Most Amazon Sellers Aren’t Ready for Shopify, Here's Why

Josh Hadley noticed a costly contradiction: his supply-chain team’s leading indicators were all green, yet inventory was growing faster than sales. In this episode, he explains how tracking the wrong “green” metrics can hide trouble until it shows up in revenue and profit and how comparing weekly actions with monthly financial results helped expose the problem before it got worse. He shares practical examples from ad production, including targets for new concepts, AI videos, static images, and winning ads, then shows how to test whether those activities actually predict results. He also explains why inventory can become an e-commerce brand’s Kryptonite and why revenue and profit may reflect decisions made six months earlier.Bullet Points:The difference between leading indicators and lagging metrics in businessHow daily actions can predict longer-term outcomes, illustrated through a weight-management exampleSelecting and tracking weekly leading indicators for areas such as media buying and creative productionUsing hypotheses and AI to identify and validate useful leading indicatorsComparing leading indicators with financial results to spot performance gapsResponding to market and platform changes with specific actions rather than relying on external explanationsMonitoring inventory growth against sales growth as an early warning of supply-chain problemsReviewing monthly profit-and-loss statements alongside operational metricsImproving inventory management processes to prevent excess stock and protect profitabilityTimestamps:00:00:00 Leading Indicators vs. Lagging MetricsIntroduces why businesses should track leading indicators to predict revenue and profit.00:01:01 A Weight-Loss Example of Leading IndicatorsUses calories, food choices, and steps to show how actions can predict changes in weight.00:03:05 Revenue and Profit as Lagging IndicatorsExplains why financial results can take months to reflect business decisions and introduces the weekly High Five tracker.00:04:16 Tracking Media-Buying ActionsShares weekly targets for ad concepts, AI videos, static images, and winning ads.00:05:22 Testing Whether Indicators Predict ResultsRecommends using hypotheses and AI to identify leading actions, then checking whether they produce the desired outcomes.00:06:49 Responding to Gaps Between Indicators and ResultsDescribes how mismatches can reveal problems and why businesses should focus on actions rather than blaming external changes.00:08:04 Using Inventory Trends to Spot Supply-Chain ProblemsExplains how inventory growing faster than sales exposed a problem despite green supply-chain indicators.00:09:15 Reviewing Financials and Strengthening Inventory ProcessesEmphasizes inventory management, monthly P&L reviews, and correcting the underlying supply-chain issue.00:10:24 Closing and Sharing the EpisodeSummarizes the lesson and encourages listeners to share the episode with other operators.Links and Mentions:Podcasts and episodes"Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast": "00:00:00""A previous podcast episode about inventory": "00:09:15"Sales channels and platforms"Amazon": "00:00:00""TikTok Shop": "00:00:00""Shopify": "00:00:00""Meta": "00:03:05"Tools and technology"AI": "00:05:22""TikTok Shop algorithm": "00:06:49""Meta’s Andromeda update": "00:06:49""Weekly High Five Tracker": "00:03:05"Company"Thras.io": "00:09:15"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Are you tracking the leading indicators in your business that are going to predict the lagging metrics of revenue and net profit in your business? Today, I'm going to be sharing with you why it's so vital to track the leading indicators and what leading indicators you should even be focused on. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I am a man of faith. I'm a husband to a beautiful wife and a father of four children. I've been selling in the e-commerce space for over a decade, doing over $20 million in revenue on sales channels such as Amazon, TikTok, shop and Shopify. I'm also the host of the number one business strategy podcast for ecommerce entrepreneurs called Ecomm Breakthrough.Josh Hadley 00:01:01  But first, I want to talk about like, what's the difference between a leading metric or a leading action versus a lagging metric? Okay. So let's say you're trying to manage your weight. A lagging metric for your weight is your weight. You step on the scale that is your weight. What's a leading indicator that would help you know whether you're going to be heavier or lighter tomorrow? Well, obviously that would be the amount of calories that you consume in a day. In addition to that, it's how much energy did you exhaust? How many steps did you get in? Okay, so if I'm trying to reduce my weight leading indicators leading actions would be, hey, if this guy is starting to do go from 5000 steps a day to 15,000 steps a day, that's a pretty good leading indicator. He's probably going to lose weight. But I also want to look at that in combination with, well, how many calories is he consuming per day? Okay. And what types of foods are those calories coming from? Okay, now I can see those leading actions.Josh Hadley 00:02:08  I can make a more accurate prediction because he might be walking 15,000 steps a day. But if he's consuming more cookies and brownies as part of his his calorie count, then I'm going to say, you know what? I don't care if he's walking more. The dude's still probably going to be heavier because of what he's eating, but if it's, hey, he still has a high calorie count. But everything has been, you know, lean meat and vegetables and things like that. I ain't no nutritionist. I'm just giving you a hypothetical example. I think you get the point, though, is like, you could match up those three data points together and have a pretty darn strong conviction that, hey, we're probably he's going to be losing weight here. It might take a couple of weeks, but if he keeps doing this day in and day out, I think we're going to get the...

