes, that stands for exactly what you think it does. Figure it out)
Make Time, Make it Known: Block your calendar like it's a meeting with your biggest client. Make it public – accountability is the best motivator.
Put It Into Action: Stop talking about it; start doing it. Talk, write, do, repeat. That's how you get ahead.
Show Everything: Share your wins, your fails, the 'oh crap' moments. Learning is messy, but that's where the Magic happens.
Real Talk: How We Actually Started
I didn't give the company a manual; I gave them permission. 'Today, you're using ChatGPT,' I said. We broke into groups, found real problems, and started hacking away. It wasn't pretty, but it was progress, creating momentum.
The 10,000 Reps Reality
Over the next two quarters, we evolved from ChatGPT novices to confident users of multiple AI tools—Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. The secret? Repetition. Like any skill, mastering AI takes practice—lots of it.
Your First Steps (Starting Today)
Block 2 hours next week – no excuses. This is your AI training time.
Find ONE problem AI can solve – start small, win big.
Gather your team – make it a challenge, not a chore.
What Not to Do
Don't wait for the perfect moment.
Don't try to solve everything at once.
Don't expect instant mastery.
Your move. Let's go out there and start making AI work for you. No more excuses.
Let's figure it out, and let's make Magic happen,
Kathy