Codie A. Sanchez

Investing millions in Main St businesses & teaching you how to own the rest | HoldCo, VC fund, Founder

On a mission to create financially free and free-thinking humans.I founded a advisory and investment company called Contrarian Thinking that helps owners buy and scale businesses.Our newsletter has over 1M+ weekly readers, here → contrarianthinking.biz/liOur community has taught 9,000+ members biz buying, biz growing, and doing deals. We value experience over degrees.Betting on yourself over building someone else's dream.Main Street over Wall Street.My mission is less suits, more boots. Meaning: we the people holding the power… and the purse strings.🔗Join 1M+ others who get our free newsletter: contrarianthinking.biz/li🔗YouTube: @CodieSanchezCT🔗Instagram: @codiesanchez🔗Twitter: @Codie_Sanchez🔗Weekly business-buying newsletter Main Street Minute: contrarianthinking.biz/minute-li

Founder

We help free minds and build bank accounts.

Investing millions in Main St businesses & teaching you how to own the rest | HoldCo, VC, Founder | NYT best-selling author

My husband said five words to me that made my worldview flip on never missing a chance to see a loved one: “Measure in times, not years.”

We were debating whether to go home and see our family for Thanksgiving and my husband said...

If your parents are 65, it’s not 20 or 30 years you might have with them, it’s maybe 20 or 30 visits you get with them.

One in four Americans don’t live in the same hometown as their family. How would you change your decisions if you’d only get to see your loved ones for 20 or 30 more days?

You’d change everything to be with them, wouldn’t you? Same if it was six months. And yet when those days are separated by years we let them slide through our fingers.

Next time don’t count the years, remember the days… and treasure them.

3 harsh truths I've been thinking about a lot lately...

1. Most successful people I've met aren't that smart. They move fast, they take risk, they work a lot. That's it.

2. The world is run by C students & failed employees. You can't underestimate yourself.

3. Managing what you choose to sell, do and focus on is more important than how hard you work or how smart you are.

Example:

You can, for the next 40 years:

- Climb up the corporate ladder
- Grind for a mission you don't believe in
- Spend 50hrs/wk+ away from your family

All for a 401k and a white picket fence at the end to show for it.

OR

You can learn how to buy a business and:

- Own a cashflowing biz in your community
- Touch your work with your own two hands
- Disconnect your money from your time
- Spend more time on the things that matter
- Become one of the few... an Owner.

Ownership is not for everyone.

But it could be for you.

I don’t blame you if you're nervous to take the first step on your own.

If that’s you, I’m hosting an event that's just what you need to start acting on business-buying…

Get details & sign-up here → https://lnkd.in/g3V6NrTZ

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Arfan Iftikhar

A hard truth I've learned in business.

It's always who not how.

1. There's only so much time in the day.
2. There's always going to be someone smarter and better than you.

These aren't problems. They're levers.

Every time you struggle with an issue, don't try to figure out how to solve it. Instead, ask yourself what type of person could solve it for you.

You don’t have a HOW problem, you have a WHO problem.

Solve that and you solve everything.

↓ ↓ ↓

This is a strategy I think of as “stealing someone’s 10,000 hours.”

And I’m letting you take my 10,000 hours for free at my Main Street Millionaire Live Event…

I’ve bought & sold 20+ small businesses. I’ve failed a couple, scaled several, and I’m sharing a condensed version of how to buy a biz over 3 days. 

It’ll be beginner-friendly and perfect if you're still in your 9-5.

Save your spot here today → https://lnkd.in/g7mjjqYQ

My coworker got the promotion over me.

Numerically worse at the work. Great at politics.

I brought in deals. Fixed messes. Hit all goals

He was 10x better than me at managing up.

He got the title. I got “keep doing what you’re doing.”

It took 10+ years for me to click that most companies reward politics, not performance.

So I left. Started buying boring businesses and building my own thing.

Now I make many times what my old bosses did. No corporate games.

The best operators don’t usually climb the ladder. They are the ladder everyone else climbs.

Corporate optimizes for compliance. Owners optimize for competence.

If you’re elite at the work but trash at politics, don't give up, I was just like you.

Take the risk in 2026.

↓↓↓

If you want to learn how to buy a business in 2026 and become an owner, I’m doing this 3-day virtual workshop for you: https://lnkd.in/dYP5dr-T

21 tips to be the first gen wealth builder in your family:

1. The Law of Two Hours: 2 hours of dedicated work is worth more than most people’s 8 hours.

2. How to never fail with a business: Start as a side project. Keep your job. Use your salary to fund. Quit when you have enough cashflow.

3. It's not about time. It's about the F word. Focus. You don’t need 24 hours a day to build a business.

4. Think about your salary like a Silicon Valley investor. Treat every single dollar you give to your side business like an investor would.

5. Hope is not a strategy. “Pray like it’s up to God, but work like it’s up to me.”

6. You don't need more time, you need a deadline.

7. Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Money loves speed. Poverty loves waiting.