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Adam Runquist (Adam Heist), an e-commerce entrepreneur who exited multiple Amazon brands. Adam shares insights from his five-week global travel adventure attending Amazon seller events, before diving into key strategies for e-commerce success: prioritizing product development, consistently A/B testing Amazon listings, and building external traffic sources. He also discusses personal productivity through his "three things" philosophy and recommends Michael Singer's The Untethered Soul for personal growth. The episode delivers actionable advice for sellers looking to scale their brands to eight figures and beyond.Bullet Points:Experiences and lessons learned from exiting multiple e-commerce brands.New strategies for current e-commerce ventures, particularly in Amazon and cycling niches.Importance of product development and understanding the target audience.Techniques for Amazon listing optimization, including A/B testing and PPC strategies.The significance of driving external traffic to e-commerce listings.Insights from extensive travel related to Amazon seller events.Transitioning from corporate life to e-commerce entrepreneurship.The role of personal productivity philosophies in business success.Key takeaways for scaling e-commerce brands to eight figures and beyond.The impact of influential books on personal and professional growth.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  "Ecomm Breakthrough Consulting": "00:00:58"  "YouTube Channel: Adam Heist, FBA Masterclass": "00:02:04"  Actionable Takeaways  "Product Development": "00:05:11"  "Listing Optimization": "00:06:09"  "Driving External Traffic": "00:08:22"  Books  "The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer": "00:09:51"  Additional Notes  "Three Things Philosophy": "00:10:20"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Welcome to the Econ Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in e-commerce. Previous guests include Kevin King, Stephen Pope, and Roland Frazier. Today I'm speaking with Adam Runquist, aka Adam Heist, and we will be talking a lot about lessons learned from exiting multiple brands and the new strategies he's implementing with his new brands he's working on. This episode is brought to you by Econ Breakthrough Consulting, where I help seven figure companies grow to eight figures and beyond. Listen, Adam, I started my business back in 2015 and grew it to an eight figure brand in seven years, but I made a lot of mistakes along the way. That made the path of getting to eight figures really take a lot longer than it needed to. There were times where I really had a lot of self-doubt, or whether my brand could actually become a household brand name and actually survive, and also dealing with cashflow issues and trying to make sure that I had the financial acumen to manage the books and to grow the business.Josh Hadley 00:00:58  So to our listeners, those of you who have hit similar plateaus and want to know the next steps to take your brand to the next level. Then go to E-com Breakthrough to learn more. That's ecom with two M's. And as a special bonus to my podcast listeners, this month I'm giving away one $10,000 comprehensive business strategy audit session at no cost. All you need to do is email me at Josh at Ecom Breakthrough and plead your case as to why I should choose you and your brand to work with for this month's strategy session. And if you don't win this month, don't worry. You'll be entered to win for future months to come. Today I am super excited to introduce you all to Adam Runquist. Adam has spent nearly a decade in corporate life as a director for a fortune 300 energy company. This eventually led to the acquisition of a physical products brand, Goal Zero, a journey that inspired him to build and sell a number of his own Amazon centric Ecom brands. Adam now runs the YouTube channel Adam Heist, FBA Masterclass and numerous brands in the cycling niche.Josh Hadley 00:02:04  So with that introduction, welcome to the show. Adam.Adam Runquist 00:02:07  Josh, man, it's, it's good to be on here. Thanks for chasing me down and, and making this happen. Excited to chat with you, man.Josh Hadley 00:02:12  Hey. Well, I'm appreciative of you joining the podcast here. I know we initially met at Kevin King's Billion Dollar seller summit. You were speaking there, and, as soon as I saw you talk, obviously, I've been following your YouTube channel for a while. And once I heard you, you talk. I was like, I got to get this guy's info, see if we can, twist his arm enough to get him onto the podcast. So thanks again for for coming on.Adam Runquist 00:02:37  Yeah, man. Super grateful. We got to connect there, too. And, glad we got to parlay that into the chat today.Josh Hadley 00:02:42  And you were. I guess you kind of just did a world tour over, what, a five week period, right? You went to seller sessions in London.Josh Hadley 00:02:50  Billion dollar seller summit. Where where all did you go?Adam Runquist 00:02:53  Yeah, it was interesting, man. So I did a ton of traveling kind of in my, in my college era, the typical kind of poor backpacker staying in hostels things. So I did that for