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The One Percent Problem That Creates 68% Productivity Gains
95% of AI pilots fail to reach production, but it's not because of the technology. Brett Schklar, CEO of AI First Leadership and author of "AI Without the BS," has tracked AI adoption across 1,800 companies over two years and discovered the real bottleneck: the "frozen middle."
In this conversation, Brett reveals why senior managers and directors represent both the highest resistance and highest potential impact for AI adoption.
We explore his data showing marketing teams achieving 2.3x productivity gains while others fall behind, and his practical approach to building AI capacity through 1% weekly improvements that compound to 68% productivity gains.
Key topics covered:
✅ Why the "frozen middle" blocks AI adoption
✅ How intelligence becomes a commodity but wisdom remains human
✅ The K-shaped productivity curve emerging in organizations
✅ Department-by-department ROI data from 1,800 companies
✅ Why focusing on 1% problems beats transformation strategies
✅ Building internal AI champions and centers of excellence
✅ The identity crisis driving AI resistance
✅ Practical tactics for mid-market AI implementation
Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro and Brett's background
05:30 — From AI resistance to AI mandates: two-year evolution
12:00 — The model selection dilemma and governance concerns
18:45 — Scaling AI education beyond workshops
25:30 — The "frozen middle" problem explained
32:15 — ROI data across departments and functions
38:00 — Marketing productivity vs. content quality concerns
45:20 — Bringing marketing and sales together with AI
52:00 — Weekend project recommendations
57:00 — Brett's essential tools and where to connect
Check out Kevin’s stuff:
Ascend Labs: https://ascendlabs.ai/
Follow Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinguywilliams/
Get practical AI guidance: launchpad.ascendlabs.ai
Schedule a conversation with Kevin: tidycal.com/kevinwilliams
Connect with Brett: AI First Leadership on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/bschklar
Website: brettschklar.com
Book: https://bit.ly/AIWithoutBS
View all episodes
By Elijah Szasz, Kevin Williams95% of AI pilots fail to reach production, but it's not because of the technology. Brett Schklar, CEO of AI First Leadership and author of "AI Without the BS," has tracked AI adoption across 1,800 companies over two years and discovered the real bottleneck: the "frozen middle."
In this conversation, Brett reveals why senior managers and directors represent both the highest resistance and highest potential impact for AI adoption.
We explore his data showing marketing teams achieving 2.3x productivity gains while others fall behind, and his practical approach to building AI capacity through 1% weekly improvements that compound to 68% productivity gains.
Key topics covered:
✅ Why the "frozen middle" blocks AI adoption
✅ How intelligence becomes a commodity but wisdom remains human
✅ The K-shaped productivity curve emerging in organizations
✅ Department-by-department ROI data from 1,800 companies
✅ Why focusing on 1% problems beats transformation strategies
✅ Building internal AI champions and centers of excellence
✅ The identity crisis driving AI resistance
✅ Practical tactics for mid-market AI implementation
Timestamps:
00:00 — Intro and Brett's background
05:30 — From AI resistance to AI mandates: two-year evolution
12:00 — The model selection dilemma and governance concerns
18:45 — Scaling AI education beyond workshops
25:30 — The "frozen middle" problem explained
32:15 — ROI data across departments and functions
38:00 — Marketing productivity vs. content quality concerns
45:20 — Bringing marketing and sales together with AI
52:00 — Weekend project recommendations
57:00 — Brett's essential tools and where to connect
Check out Kevin’s stuff:
Ascend Labs: https://ascendlabs.ai/
Follow Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinguywilliams/
Get practical AI guidance: launchpad.ascendlabs.ai
Schedule a conversation with Kevin: tidycal.com/kevinwilliams
Connect with Brett: AI First Leadership on LinkedIn:
https://linkedin.com/in/bschklar
Website: brettschklar.com
Book: https://bit.ly/AIWithoutBS