Hello, hello!
On this cold New Hampshire Friday ❄️, let’s talk about the top reasons people tell me they can’t or won’t use AI—and how to break through those barriers.
🚧 The Boss Barrier
🛑 The No-Can-Do IT Team
🤷 A thousand other excuses...
But as leaders, it’s our job to give our teams the tools they need to succeed. So, let’s tackle these roadblocks one by one…
Gif by entertainmentonefilms on Giphy
Hitting the ‘boss barrier’? you’re going to want to read this > https://ai.marketingalec.com/p/breaking-the-boss-barrier
(A resource for marketers struggling to get their boss on board with AI.😌)
🔧 Problem > Solution: Fixes, ASAP
❌ Your Problem: “AI-generated content feels generic & robotic.”
✅ The Fix: Customize ChatGPT/Gemini with your brand’s style guidelines & persona template.
Prompt Example:
“You are a seasoned copywriter from Chiat/Day, renowned for creating distinctive and compelling narratives. Write engaging content for [Brand Name] in a tone that is bold, witty, and strategic. Your copy should embody [Brand Name]’s innovative spirit and unmistakable voice—eschewing generic phrasing in favor of creative, brand-aligned storytelling.”
❌ Your Problem: “My team is skeptical about AI adoption.”
✅ The Fix: Start small. Use low-risk, high-impact AI tasks (e.g., content repurposing, automating reports) to show fast wins.
❌ Your Problem: “AI tools overwhelm me—too many choices.”
✅ The Fix: Keep it simple: Pick 3–4 essential AI tools that actually improve your workflow, not just add complexity.
My stack? ChatGPT, Notebook LM, Notion.
❌ Your Problem: “AI might cause copyright issues.”
✅ The Fix: Use AI as a starting point and apply a QA step in your prompt framework:
"Conduct a Comprehensive Copyright Analysis" (with search on in ChatGPT) → Then have a human review for originality & attribution.
❌ Your Problem: “AI recommendations feel too generic.”
✅ The Fix: Upgrade your prompt by feeding the AI richer, targeted data. Combine competitor insights and your own business metrics, then refine the output using a structured framework (like SWOT or Lean Canvas) to extract strategic, actionable insights.
Prompt Example:
“You are an expert business strategist. Using our latest competitor analysis and internal performance data for [Brand Name], conduct a detailed SWOT analysis. Highlight strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, and provide actionable recommendations. Additionally, apply the Lean Canvas framework to identify key business assumptions and validate strategic priorities. Your insights should be specific, data-driven, and tailored to [Brand Name]’s US market position.”
Get Your Team Booked on 3.8 Million Podcasts Automatically
It's 2025. Want to finally be a regular podcast guest in your industry? PodPitch will make it happen. Even the beehiiv team uses it!
The best way to advertise isn't Meta or Google – it's appearing on podcasts your customers love.
PodPitch.com automates thousands of weekly emails for you, pitching your team as ideal guests.
Big brands like Feastables use PodPitch.com instead of expensive PR agencies.
❌ Your Problem: “AI doesn’t understand our niche industry.”
✅ The Fix: Supercharge your AI’s understanding by training it with industry-specific data. Upload relevant documents—like Zoom transcripts, white papers, and market data—and clearly define roles within your prompt. This targeted context ensures the AI tailors its output to your niche.
Prompt Example:
“You are a seasoned expert in [Industry Name] with deep insights into its unique challenges and trends. I’ve provided detailed industry data, including recent Zoom transcripts and market reports. Analyze [specific topic] using this context, ensuring that your response reflects specialized terminology and insider knowledge found in the Zoom transcripts. Adopt the perspective of a veteran in [Industry Name] to deliver actionable insights that resonate with industry stakeholders.”
📅 Upcoming ‘Ask Alec’ Event: Don’t Miss your 40%
❓What: Live with Alec: Personal Productivity with AI
⏰ When: Tuesday, Feb 11 at 12 PM EST
💻 Where: Zoom! (Free for MA subs..)
Join your peers LIVE & get tactical with your personal AI (Notion, Calendar, Email hacks). No fluff guarantee.
❌ Your Problem: “AI could create regulatory headaches.”
✅ The Fix: Stay ahead of legal & compliance. Use Google Alerts or ChatGPT Tasks to track industry laws, partner with legal teams, and work within clear guardrails.
(Reality check: If 40% of public companies use AI and 42% are exploring it—you can too.)
❌ Your Problem: “I don’t trust AI recommendations.”
✅ The Fix: Validate AI outputs against real-world data, using QA prompts. Treat AI as a starting point, not a final decision-maker—just like you’d QA human work.
❌ Your Problem: “I’m scared of AI making mistakes and harming our brand.”
✅ The Solution: Implement a human-in-the-loop review process to catch errors before they go live. AI should be your co-pilot, not your final decision-maker.
Let’s break through the Boss Barrier and start making it work for us.
What’s your biggest AI barrier?
Reply and let me know—We can tackle it on Tuesday at ‘Ask Alec’.
Stay warm,
Alec
P.S. Here’s my most useful video of the week: Notion was HARD until I Learned These 8 Tips!
P.P.S Joy is having your daughter say, ‘The dogs are too loud’ this week post-ear surgery ❤️