8. Small & consistent beats big & sporadic. Long hours at a desk is counterproductive.

9. If you want to make more money, be more useful to people who have more money.

10. It is very hard to change the world when you are broke. So don't apologize for chasing money.

11. Nobody cares about your life...They think about you for one second and then think about themselves again. So you might as well do what you want.

12. You must be just dumb enough to believe in yourself, just smart enough to execute.

13. If you say you will do a thing, then actually do the thing. 90% do not do this.

14. No one is coming to save you. You want a better life, go build it.

15. You must learn to be disliked or you’ll find yourself stuck in a prison of other people's desires.

16. Tasting freedom can make you unemployable. Get that initial momentum, and watch your life start to change.

17. You are paid exactly as much as the problems you solve are worth. Bigger problems = bigger $$$

18. Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill the available time. Just because you quit your job doesn't mean you'll magically have all of these hours.

19. If you're not currently doing whatever that thing is inside of you, you're not going to do it after you quit your job.

20. Startups are for masochists. If you want that life, I commend you. If you want a slightly less rocky path to ownership, buy a business instead of starting one.

And lastly, there are 2 types of people:

Those who build wealth through ownership. and those who work to make others wealthy.

The dividing line isn’t talent or luck. It’s action.

↓↓↓↓

P.S. If you have yet to take action in 2026 but are interested in becoming an owner...

Come to my business buying masterclass tomorrow. 

It's free. 90 minutes long. And walks you through how to find the right business for you.

Find all the details here: https://lnkd.in/g3V6NrTZ

I sometimes pinch myself. I don't deserve this life.

Knew nothing about finance.
Public schools.
Parents who worked nonstop.
Party school for undergrad.

But my family taught me about hard work, God, responsibility, and never quitting.

It makes no sense, except for the grace of God. Grateful.

I’m 39.

27 lessons I wish I learned in my 20s: 

1. As soon as you hit your 30s, you’ll understand... Your 20s actually suck. If you feel like it sucks right now, guess what? It’s supposed to. It gets better.

2. Your first job is like the DMV. Awful. Everyone’s mad. Nothing works. But the key is.. You are not supposed to stay there.

3. It is very hard to change the world when you are broke. So don't apologize for chasing money.

4. Meet everyone. Say yes to everything. You narrow the field later.

5. Do it all. Because you’ll die eventually and life will make you slow down. But up until then, eat the world.

6. You are not everyone’s cup of tea, that’s a good thing.

7. The most lucrative things you can do in your 20s: 1) learn how to invest, 2) apprentice in PE, real estate, or venture.

8. If they’re not interesting when you’re sober, don’t drink until they become it.

9. Never buy to impress. Being wealthy > looking wealthy… even when that first big-kid check hits your bank account.

10. The most important question you can ask yourself often: Does this bring joy?

11. Do favors, don’t take them. There’s often a hidden price.

12. If I was in my 20s, I’d try to work for one type of company… One where they reward outcomes not hours. Winning > running really hard for a really long time.

13. Seed is only as good as its soil. Where you live during your 20s matters. Take some time away from your hometown.

14. If you feel cynical about the world… I don’t blame you. But always remember the number one superpower for your generation is HOPE.

15. If you’re prone to loneliness and isolation.. do NOT work a remote job. A small team with sleepless nights and shared goals is a powerful thing.

16. Touch grass. A walk outside will be better for your brain than anything you find on your phone.

17. Burnout doesn’t come from working too hard. Burnout comes from working too hard, on things that don’t light you up.

18. Learn how to save now, but understand that saving isn’t what makes you rich.

19. If you want to make more money, be more useful to people who have more money.

20. You must learn to be disliked or you will find yourself stuck in a prison of other people's beliefs.

21. Most successful people I've met aren't that smart. They move fast, they take risk, they work a lot. That's it.

22. If old you doesn’t make you cringe, you haven’t grown enough.

23. Do something hard every day. Then watch that “something” evolve as you become stronger and stronger.

24. If you haven’t done it, you just have an opinion.

25. Marrying well is the biggest life hack of all. Marrying poorly is a costly path to misery. Choose wisely.

26. Working smarter not harder is a beautiful lie. You will not know how to work smart until you've worked very hard for an irrationally long time.

27. Take notes from old people… Waking up early, being married, reading books, going to bed at 10pm, and drinking less is actually amazing.

Ramota Oladejo

There’s no such thing as the right or wrong business.

There’s only the business that’s right or wrong for you.

One of the most common DMs I get is:

"Should I buy a laundromat, car wash, or storage units?"

But that's totally the wrong question to begin with...because everyone has different goals.

That’s why I created the Contrarian Deal Clarity Framework to help first time owners buy a biz.

You need to define 5 components:

1. Your Ideal Owner Experience

Saying “I want to leave my 9-5” is too wishy-washy.

