AI has completely changed my work. Thanks to smart tools, I save more than 25 hours a week. Time that I now use to have valuable conversations with customers and prospects. But how does that work in practice? And how do I make sure that I don’t ‘cheer too early’ by going on autopilot?
In this article, I share my favorite AI tools and how I use them in marketing and sales. At the same time, we discuss why even the best companies lose their edge and how you can prevent that. Because whether you are using a tool or trying to defend a market share: continuing to innovate is essential.
Celebrating too early: a pitfall for athletes and companies
Do you know that image? A marathon runner who cheers just before the finish, while his opponent just overtakes him. Painful, but it doesn’t only happen in sports. Companies make the same mistake. They think they are safe at the top, but lose their edge. Before you know it, a newcomer overtakes you.
Think of Nokia and BlackBerry. Both brands dominated the mobile market. Nokia was everyone’s phone, while BlackBerry was essential for business people. But then came Apple. With the iPhone, they introduced not just a device, but a whole new ecosystem. Nokia and BlackBerry saw it too late.
Even giants like Microsoft are not immune. Their Windows Phone flopped completely because they underestimated the rapid innovations in the mobile market. These are important lessons: you can be a big name, but without innovation, your position is never secure.
What AI teaches me about efficiency and relevance
Thankfully, AI is a tool that helps you stay sharp. Through smart automation, you can work more efficiently and spend more time on what really matters. Here are a few of my favorite tools:
Marketing: create content faster and better
- Visuals and carousels – Canva helps me create professional designs in no time. Its ease of use is unmatched and it feels like an alternative to Photoshop, only ten times faster.
- Presentations – Genially has replaced PowerPoint for me. It’s interactive, visually appealing and ideal for engaging presentations.
- Editing videos – CapCut is my secret weapon. Automatically subtitle, cut, add music: it does everything for you. It feels like you have a professional editor in-house.
- Writing texts – Although I write 90% of my content myself, I use ChatGPT to check spelling and sharpen texts a bit.
Sales: staying personal and working efficiently
- Outreach templates – With ChatGPT I create email templates that feel personal and yet efficient. No standard spam, but messages that appeal.
- Market research and leads – Tools like Clay help me find relevant prospects. Everything is immediately structured and clear.
- Meeting notes – Fireflies.ai automatically summarizes my meetings. Whether it’s a customer meeting or an internal meeting, I hardly have to write anything down myself anymore.
- Follow-up with HubSpot – With AI integrations, our system follows up on prospects. This happens automatically, but in a personal and relevant way.
Why Even AI Can’t Save You Without Sharpness
AI tools can give you a huge advantage. But like Nokia and BlackBerry, you can get too comfortable here too. The danger of AI is that you run on autopilot and forget to stay sharp. You rely entirely on systems and notice too late that the world around you is changing.
Success requires more than automation. It requires a mindset in which you continue to learn, adapt and innovate. Like the marathon runner who keeps sprinting to the finish line, you have to keep a close eye on your competitors and not think that you are ‘already there’.
Three lessons to stay relevant
Do you want to avoid being overtaken, whether by a competitor or technology? Here are three essential lessons:
- Keep an eye on your competitors
Analyze what others are doing and where they excel. Use tools like AI to keep an eye on market trends, but stay critical. Understand your competitors and learn from their successes and mistakes.
- Dare to change
Sticking rigidly to the way you have always done things is asking for trouble. Embrace new technologies, be inspired by young talent and don’t be afraid to change your strategy when necessary.
- Success is a process, not an end point
Achieving success is not a finish line, but the beginning of a new process. Keep investing in your customers, innovation and skills. Tools like AI can help you, but they never replace the importance of a vision and a long-term strategy.
What AI and innovation teach me every day
AI tools have changed the way I work. I save time, am more productive and can focus on what really matters: customers and innovation. At the same time, companies like Nokia and BlackBerry show what happens when you think your advantage will last.
How do you stay relevant in a world that never stands still? What is your strategy to combine innovation and sharpness? If you are looking for advice, please contact me so we can discuss the possibilities.
