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Prompt and Circumstance

Prompt and Circumstance

By: Mike Richardson Mark Redgrave Ryan Neimann & Tom Adams
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 It’s human-friendly banter about code, culture, and CEO reality checks—served up by Mike Richardson, Ryan Niemann, Mark Redgrave, and Tom Adams. No jargon. No hype. Just real talk from four guys who’ve seen it all, and aren’t afraid to say what everyone’s thinking.Flourish Press Inc. Economics Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • The 2026 AI Inflection Point: Separating Winners from Losers in Business Transformation

    The 2026 AI Inflection Point: Separating Winners from Losers in Business Transformation
    Jan 12 2026
    2026 marks a critical inflection point where businesses will face irreversible separation between AI leaders and laggards. This episode examines why 2025 saw immense energy but limited progress, with many organizations stuck in "pilot purgatory" without clear ROI. The hosts predict that this year will expose which companies have developed true collective intelligence between human and artificial intelligence, and which remain "collectively unintelligent." Key concepts discussed include the AI Laptop Test for evaluating job vulnerability, the necessity of CEO-level mandates for AI adoption, and the transformation of SaaS from tools to outcome-driven partners. The episode provides actionable frameworks for moving beyond experimentation to demonstrable business benefits through agentic systems and vertical solutions aligned with strategic priorities.HighlightsLeaders can no longer hide from AI adoption—2026 demands CEO-level mandates and strategic alignmentWinners and losers in business will separate permanently based on AI adoption speed and effectivenessAgentic AI systems will evolve from isolated tools to dynamic decision-making networks within organizationsSaaS pricing models will shift from tool-based to outcome-based partnerships with demonstrable ROIVoice interfaces will become primary interaction methods, replacing keyboards for many AI interactionsThe AI Laptop Test exposes which remote knowledge-worker jobs are most vulnerable to automationCompanies must move from horizontal AI experiments to vertical solutions with clear EBITDA impactPhysical AI and robotics will capture mainstream attention as AI moves beyond digital interfacesImportant Concepts and FrameworksAI Laptop Test — Shane Legg's concept evaluating which remote knowledge-worker jobs are vulnerable to AI automation based on computer-based cognitive tasksCollective Intelligence — The synergistic combination of human and artificial intelligence that creates competitive advantagePilot Purgatory — The state where companies run multiple AI experiments without achieving production-scale ROI or strategic alignmentVertical vs Horizontal AI Solutions — Vertical solutions target specific business problems with measurable outcomes, while horizontal solutions provide general capabilities across the organizationAgentic Systems — AI systems that can autonomously perform tasks, make decisions, and coordinate with other agentsCrossing the Chasm — The critical transition from early AI adopters to mainstream business adoption that will define 2026Tools & Resources Mentionedn8n — Workflow automation platform that enables building agentic AI systems without extensive codingLink: https://n8n.io/ChatGPT — OpenAI's conversational AI used for ideation, coding assistance, and agent developmentLink: https://openai.com/chatgptClaude Code — Anthropic's AI assistant specialized for coding and software development tasksLink: https://www.anthropic.com/claudeGoogle Pixel Watch with Gemini — Wearable device with integrated AI assistant for voice interactionsLink: https://support.google.com/googlepixelwatch/answer/16393978?hl=en-INCalls to ActionConduct an honest assessment: What is your organization doing with AI today that it wasn't doing this time last year?Secure CEO-level mandate and board alignment for AI initiatives before pursuing any significant investments.Identify 2-3 vertical solutions aligned with strategic priorities that offer demonstrable EBITDA impact within 9-12 months.Establish a "skunk works" team to experiment with agentic AI systems using platforms like n8n, starting from zero knowledge if necessary.Evaluate which roles in your organization fail the AI Laptop Test and develop reskilling or restructuring plans.Audit existing AI spending to eliminate "shelfware" and reallocate resources to solutions with measurable outcomes.Implement voice interface experiments to prepare for the shift from keyboard-based to voice-based AI interactions.Key Quotes"This is the year leaders can no longer hide" — Mark Redgrave"Winners and losers separate and they will never come back together" — Mark Redgrave"This isn't about artificial intelligence at all. This is about human intelligence" — Mike Richardson"AI adoption will not be democratic" — Mark Redgrave"Voice becomes a primary interface, not secondary" — Tom AdamsChapters00:00 — Welcome and 2025 AI Reflections: Energy Without Progress04:03 — The 2025 Reality Check: Pilot Purgatory and Limited Outcomes07:18 — Personal AI Breakthroughs: From n8n Agents to Coding Assistants12:33 — 2026 Prediction #1: The Great Business Separation Begins15:56 — Leadership Mandates Become Non-Negotiable in AI Adoption20:22 — The AI Laptop Test: Evaluating Job Vulnerability and Skills Gaps23:53 — SaaS Transformation: From Tools to Outcome-Based Partnerships27:35 — Innovation Culture Exposed: Who Can Adapt Fast Enough?30:39 — The Non-Democratic Nature of AI Adoption Success32:01 — ...
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    55 mins
  • Scaling Your Business with AI: A Practical Guide to Fractional Teams and Strategic Implementation

