What if the hardest-working person in the room is actually the one getting the least done?

J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with David Crawford, CEO of Anco AI and the chief operating officer behind Fischer’s advisory work, books, speaking, and this podcast. Fischer thought he had no time problem. He was disciplined, guarded his calendar, and outworked the room. Then David asked one question that changed how he sees his days.

They break down the idea of the one main thing, the difference between real work and friction, and the custom systems they built to clear it out. That includes a personal CRM Fischer actually owns and a four-layer AI operating system that runs the admin so he can spend his hours on connection.

If your calendar is full but the needle is not moving, this is the conversation most people only have after they burn out. You do not need more hours. You need the right ones. Listen now.

• [00:01:27] – The one question David asked that dismantled how Fischer saw his time
• [00:02:25] – The manual work quietly eating hours it never deserved
• [00:06:26] – From plumber’s helper and line cook to managing director in New York
• [00:09:50] – The multi-million company down the road that does exactly one thing
• [00:11:20] – Why the new book almost got shot down, and how it survived
• [00:13:44] – The data question that reveals your real main thing
• [00:15:02] – I do not work for a living, I live for a living
• [00:16:37] – The admin work AI can quietly take off your plate today
• [00:19:53] – One dinner, twenty-five CEOs, and the call-logging game nobody wins
• [00:25:32] – The four layers of an AI operating system, explained simply
• [00:31:18] – Why trust is the one thing AI will never replace
• [00:32:52] – The chance meeting on a viewing that changed David’s entire path

• ChatGPT
• Claude
• Gemini
• Salesforce
• HubSpot
• DealCloud
• Knight Frank
• eBay
• ACG (Association for Corporate) Growth)
• Goldman Sachs
• JP Morgan

David Crawford is the founder and CEO of Anco AI, where he builds custom AI operating systems, automations, and workflow tools that help founders and business owners remove friction and scale. Based in Manchester, England, and originally from Glasgow, Scotland, he began his career as a chartered surveyor and investment surveyor at Knight Frank before leaving to build businesses of his own. He now works closely with J. Michael Fischer Jr. as his personal chief operating officer across his advisory work, books, speaking, and content.

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Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.