AI is not the starting point. Clean data and disciplined processes are. In this episode, we unpack why most digital conversations are only twenty percent technology and eighty percent business discipline. From unknown systems and conflicting revenue numbers to governance, compliance, and vendor confusion, the real foundation is data clarity. If you cannot trace where your information comes from or who owns it, no AI tool is going to save you.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/live/MwUqeqrrI1s 

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Are digital conversations solving real problems or selling big dreams? In this episode, we unpack the gap between aspirational AI messaging and the practical reality on the manufacturing floor. From high-level consulting pitches that miss the mark to workforce challenges spanning boomers to Gen Z, the focus is shifting. Exploratory budgets are fading, buzzwords are not enough, and manufacturers are asking a simpler question: how does this help us make more, better, faster?

Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/live/MwUqeqrrI1s 

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Most companies are not struggling with AI. They are struggling with the foundations underneath it. In this episode, we break down the real gaps preventing organizations from realizing value from digital investments, from surface-level AI case studies to low IT maturity and vendor lock-in that limits what businesses can actually do with their own data. When software contracts and platform dependencies hold the power, the business pays the price.

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You can turn a system on in six months. That does not mean it will work. In this episode, we unpack the obsession with aggressive go-live dates, executive bonuses tied to “being live,” and what happens when sales promises a Rolls-Royce but delivery shows up with a Honda budget. From missing support at go-live to vague post-production contracts and “standard” agreements that shift all risk back to you, this is about understanding what you are actually signing and why every agreement is negotiable.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QUPBWtzpb0Q 

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Integrations are not plug-and-play, no matter what the sales demo shows. In this episode, we break down the difference between healthy integration models and the kind that lock you into costly, opaque vendor relationships. From RFP traps and lowball bids to undocumented middleware and custom builds you do not own, this is about protecting your architecture. If you cannot swap a tool without breaking the business, you do not have integration. You have dependency.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QUPBWtzpb0Q 

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ 

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Data mapping is tedious, painful, and absolutely necessary. In this episode, we break down why hard does not mean wrong, how poor migrations and lift-and-shift thinking create bigger disasters later, and why discipline around cleansing, configuration, and architecture matters more than chasing cloud hype. The work is not glamorous, but skipping it is what breaks servers, budgets, and teams.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QUPBWtzpb0Q 

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ 

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More systems do not mean more control. They usually mean more conflicting numbers, more broken integrations, and more time spent arguing over which report is real. In this minisode, we talk about why “less systems, better architecture” is the goal, why platforms like Salesforce and HubSpot can turn into expensive traps when over-customized, and why system architecture has to stay internal so you are not held hostage by consultants, add-ons, and gated licensing.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QUPBWtzpb0Q 

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ 

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If your solution architecture is chaotic, AI will only scale the chaos faster. In this episode, we break down the difference between clean, integrated systems with clear data ownership and reactive, spreadsheet-driven environments that live in constant fire drills. Before layering in automation or AI, the foundation has to be right, because architecture directly impacts profitability, agility, and leadership visibility.

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/live/QUPBWtzpb0Q 

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The biggest myth in scaling IT is the belief that it will eventually become easy or perfectly streamlined.

In this episode, we unpack the critical difference between what is truly wrong and what is simply hard. That distinction drives smarter prioritization, better operating models, and clearer decisions about when to bring in outside support. Not every pain point deserves immediate escalation. Some challenges are part of growth. The key is knowing which is which.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/live/P0Tbigd6W1g?feature=share 

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ 

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Shadow IT is not just rogue software purchases. It is the reactive cost, security risk, and operational drag that follow when the business runs ahead of governance.

In this episode, we break down why buying a new tool rarely fixes the real issue and how to determine whether the problem is technology, process, or alignment.

Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/live/P0Tbigd6W1g?feature=share 

Connect with me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylercheatham/ 

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