Most business owners are rushing to “add AI” — but few understand where true AI ends and automation begins. In this episode, Shawn Derrick breaks down the difference in plain language and shows how using the right tool at the right stage of your business can transform efficiency, profitability, and customer experience.You’ll learn:

• When to use AI for booking, support, and intelligent client communication — and when it’s overkill.
  
• How to use automation to reclaim hours of repetitive work without breaking what already works.
  
• Why timing matters — automating too early can destroy your process before it ever scales.
  
• How to blend both for maximum leverage using tools like GoHighLevel, Zapier, and n8n.
  
• How AI is changing client expectations, and how age, geography, and comfort level shape adoption.
  
• Why early adopters will win, cutting costs, outpacing competitors, and creating smarter customer experiences.
  

This episode is a must-listen for any small or mid-sized business ready to modernize without losing its human touch.