To trade in your W2 form, your vision board needs to be specific on three things:

- Personal goals (do you want more family time or grind for yourself)
- Income goals (replace your $75k salary or build an empire)
- Business goals (be a hands-on operator or absentee owner)

2. Your Zone of Genius

Think of this as the intersection between:

- Passion (what you love)
- Skills & Experience (what you’re good at)
- Network (who you know)

Most people ignore this and buy businesses they eventually hate running.

Don’t be most people.

3. Business Size

It’s easy to fantasize about buying a Fortune 500 company.

But we’re not playing the billionaire game here.

As a first-time time buyer, look for micro acquisitions:

- <$1M cost
- $50K-$200K profits
- 1-3X multiples

Less competition, more opportunity, fewer headaches.

4. Profit

Remember...you’re not just buying a business for the sake of it.

Your acquisition MUST be an income stream that can cover:

1. Debt service
2. Operator salary (if relevant)
3. Growth/working capital
4. Your earnings

Use these two tests to evaluate if a deal is worth looking at:

The SOWS Test

Before I buy anything, I ask if the business is:

- Stale - Does the owner still use fax machines
- Old - Is it 5+ years old with repeat customers
- Weak - Does competition suck at marketing
- Simple - Can an 8-year-old could understand it

The more boxes it checks, the better.

The BRIT Test

Then I check to see if it’s BRIT:

- Buy - Must be a cashflow, not cash-suck businesses
- Resist - Recession-proof
- Increase - Can I raise prices (most owners undercharge by 30%)
- Tech - Can I add simple technology to improve it?

5. Industry

There are certain industries you should avoid for your first biz.

Think restaurants or hotels...

On the flip side, these are my favorite businesses for first-time buyers:

- Digital Businesses (build once, sell forever)
- Home Services (roof repair / lawn care)
- Professional Services (e.g CPAs)
- Real Estate Enhanced (laundromats/car washes)

Once you get clear on your Deal Box, you stop wasting time on deals that don’t fit your criteria and get closer to buying the biz that FEELs right.

↓↓↓

Want to go even deeper than this post did?...

Next week, I'm running a Masterclass breaking down exactly how to buy the perfect business for YOU. 

Check it out: https://lnkd.in/g3V6NrTZ

6 other traits of rich people no one tells you:

1. Rich people want you to sell them something.

2. Something 99% of rich people have in common: they own. Most often, they own businesses & real estate.

3. Most people complain about taxes, then pay them. Rich people study taxes then outsmart them.

4. In my experience, almost all successful people are competitive. More competitive you are, more likely you are to succeed.

5. Most rich people I know don't care about their title at all. Business owner > visionary, industry disrupter, startup CEO

6. You'll learn the most from asking rich people this question: "When did you almost lose it all? What did you learn?"

💥 For more like this, feel free to follow me → Codie A. Sanchez

Story from my dad today.

If you’re a business owner, it may hit you as deeply as it hit me...

He said, you know you’ve met another builder or doer when they’ve felt that flinch at the second Friday of the month.

My father has never bounced a check.

But he remembers this…

It was payday, his business was owed money, and they couldn’t bridge the gap between the two in time.

He could just picture the guys’ faces.

Those last two workers, who had done more than anyone else, stayed later than anyone else…

And they were about to be punished for that by not getting paid.

So he called up his banker, told him he needed a line of credit, and pulled out $100,000 give or take to make sure that every single one of their checks cleared.

At the time, my dad had a business partner who was a different type of guy.

He was the sort to make excuses, pay himself first, and not particularly care if everyone else’s checks cleared as long as he got his.

That partner has since had many businesses fail - and many more employees go without a paycheck.

And my dad has never in all these years had a business fail, or lost anyone a dime.

He often attributes his business success to the fact that he would never let his hardest working guys go hungry...

People will always be your biggest struggle and your greatest gift in business. Treat ‘em right.

↓↓↓↓

P.S. I’m hosting a free masterclass next week covering 4 practical growth levers that help maintain healthy cash flow and predictable payroll.

Sign up here (for free): https://lnkd.in/gSfvX_AF

Nish Thakker

If you have had:

• a terrible boss
• workplace ptsd
• a bankruptcy
• a huge failure

GOOD.

Chips on shoulders > easy roads.

The more you do hard things, the more you'll get what you want.

Because doing hard things, makes hard things easier.

If you're doing it right, the failure that leveled you last year, won't even register this year.

↓ ↓ ↓

If you're ready to seek out your next hard thing, let's buy a business this year ;)

Here's a list of 130 boring biz's I'd start with → https://lnkd.in/eGpHZtx3

You aren’t here to be liked.

You’re here to be respected.

Don’t be easy. Be hard.

Be righteous in what you do and believe.

Don’t be less for other people.
Don’t let them bend you or break you.
Don’t be a doormat walked upon.

Be a f*cking pointed nail… they’ll remember you.

If you’re bringing this energy into 2026, feel free to repost this.

And if the way you want to do it is by trading in your 9-5 for financial freedom without starting from scratch? Come to my Main Street Millionaire Live next month. 

All you need is determination & desire…. and 72 hours of your time.