    Scaling Your Business with AI: A Practical Guide to Fractional Teams and Strategic Implementation
    Dec 15 2025
    Most CEOs face the challenge of wanting to leverage AI for business growth but struggle with where to start and how to implement effectively. The common misconception is that AI implementation should be straightforward like ERP integration, but the reality requires a strategic, phased approach. This episode reveals how fractional AI teams can help businesses scale without linear headcount growth, focusing on three key areas: revenue operations automation, document analysis, and customer service transformation.The conversation covers essential frameworks including the importance of AI strategy alignment across leadership teams, the "buy vs. build" analysis for AI solutions, and the critical role of process mapping before implementation. The discussion emphasizes that successful AI adoption starts with culture shift from the top, where leaders must become AI champions and model "AI-first thinking" to drive organizational change.HighlightsIdentify scaling bottlenecks by asking: "What hires would you need if your business grew 50-100%?"Start with AI strategy alignment before any tool implementation to ensure leadership consensusFocus on automating existing manual processes before pursuing predictive analyticsUse visual process mapping to uncover workflow inefficiencies and redesign for AI optimizationImplement fractional AI teams rather than hiring single "director of AI" rolesTarget low-hanging fruit in revenue operations, document analysis, and customer serviceDevelop "AI-first thinking" by asking "How can AI help me?" for every business challengeExperiment with different AI models (Claude, OpenAI, Gemini) to understand their strengthsImportant Concepts and FrameworksFractional AI Teams Model — Outsourced teams providing AI strategy, engineering, and project management expertiseLink: https://www.kore1.com/fractional-ai-teams-when-to-use-contract-ml-engineers-vs-full-time-hires/AI Strategy Framework — Structured approach to aligning AI initiatives with business outcomesLink: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/scenarios/ai/strategyProcess Mapping for AI Implementation — Visual documentation of current workflows to identify automation opportunities Link: https://www.cflowapps.com/ai-process-mapping/Buy vs Build Analysis — Evaluation framework for deciding between custom development and off-the-shelf AI solutionsLink: https://www.windwardstudios.com/white-papers/build-buy-software-developmentCurrent State vs Future State Workflows — Comparative analysis of existing processes versus AI-optimized versionsLink: https://miro.com/value-stream-mapping/current-vs-future-state-diagram/AI Culture Shift — Organizational transformation where AI-first thinking becomes embedded in decision-makingLink: https://www.deloitte.com/us/en/what-we-do/capabilities/applied-artificial-intelligence/articles/build-ai-ready-culture.htmlTools & Resources MentionedClaude (Anthropic) — Advanced AI model competing with OpenAI, known for strong reasoning capabilitiesOpenAI/ChatGPT — Leading AI platform for general-purpose AI assistance and automationGoogle Gemini — Google's AI model integrated across Google Workspace and cloud servicesLovable — AI-powered presentation and visualization tool for creating interactive contentWhisper Flow — Voice-to-AI tool for dictation and conversational AI interactionSuper Whisper — Mac-specific voice-to-AI tool with customizable prompts and workflowsAWS Trainium 3 — Amazon's custom AI chip for training large language modelsCadre AI — Fractional AI teams providing strategy and implementation servicesCalls to ActionConduct a leadership alignment session to define your company's AI strategy and ensure all executives share the same vision.Map three key business processes using visual process mapping to identify automation opportunities and workflow inefficiencies.Experiment with at least one new AI tool you haven't tried before (Claude, Gemini, or specialized tools like Lovable).Ask the scaling question: "If our business grew 50-100% in the next year, what hires would we need?" to identify AI automation priorities.Start using voice-to-AI tools for daily tasks to increase personal productivity and model AI adoption for your team.Conduct a "buy vs build" analysis for your top three AI use cases before committing to implementation.Schedule regular AI demo sessions where team members share practical applications they've discovered.Key Quotes"It's not about the agent, it's about the workflow" — Riley Stricklin"Everybody wants to chat with their company data like they chat with ChatGPT" — Riley Stricklin"I am 60-80% more efficient every week, essentially twice as productive" — Riley Stricklin"The only way we've seen true culture shift happen is starting at the top" — Riley Stricklin"What hires would you need if the business grew 50-100%?" — Riley StricklinChapters00:00 — Introduction to AI Strategy and Fractional Teams02:47 — Time Magazine's AI...
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    58 mins
  • Strategic AI Implementation and Organizational Transformation Framework

