Most business owners know AI is moving fast. What many do not realize is that adopting tools without structure, focus, and people in mind often creates more chaos than clarity.

In this episode of Self-Made Is a Myth, Coach Tim Campsall sits down with Travis, a serial entrepreneur who has been part of more than a dozen startups, including successful exits and hard-earned failures.

Travis shares lessons from building companies across industries, why surrounding yourself with the right team matters more than individual brilliance, and how chasing too many ideas can quietly stall progress. He explains how visionary founders often become the bottleneck by jumping from idea to idea without execution discipline.

The conversation also dives into the realities of AI adoption inside growing businesses. Travis unpacks why most AI initiatives fail, how shadow AI creates hidden risk, and what leaders must do to implement AI responsibly without overwhelming their teams or damaging culture. He introduces Adopt OS, a free platform designed to help organizations assess readiness, align people, and implement AI with clarity and direction.

This episode is for business owners and leaders who want to leverage AI without losing focus, protect their culture as they scale, and build systems that support sustainable growth.

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What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why most AI initiatives fail without structure and leadership
• How visionary founders become distracted by shiny objects
• The hidden risks of shadow AI inside organizations
• Why people and process must come before tools
• How focus and execution drive sustainable growth

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Looking To Scale Your Business:

Did you know that only 9% of businesses make it to $1,000,000 in revenue and less than 1% get to $5,000,000. The reason is that the hustle and grind that got you to $1,000,000 needs to shift to scaling strategies to go beyond. Book a Discovery Call now to learn how our ActionCOACH Business Operating System (ABoS) and coaching helps you to get unstuck and thrive to realize your personal and dreams and business goals. https://tbcactioncoach.com/discovery-zoom-call/

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Timestamps:

(00:00) Welcome to Self-Made Is a Myth
(01:00) Travis’ startup journey and early lessons
(03:20) Why teams matter more than individual talent
(05:10) Burnout and trying to do everything alone
(07:30) Shiny objects and loss of focus
(09:00) Why most AI initiatives fail
(11:00) The danger of shadow AI
(13:30) Building structure around AI adoption
(16:00) Delegation, trust, and execution
(18:15) Continuous learning as a growth lever
(22:50) Mindset shifts for sustainable leadership
(25:30) Scaling AI without overwhelming the team
(31:30) Advice for owners who feel stuck