If you’re a business owner, your inbox likely contains a daily parade of pitches for AI-powered “systems” promising you the next best thing for your product or service. They all promise results, but I’ve grown skeptical of anything that tries to remove the human element when it comes to decision making – because the human element is precisely the point.
The other day, a classic pitch landed in my LinkedIn inbox. It was full of the usual “proof, not promises” language to find new leads. So, I decided to put it to the test with a simple reply:
MY RESPONSE: I would only be interested in chatting if:
- You provide the actual leads;
- You are not selling me a tool or “system”;
- The leads you provide have an 80%+ closing rate; and,
- Your compensation is based only on my signed contracts.
THE RESULT: Silence. Crickets.
That silence confirmed my suspicion: they weren’t selling results. At most, they were offering a shovel and a flimsy map, leaving me to do all the real work (I am already doing using my own system). Like others I’ve checked out in the past… all for the “low cost” (LOL) of $2,000+ a month – it’s not worth it!
This is the core problem. These systems are built on the false premise that you can automate the hard, human parts of building a business.
Finding contacts is just data collection. The work that actually leads to a signed contract is entirely human. Yes, you can use AI to craft strategic market research, the thoughtful outreach and messaging. However, it is the ability to build genuine trust with decision-makers through human interaction that no system can replicate.
In a world saturated with automated noise (there’s a reason Gmail now has a “Promotions” tab), real human connection has become the ultimate differentiator. Success doesn’t come from a tool you buy; it comes from the disciplined, human-centered strategy you build and the foundational work that no system can ever replace.
So the next time you’re promised a system that will solve all your problems, ask yourself one question: Is this a shortcut, or is it just a detour from the work that truly matters?
Building human-centered strategies is the work I do with leaders. It’s about finding clarity and doing the foundational work that creates real results. If you’re ready for that sort of approach, I’m ready for the conversation.