    Strategic AI Implementation and Organizational Transformation Framework
    Nov 3 2025
    Business leaders face the challenge of moving beyond AI dabbling to strategic mastery, where artificial intelligence becomes the operating system of their organization rather than just another technology overlay. The episode reveals that 90% of AI pilot projects fail due to lack of strategic alignment and proper data infrastructure. Companies like Moderna are already restructuring their entire organizations around the combined human and digital workforce concept, signaling a fundamental shift in how businesses must operate. The key insight is that AI without access to internal data is like hiring a new employee and blindfolding them - they can't contribute meaningfully to business intelligence. Successful organizations treat AI as the foundation of their operations, creating intelligent systems that provide real-time decision-making capabilities and competitive advantage.HighlightsTreat AI as your organization's operating system, not just a technology add-onOvercome data access fears to transform AI from helpful stranger to informed coworkerShift from generative AI dabbling to agentic AI with internal data integrationCreate closed-loop systems where AI leverages your unique business intelligenceImplement daily practice and pilot projects with clear ROI measurementsRestructure organizational thinking around combined human-digital resourcesDevelop AI-first business models rather than overlaying AI on existing processesCommit to continuous learning and mastery rather than instant gratificationImportant Concepts and FrameworksGeorge Leonard's Mastery Framework - Understanding the journey through dabbling, hacking, obsessing, and mastery phasesAI as New Employee Analogy - The importance of data access for AI effectivenessIntelligent Organizations - Companies where AI provides real-time intelligence at decision momentsAI Native Mindset - Building businesses with AI as the foundational operating systemAgentic vs Generative AI - The difference between AI that acts on data versus generates contentClosed Loop Systems - AI implementations that leverage internal organizational dataDigital Transformation Roadmap - Strategic approach to becoming an AI-first organizationTools & Resources MentionedOpenAI Atlas Browser - AI-integrated browser with commercial ecosystem - https://openai.com/Claude Code - AI coding capabilities within Anthropic's Claude - https://www.anthropic.com/product/claudeChatGPT - Generative AI platform for content creation - https://chat.openai.com/Google Gemini - AI assistant and content generation tool - https://gemini.google.com/Perplexity AI - AI-powered search and research platform - https://www.perplexity.ai/Airtable - Platform for organizing and accessing business data - https://www.airtable.com/PayPal - Payment processing for AI commercial ecosystems - https://www.paypal.com/Calls to ActionShift your mindset from viewing AI as technology overlay to organizational operating systemConduct a data infrastructure audit to identify accessibility barriers for AI implementationStart daily practice with agentic AI tools that can access and act on your business dataCreate pilot projects with clear KPIs and ROI measurements rather than random experimentationRestructure organizational thinking around combined human and digital workforce capabilitiesDevelop an AI-first business model rather than trying to retrofit AI onto existing processesCommit to continuous learning and mastery journey rather than seeking instant gratificationKey Quotes"AI without data is like hiring a new employee and blindfolding them" — Mark Redgrave"We're in the dial-up stage of AI, not ready to replace airline pilots yet" — Marvin Dejean"AI must be in service of strategy, not strategy in service of AI" — Mark Redgrave"The companies that succeed will treat AI as their operating system" — Marvin Dejean"You better learn to love the plateau because you'll spend most time there" — Mike RichardsonChapters00:28 — Welcome and Recent AI Developments Overview02:02 — OpenAI Atlas Browser and AI Ecosystem Strategy03:20 — Moderna's Bold Organizational Restructuring Move05:57 — Marvin Dejean's AI Journey Since 201212:18 — The Critical Role of Data in AI Implementation18:17 — AI as New Employee: Data Access Analogy21:49 — Overcoming Data Infrastructure Challenges25:21 — Future AI Interface and Browser Integration28:24 — Mastery Framework for AI Adoption Success31:44 — Daily Practice and Commitment to Learning33:54 — Strategic Alignment and Avoiding Instant Gratification38:39 — Separating Wheat from Chaff in AI Implementation41:29 — Practical Actions for Moving Beyond AI Dabbling44:00 — AI as Organizational Operating System Mindset48:08 — Closing Thoughts and AI Incubator Announcement----------------------------------------Our Guest on this episodeMarvin DejeanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marvindejean/----------------------------------------Meet the CrewMike Richardson – Agility, Peer Power & ...
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    49 mins
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