You’re invited, just reserve your spot here → https://lnkd.in/gf6hPHdF

This is the hiring framework most small business owners never figure out:

Unicorns vs Donkeys

Unicorns = A players, high performers, self starters... aka, the person you WANT to hire for every role at your company.

Donkeys = B and C players, lacking initiative, unmotivated, task-oriented.

The truth every business owner knows but hates to face:

Donkeys are common.

Unicorns are rare.

Unfortunately, MOST people are donkeys. And as a smaller-level business, it's very hard to build the profit needed to attract unicorns.

So you're left with 2 options. You can either:

1. Build a business that can actively search for unicorns.

2. Build processes so good that donkeys can win the race.

Many problems in your business are a WHO problem. But you'd be surprised that solving the HOW often enables the people you have now to succeed.

Processes are your secret weapon.

Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done.

Money loves speed. Poverty loves waiting.

How I like to start my week.

The 1 in 60 Rule:

↓ ↓ ↓

Feel free to follow me Codie A. Sanchez if you found this useful.

This Routine Will Change Your Life

How to never fail with a business:

- Start as a side project
- Keep your job
- Use your salary to fund
- Don't use debt
- Quit & go all in ONLY when enough cashflow

15 years of biz & life lessons in <500 words:

↓ ↓ ↓

1. Marrying well is the biggest life hack of all.

2. Be the type of person who reaches out to others... when you don't need something.

3. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency.

4. Most successful people move with this mindset: Entitled to nothing, willing to earn everything.

5. Pray like it's up to God. Work like it's up to you.

6. You don't need more time, you need a deadline.

7. The success you are looking for is waiting for you in the work you are currently avoiding.

8. Biographies of billionaires teach you more than self-help books.

9. Your lack of focus will kill you before your competitors ever get a chance.

10. Winning isn't an accident, it's earned.

11. Underrated superpower: Just dumb enough to believe in yourself, just smart enough to execute.

12. Complexity makes you seem smart. Simplicity makes you money.

13. Surround yourself with owners, the conversation is just different.

14. The more you learn about money, the more you realize most of us play with Legos while the really rich play chess.

15. Beginners do too much. Pros do only what's needed.

16. Underperformers want ease. Midperformers want credit. Winners want pressure.

17. Your most expensive mistake will be a "who," not a "what."

18. If you've survived this far, the odds are actually are in your favor.

19. The formula is: keep going after it gets hard.

If you liked this post and you're NOT signed up for my newsletter... you're seriously missing out. Get it here → https://lnkd.in/ggN9g-BX

The greatest muscle you can build is urgency.

Shrink your timelines...

When you say next quarter, push for next 60 days.

When you say next month, push for 2 weeks.

When you say next week, push for 24 hours.

Not everything will get done on the new timeline, but you'll build a habit that will make you more successful than other people.

Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Everything changes.

↓ ↓ ↓

If you want to push forward serious financial goals in 2026, you should look into this…

It’s live event on what I think is the single greatest skill you could learn this year to change your financial future forever.

It’s called a 3 day live event called Main Street Millionaire where we’re going deep on exactly how to find, buy, run, and scale a profitable small business.

If this sounds remotely interesting, save your spot here → https://lnkd.in/gf6hPHdF

The #1 killer of businesses is bad cashflow.

15 other harsh business truths for you:

1. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency. Bureaucracy is business poison.

2. Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Everything changes.

3. Never sacrifice reputation in the name of business. You can always start another company. You can never create a new reputation.

4. Long-term games and long-term people compound. Resist shiny objects.

5. Hire smart people, pay them well, set them up for success... Then leave them the hell alone.

6. “There’s nothing worse than being sick, fat, tired and trying to run your business.” - Dana White

7. The highest ROI investment founders & owners can make is in themselves. Health shapes mindset. Mindset shapes action.

8. You're better off learning negotiation than financial modeling. Business is less spreadsheets than words.

9. The best business of all time has only you, a computer, and the send button.

10. Every additional employee increases complexity. Hiring is a last resort.

11. The best advice comes from those just a couple steps ahead of you. These people still vividly remember the problems you're facing today.

12. Sell painkillers, not vitamins. There's more money in needs than wants.

13. No discounts. Compete on value, not price. Any biz with $$$ can enter your market and bleed you out. Differentiate beyond commodity.

14. A happy customer is the most powerful marketing. Prioritize reviews. Humans are social animals.

15. If no one thinks you’re crazy, you’re too late. If everyone thinks your idea is good? Even worse. Outsized returns lie in non-conformism.

↓↓↓↓

P.S. I'm running a free masterclass for business owners (next week).

What we'll cover? 4 growth levers to increase cash flow in your biz. 

Grab your spot here (for free): https://lnkd.in/gSfvX_AF

Steven Yeh, EIT

The AI Workforce Academy | Building Enterprise AI Agent Capability

AI Teacher, Speaker, Consultant, Executive Workshops Host

I work with executives who are navigating real pressure around AI. Revenue expectations. Headcount questions. Speed. Risk. And the growing gap between what is possible and what is actually being delivered.

