Less than two years ago, I didn’t know what AI was—let alone how to use it. Today, it’s become a cornerstone of how I work, lead, and grow my agency. And it all started with one small moment.

I was in my home office, trying to squeeze in a quick email to clients wishing them a Happy Independence Day before heading out with my then-19-year-old son, Trey. Like many business owners, I figured I’d just knock it out in ten minutes (even though I knew that “quick email” might spiral into a full-blown hour-long writing session).

Trey walked in, saw me at my desk, and said something that changed everything:

“Why don’t you use AI to write the email?”

I stared at him blankly.

“Just go to ChatGPT,” he said. “Type what you want, and it’ll do it for you faster.”

That meant nothing to me. So I handed him the keyboard and said, “Why don’t you do it for me?”

Trey sat in the boss chair, typed a few words, and in 30 seconds… there it was. The perfect message.

Not too long, not too short. Just right.

It sounded like me—and more importantly, it said exactly what I wanted to say.

I hit send. We shut down for the day. And we had a great Fourth of July together.

A few days later, I was stunned by the flood of positive, heartfelt responses from clients.

Right then, it hit me: AI didn’t just save me time—it gave me back moments that mattered.

Since that day, I’ve leaned all the way in.

Yes, the world of digital tools and AI can feel overwhelming at first—especially for those of us who’ve spent decades mastering our craft in a more traditional way. I’ve been in the insurance industry for over 35 years. I’ve built a high-performing agency, written five bestselling books, and coached agents across the country. And still—this transition wasn’t easy.

But if you’ve ever felt stuck trying to keep up with digital trends, or afraid that you’ll fall behind if you don’t act fast… I’ve been there, too.

Here’s what I’ve learned: You don’t have to know it all to get started. You just have to take one step.

Let AI meet you where you are. Then let it guide you forward.

If you’re curious about what those first steps could look like, here are a few ideas that helped me—and may help you:

Three Ways to Start Your Digital Journey Today:

1. Start Small.

Don’t worry about overhauling your entire agency overnight. Use AI for simple things—like drafting an email, scheduling a meeting, or organizing your follow-ups. Tools like ChatGPT, CRM automations, and email templates can create instant relief.

2. Train Your Team.

Empower your staff with training on how to use these tools. Whether it’s a workshop or a YouTube video, helping your team build confidence with AI can spark innovation across your agency.

3. Measure and Adjust.

Track what’s working and what’s not. Let the data show you how digital tools are improving client response times, team efficiency, or overall sales results. Keep adjusting and growing.

A Quick 5-Step Action Plan for Getting Started:

Step 1: Pinpoint your most time-consuming tasks.

Step 2: Find digital tools that address those pain points.

Step 3: Schedule short, consistent training sessions.

Step 4: Introduce tools gradually, not all at once.

Step 5: Review progress monthly and adapt as needed.

The biggest risk isn’t AI. The biggest risk is doing nothing.

If we don’t adapt, we risk falling behind. But if we embrace this technology—one step at a time—we can build more efficient agencies, more rewarding work environments, and more time for the things that matter most.

So here’s my message to every leader, every agent, every business owner wondering where to begin:

Take that first small step. Open the door. And let AI lead you to something bigger.

I’d love to hear where you’re at in your journey. Let’s grow together. 

#ThinkAndGrowDigital #InsuranceAgencyLife #AIForBusiness #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #EmbraceInnovation