In this high-energy episode of Your Business, Your Next Level, host Eunicia Peret sits down with Michael Johnson—visionary speaker, business mentor, and former professional ballroom dancer—to explore the power of human creativity in an AI-driven world. Michael shares his unique story from dance floors to boardrooms, and how his company, Business Choreography, helps entrepreneurs fuse heart, soul, and strategy to scale with impact. With AI advancing rapidly, Michael offers a powerful reminder that authenticity, insight, and personal development remain our most irreplaceable assets. It’s a must-listen for any leader looking to thrive—not just survive—in the new age of innovation.
Key Takeaways:
AI can’t replace heart and soul: What sets entrepreneurs apart is their lived experience, insight, and emotional intelligence—things AI can’t replicate.
Use AI as a partner, not a crutch: Leverage AI to move faster and more efficiently, but never let it replace your human voice and intuition.
Cheap knockoffs don’t win: Regurgitated ideas and AI-generated business models lack originality and will be transparent to consumers.
Focus drives feelings: What you focus on shapes your perception and experience of the world—especially in uncertain times.
Reinvention is a skill: The art of change lies in seeing uncertainty as opportunity and responding with intentional, heart-driven action.
Personal development is no longer optional: To navigate the emotional toll of constant innovation and noise, leaders must train their mindset like a muscle.
Social media is a circus: Learn to control your inputs—what you consume, focus on, and react to—because they shape your business outcomes.
Fall down seven, get up eight: Whether the fall is external or internal, true success comes from the decision to keep rising.
Timeline Summary:
[00:00:00] Introduction to Michael Johnson, his background, and early entrepreneurial journey
[00:02:00] From childhood dance classes to teaching as a teenager and turning pro
[00:04:00] Mental challenges, NLP training, and starting a personal development company
[00:06:00] The role of AI and why humanity still holds a unique advantage
[00:08:00] How to stay relevant by integrating creativity with technology
[00:11:00] Training AI to assist your creative voice, not override it
[00:13:00] The danger of building businesses based on generic AI content
[00:15:00] Metaphor of dancers copying champions—and why it fails
[00:17:00] How imitation shows up in business and why it doesn’t work
[00:20:00] The illusion of certainty vs. true resilience through mindset
[00:22:00] Henry Ford, horsepower, and today’s AI transition
[00:25:00] Personal development as the foundation for long-term leadership
[00:28:00] Teaching values, reflection, and internal awareness as daily practices
[00:30:00] The Wild West of the internet and guarding your personal fortress
[00:32:00] A simple values hierarchy exercise anyone can do today
[00:34:00] Reflections on regret, growth, and the power of “right now”
[00:37:00] The importance of gratitude, presence, and forward motion
[00:39:00] Michael’s podcast “Seven Eight” and the mission to inspire resilience
[00:41:00] Closing reflections on owning your worth and embracing progress
Links & Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-johnson-3149151ab/