Before tools like ChatGPT made AI mainstream, I was implementing AI inside large organizations. In one deployment, AI driven initiatives exceeded a 90 million dollar annual sales pipeline target in just three months, reaching 115 million. 

That experience shaped the AI Impact Alignment™ process. It forces hard choices. What matters. What does not. What should be automated now. What should remain human. And how leaders stay in control while moving faster.

Today, I advise leadership teams, speak to executive audiences, and teach organizations how to make AI decisions that hold up under scrutiny. 

If AI feels both unavoidable and unclear inside your organization, you are asking the right questions.
________________________________________________________________

Partnerships@theashleygross.com for Brand partnerships and sponsorships

Ashley@aiworkforcealliance.com for AI strategy consulting, AI agents, and business process automation

Ashley@aiworkforceacademy.io for Speaking engagements, conferences, company offsites, and universities

Ashley Gross

I swear my five year old is better at marketing than I am, especially at dinner when he loves to tell elaborate stories to get out of eating his veggies.

Yesterday one of his anti-veggie rants started with him telling his dad that he was strong. Just not stronger than a T-Rex. Then he followed it up with a helpful suggestion. If you throw broccoli at a T-Rex you could probably win because everyone hates broccoli.

Did I let him get out of eating his greens after that pitch? Yes. Yes I did.

And because creativity deserves a bonus, I rewarded his imagination by turning his idea into his very own comic style coloring page using ChatGPT. 

Strong dad. Brave kid. Angry T-Rex. Weaponized broccoli.

Honestly no notes.

CEO & Founder x2 | Wiley Author 2026 | Building Enterprise AI Agent Capability

Charlie Hills 🦩 and I were talking about ChatGPT Atlas & Perplexity Comet

(Here’s what we noticed)

Both tools are impressive, but they shine in different ways:

→ Atlas 
Keeps all your conversation history in one place, making follow-ups easy.

→ Comet 
Lets you pick the best LLM for each task, from Perplexity to Gemini, giving ultimate flexibility.

→ Both 
Powerful for content, research, and experimentation, and yes, you can even try them for free.

We loved seeing how each tool approaches AI differently, it’s not about which is “better,” it’s about which fits your workflow.

Which one are you using, Atlas, Comet, or something else  and why?
___________________________
AI Consultant, Course Creator & Keynote Speaker
Follow Ashley Gross for more about AI

Your Team Has an AI Problem… 

(Or do they?)

I see this in almost every team.

Everyone talks about adding AI.

But the real issue isn’t whether you have AI… it’s whether your AI actually understands how your team works.

Because knowledge is scattered:

Tickets lost in Jira.

Docs buried in Drive.

Dashboards no one updates.

Slack threads no one remembers.

And one person who “just knows everything” They take a week off, and work slows everywhere.

That’s why I started using Rovo by Atlassian. An AI built directly into your Atlassian tools, powered by your team’s existing knowledge.

No model training.

No complex prompting.

No rebuilding context from scratch.

Rovo uses what already lives across Jira, Confluence, Slack, and more, and turns it into action.

Need answers fast?

↳ Rovo Search answers natural language questions and surfaces links from knowledge across all of your apps.

Stuck on a decision?

↳ Rovo Chat uses your internal context to summarize, brainstorm, and create tickets or pages (with your approval).

Repetitive work piling up?

↳ Rovo Studio lets you create agents and automations to handle everyday tasks and custom workflows without writing a single line of code.

After using it, I spend less time hunting for information and more time actually moving work forward.

Work flows better.

Decisions come faster.

And progress doesn’t depend on who’s in the office that day.

If you Rovo, you know. 

Explore Rovo here: https://bit.ly/4asYlhn

#AtlassianPartner #iyryk

AI Strategies to Grow Your Business | Featured in Forbes | Wiley Author AI Consulting, Courses & Keynotes ➤ @theashleygross

Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance  in a professional setting. Text reads: "Stop Wasting Time Searching. Unlock AI-Powered Knowledge with Atlassian Rovo."

ChatGPT vs Claude isn’t about which is “better.”

(It’s about what you need it to do.)

Like most people, Leonard Rodman, M.Sc. PMP® LSSBB® CSM® CSPO® uses ChatGPT every day.

It’s the default.

But when he’s coding, that changes.

He reaches for Claude.

Not because ChatGPT is bad.

Not because Claude is “the future.”

Simply because, for him, Claude handles code better.

→ Cleaner logic.

→ Fewer rewrites.

→ Less back-and-forth.

That’s the part most AI debates miss.

It’s not about picking a winner.

It’s about picking the right tool for the job.

What’s your daily driver  and what job do you trust it with most?
___________________________
AI Consultant, Course Creator & Keynote Speaker
Follow Ashley Gross for more about AI

Why AI Content Still Fails to Convert

(It’s not what most teams think)

I asked Audrey Chia a simple question:

What’s the one thing about AI that confuses clients the most?

Her answer wasn’t about prompts, tools, or platforms.

It was about expectations.

Many teams use AI to produce more content and assume results will follow.

More posts. More blogs. More output.

But volume doesn’t create traction.

In this conversation, Audrey breaks down why AI-generated content often underperforms and what actually changes when teams fix the strategy behind it.

If your AI content looks busy but isn’t driving results, this is worth watching.
___________________________
AI Consultant, Course Creator & Keynote Speaker
Follow Ashley Gross for more about AI

Why Clay is More Than Just an AI Tool

(It works differently than you expect)

Clay is known for its sleek CRM features, automation, and flexibility, but the real value lies in how and where AI is applied.

I asked Jérémy Grandillon about his favorite tool with AI capabilities and why he values it. 

His answer? Clay.

Why Clay works for him:

→ It’s not purely an AI tool, but it lets AI enhance processes where it truly matters

→ AI is applied with precision, just the right dosage at the right moment

→ Its flexibility allows meaningful AI integration, not just flashy features

The magic isn’t having more AI, it’s using it smartly within processes that benefit from it.

Watch the full video and share your own takeaways in the comments!
___________________________
AI Consultant, Course Creator & Keynote Speaker
Follow Ashley Gross for more about AI

Your customers don’t see "channels." 

(They just see one conversation with your brand.)

For most businesses, that conversation is fragmented. 

SMS is in one tool, email in another, and voice sits on its own island.

In my consulting work, I see how this disconnect creates friction, especially in FinTech and Financial Services, where every interaction is a matter of trust.

If a customer gets a fraud alert but has to repeat their entire story when they call support, you’ve already lost their trust.

I’ve been looking through Sinch’s 2026 Predictions, and the takeaway is clear: 

The next two years aren't about sending more messages. They are about making those messages smarter and more secure.

As we look toward 2026, three shifts stand out for the financial sector:

1. Trust-first communication: 
→ With the rise of AI-driven fraud, verified and secure messaging isn't a luxury, it's a requirement to keep customers engaged.

2. The evolution of Voice: 
→ We are finally moving past rigid "Press 1" menus toward Voice AI that actually understands intent and responds in real-time.

3. Context over everything: 
→ If a customer starts a chat and moves to a call, they expect the history to follow them. Disconnected data is the biggest hurdle to a good experience.

I like that Sinch focuses on the technical infrastructure, global delivery and compliance so that teams can focus on the actual strategy.

The companies that win in 2026 will be the ones that make their communication feel unified and secure.

You can find the full 2026 Predictions Report here: https://lnkd.in/eDx2zUCr

#SinchPartner

Brand partnership • CEO & Founder x2 | Wiley Author 2026 | Building Enterprise AI Agent Capability

Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance  with text overlay: "Are Your Messages Secure Enough to Build Trust?" Promotional graphic for Sinch partnership highlighting message security and brand trust.

AI Isn’t Confusing…

(Your Approach Might Be)

AI promises efficiency, insights, and smarter decisions, but many teams still find it confusing. 

Why? Because it’s not always clear how AI fits with existing tools, workflows, and day-to-day work.

That’s exactly what Jérémy Grandillon pointed out in our conversation.

He’s seen teams struggle when leaders try to overhaul everything at once. 

The real success comes when AI is integrated into processes your teams already use, so adoption happens naturally without forcing people to learn a completely new system.

How are your teams making AI work in practice? 
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Struggling to create LinkedIn content that feels like you?

(It’s one of the biggest challenges creators face)

Even seasoned LinkedIn users hit the same wall: running out of authentic ideas, struggling to maintain tone, and repeating themselves across posts.

In my conversation with Charlie Hills 🦩, he shared a tool that changed the game for him: Stanley.

He explained how it:

→ Analyzes your profile and suggests content gaps or new ideas

→ Writes authentic posts on any topic without constant manual prompts

→ Scrapes all your previous LinkedIn posts to capture your voice, tone, and style

For Charlie, it became a ‘cheat code’ for LinkedIn, helping him post consistently, stay authentic, and save time.

Content creation doesn’t have to feel repetitive or exhausting.

Which tools are you relying on to keep your LinkedIn content fresh and authentic?
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Automation Isn’t Just for Business Teams

(It’s quietly running your systems)

Most people still think workflow automation is just for marketing tasks or simple ops.

But behind the scenes, high-performing teams are using n8n to protect systems, process data, and keep platforms alive while everyone else sleeps.

In this infographic, I share 3 workflow ideas focused on technical and operational teams:

1. Cybersecurity: 
→ Automatically detect and block security threats in real-time, reducing response times.

2. Data Science: 
→ Extract and structure data from raw PDFs into databases without manual work, ensuring data sovereignty.

3. System Health: 
→ Monitor website paths and trigger "self-healing" scripts to fix outages, maintaining system uptime.

The common thread here isn't just speed. It’s control, reliability, and removing human bottlenecks from critical infrastructure.

This is what automation looks like when it supports your foundation, not just your productivity.

PS: If you missed Part 2 of n8n workflow automation ideas, here’s the link: bit.ly/49KxIm8

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Infographic by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance titled 'n8n Workflow Automation Ideas Part 3,' featuring three use cases: Neville Noel for IT Security, Nora Notebook for Data Science, and Noah Nightshift for Web Development. Each case outlines the sector, industry, functional area, automation details, and success metrics, illustrated with relevant icons.

AI in Marketing is Getting Smarter

(It’s not just about automation)

Marketers are using AI to generate content, analyze trends, and save time. but the real edge comes from turning information into actionable insights quickly.

One of Audrey Chia’s favorite tools for this is NotebookLM.

With it, she can:

→ Generate summaries, briefs, or even audio podcasts

→ Upload videos, ebooks, and internal briefs to build a knowledge base

→ Ask questions to quickly understand new industries and craft better content

Curious how this turns hours of research into actionable marketing insights?

Watch the full video below.
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Do all AI systems hallucinate?

(It depends on how you use them)

One of the most common AI myths Leonard hears is that every AI output is unreliable by default.

In my conversation with him, he clarified this well.

He pointed out that hallucinations are a real risk, but not all AI behaves the same way. 

Systems built with:

→ A narrowly defined use case

→ Clear boundaries on what they can and cannot do

→ Data-grounded approaches like retrieval-based generation

The likelihood of hallucinations drops significantly.

The problem isn’t AI itself. 

It’s how loosely or thoughtfully it’s applied. 

That’s where a lot of the confusion starts.

How do you ensure the AI tools you use are trustworthy and reliable?
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3 Ways Teams Are Quietly Using Zapier 

(And why it’s worth talking about)

One thing I keep noticing: Most teams don’t have a tooling problem. They have a handoff problem.

Leads arrive, but no one acts fast enough.

Support emails land, but ownership isn’t clear.

New hires start, but momentum stalls on day one.

What’s interesting is how some teams are fixing this, not by adding more processes, but by removing the gaps between steps.

Here are 3 Zapier use cases I see working well:

1. Lead management: 
→ Leads from ads or property forms go straight into the CRM and alert sales instantly. 
→ Response time drops, and nothing slips through because someone “didn’t see it.”

2. Support operations: 
→ Incoming tickets are tagged and routed to the right expert automatically. 
→ Fewer internal pings, faster resolutions, better CSAT.

3. People ops: 
→ Onboarding starts the moment someone is hired, welcome emails sent, first-day meetings scheduled, no manual chasing. 
→ Recruiters spend less time coordinating and more time hiring.

What stands out isn’t the automation itself.

It’s what teams choose to automate first: the moments where work usually stalls.

Curious how others think about this:

If you could remove friction from one handoff in your business, where would it be?

PS Stay tuned for part 2 of Zapier Workflow Automation Ideas!
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Infographic by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance titled 'Zapier Workflow Automation Ideas Part 1' featuring three columns for different use cases. Each column includes sector, industry, functional area, automation function, and success measurement. Sectors are Marketing & Sales, Customer Support, and Operations & HR. Industries include Real Estate, Consumer Goods, and Consulting. 

Workflow Automation Isn’t Just About Saving Time

(Most teams miss the real impact)

Repetitive tasks, scattered data, and disconnected systems slow down even the smartest teams. 

The real question isn’t whether to automate, it’s how your workflows actually drive results.

In this infographic, we break down 3 ways teams are using n8n workflows to turn data into action:

→ Orchestrate complex data pipelines and AI agents

→ Capture and enrich leads, then personalize outreach

→ Monitor support channels and draft troubleshooting steps

These aren’t just time-savers. 

They help uncover hidden opportunities, scale impact, and make every workflow measurable.

Which of these workflows could transform how your team works?

PS Stay tuned for part 2 of n8n workflow automation ideas!
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Diagram by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance titled "n8n Workflow Automation Ideas (Part 1)" showcasing three use cases: Technology & Data Engineering, Marketing & Sales, and Customer Support & Experience. Each use case is detailed with its sector, industry, functional area, automation process, and success metrics.

Are your best opportunities quietly slipping away?

(Here’s how teams make sure they never do)

Teams invest in marketing, sales, and product, but the small signals that actually drive growth often go unnoticed. 

A social mention, a repeat purchase, or a piece of customer feedback, these moments are gold, but they get lost in the noise.

Here’s how some teams use Zapier to capture them before it’s too late:

• Community & Marketing: 
↳ Automatically add high-intent users from social mentions to VIP email lists. Engagement rises, and no lead slips through.

• E-commerce & Retail: 
↳ Reward customers instantly when they hit key milestones. Loyalty grows and repeat purchases climb.

• Product & Development: 
↳ Collect app reviews and feedback into organized boards. Teams iterate faster, fix bugs efficiently, and keep product quality high.

It’s not just automation. It’s about acting on the moments that matter most. 

Small signals, when captured and amplified, become the difference between missed opportunities and measurable growth.

If you missed the part 1 of Zapier Workflow Automation ideas, here's the link:
https://lnkd.in/eP26FYBD
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An infographic by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance titled 'Zapier Workflow Automation Ideas (Part 2)' shows three columns labeled Zelda Zea, Ziggy Zenith, and Zara Zone, each with a sector, industry, functional area, automation description, and success measurement

What Sales and Marketing Teams are Missing?

(It’s not in plain sight)

Too often, teams rely on basic criteria like company size or job title, ending up competing for the same accounts at the same time. 

Insights that could give you an edge are scattered across tools or buried in unstructured data.

In my conversation with Jérémy Grandillon, he highlighted Claygent, his favorite feature in Clay, as a way to unlock insights that most teams simply cannot reach.

With it, you can:

→ Build, test, and iterate custom prompts risk-free to refine messaging

→ Pull context from Gong transcripts, Salesforce, or Google Docs to make smarter outreach

→ Research companies and people deeply, even from case studies or public web sources

These capabilities allow teams to find high-value prospects faster, personalize outreach with real context, and uncover opportunities that competitors might miss. 

No more guessing or working blind, every action is backed by data your team can actually use.

It’s not about AI doing tasks. It’s about uncovering information your team can act on.

How is your team finding insights that others overlook?
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Automation Is Quietly Becoming a Management Skill

(It’s no longer just an IT decision)

Most operational friction doesn’t come from complex problems.

It comes from simple processes repeated at scale.

Handoffs.

Approvals.

Status updates.

Microsoft Power Automate RPA is showing up in places where time, not talent, is the bottleneck.

This highlights a pattern I see often:

→ HR and finance lose time chasing approvals instead of making decisions

→ Sales slows down when quotes, documents, and systems don’t talk

→ Service teams struggle when requests live across inboxes and spreadsheets

RPA works best when it removes coordination work, not judgment.

The success isn’t the automation itself.

It’s the clarity and consistency it creates across teams.

Where do you see process friction showing up most in your organization?
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Infographic by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance, highlighting Microsoft Power Automate RPA use cases: professional services by Eddy Expneser, technology by David Dealer, healthcare by Sarah Server. Each column details the sector, industry, functional area, digital worker functions, and how to measure success. Emphasizes automation in HR, sales, and operations.

Could Your Workflows Do More Than Move Data?

(Most teams automate without unlocking real impact)

Too often, automation just moves tasks around. Workflows can do so much more when they generate insights, prevent mistakes, and create measurable results.

This infographic shows 3 ways n8n workflows are delivering impact:

1. Deploy AI agents to research competitors, summarize insights, and draft SEO-ready content

2. Monitor multiple warehouse systems to prevent stock-outs and maintain data parity

3. Automate compliance checks, cross-reference contracts, and capture previously unbilled revenue.

These aren’t just automations, they turn repetitive processes into actionable insights, scalable output, and operational confidence.

Want to see the first 3 workflow ideas? Check out Part 1 here: bit.ly/4bw6Fxe
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Infographic by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance titled "n8n Workflow Automation Ideas (Part 2)" featuring three columns for different use cases. Each column describes sectors, industries, functional areas, automation tasks, and success measures. 

Why UiPath Is Changing How Teams Work

(It’s not just automation, it’s precision)

UiPath isn’t about flashy tools, it’s about solving the repetitive, high-volume tasks that slow teams down.

In this infographic, you’ll see how it’s applied across different functions:

1. Finance  
↳ Invoice processing handled automatically, humans only handle exceptions. Faster approvals, fewer errors, lower cost per invoice.

2. Customer Service 
↳ Emails and tickets triaged and routed correctly, agents focus on solving problems, not sorting messages.

3. HR & Talent 
↳ Onboarding documents, payroll updates, and access requests synchronized automatically, reducing admin time and compliance risk.

UiPath works where it matters most, reducing friction, freeing teams to focus on high-impact work.

Which of these areas in your team could UiPath tackle first?
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Infographic by Ashley Gross, CEO of AI Workforce Alliance titled "UiPath RPA Top Use Cases." It highlights three use cases: Ivan Invoicer for professional services, Susan Supporter for telecom, and Trisha Talent for healthcare. Each section details the sector, industry, functional area, tasks of the digital worker, and success measurement metrics.

Why does “AI-powered” confuse so many companies?

(Here’s what I see with my clients every week)

Leonard Rodman, M.Sc. PMP® LSSBB® CSM® CSPO® asked me what confuses my clients most about AI. 

My answer: almost everything.

Many teams think adding AI makes their product instantly elite.

Almost every tool today has some AI component. It is no longer the differentiator.

Clients see “AI features” and get excited but rarely ask the right questions:

• Why was it added?

• What problem does it solve?

• How does it make the product different?

If your product says “powered by AI” but cannot show real impact, nobody gets the value, not customers, not your team.

The shift is simple: stop selling AI. Start showing impact.

Which outcome does your AI actually deliver?

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