I think a couple of months in my junior year of college and I've traveled, you know, here and there since then, primarily for business, you know, within the US and Canada for, for personal reasons. But, you know, I think a lot of why we do this is that we aren't encumbered by the typical schedule and asking our boss for PTO. And hey, I can only take one week because my, you know, employees are going to, you know, or people at my corporate job are going to get kind of where's Adam for for a week plus. So. So I took a step back. I'm like, you know, it's been a minute since I've done that. And it kind of happened to align with the the spring schedule.Adam Runquist 00:03:31  There was a ton of events in the Amazon space in the spring. So I started off in in the UK at several sessions live. And then I had a in May, and then I had another speaking engagement in Estonia early June, which is kind of the other side of Europe. And then I had the capstone at Billion Dollar Seller Summit, where we met in Puerto Rico, and it really didn't make sense to fly. I'm in Utah, so it's quite a jaunt to to get to Europe from that side of the US. So I'm like, you know, why don't I just hunker down in Europe? And aside from those three venues, I kind of just let, let my inspiration take me where I wanted. So I ended up going to about 12 or 13 countries, four continents over five weeks. So it was, it was a gauntlet, but it was a super fun way to travel. And it kind of reinvigorated that, that travel bug in me. So it was super sweet. So, yeah, I spent some time in the UK, did a five day hike in Portugal.Adam Runquist 00:04:21  my origins are Sweden, from my Swedish from my background. So I got to go to the motherland for the first time, which was cool. and then went to Morocco. So I hit Africa up briefly and then went to the Middle East, to check out Tel Aviv. There's a ton of people in the Amazon space in Israel, so got to kind of reconnect there and go to a buddy's wedding, went to Dubai and then and wrapped it up in Puerto Rico. So yeah, it was a whirlwind tour. Super, super fun and interesting experience.Josh Hadley 00:04:47...

Shane Barker, the founder and CEO of TraceFuse, a reputation management company that helps Amazon sellers identify and remove policy-violating negative reviews. As a veteran digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, author, and international speaker, Shane has spent more than two decades helping brands strengthen their online presence and grow profitably. Under his leadership, TraceFuse has helped more than 850 brands remove over 27,000 negative reviews from their Amazon listings. He is passionate about helping e-commerce businesses turn reputation into a measurable growth advantage.Ecomm Breakthrough listeners please use this link to bring TraceFuse's onboarding fee from $250 to just $1. Highlight Bullets:Importance of monitoring and managing Amazon reviews for sellers.Types of reviews that violate Amazon’s guidelines, including competitor mentions and profanity.The role of proprietary AI and human review in identifying and removing non-compliant reviews.Challenges and realities of the review removal process, including success rates and timeframes.Compliance and risk management in review removal efforts to avoid penalties from Amazon.Value proposition of using professional services for review management and potential ROI.Pricing structures and volume discounts for sellers with large catalogs.Prevalence of malicious review attacks, particularly in competitive product categories.Strategies for detecting and responding to suspicious review patterns.Future trends in Amazon review management and the impact of AI on moderation.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley speaks with Shane Barker, founder of TraceFuse, about managing Amazon reviews. Shane explains how his company uses proprietary AI combined with human expertise to identify and remove policy-violating negative reviews, maintaining a 25% removal rate. They discuss common violations, including competitor mentions, pricing disclosures, and fraudulent competitor attacks. Shane emphasizes that review management should complement strong product quality, not replace it, and advises sellers to monitor reviews consistently, delegate removal efforts to experts, and use available tools to protect their reputation and maximize sales.Here are the 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Leverage Tools to Monitor and Analyze ReviewsUse free tools like TraceFuse’ Amazon Review Checker.Set up alerts for new reviews and suspicious activity.Delegate Review ManagementCEOs and founders should focus on growth; delegate review monitoring to trained team members or experts.Consider outsourcing to specialized agencies for best results.Invest in Product QualityThe best defense against negative reviews is a great product.Use review feedback to inform product improvements and customer service enhancements.Timestamps:00:00:48 Introduction to the Ecomm Breakthrough PodcastThe podcast intro and host, Josh Hadley, introduces the episode's topic: removing non-compliant negative reviews on Amazon.00:01:50 Introducing Shane Barker and TraceFuseHost Josh Hadley introduces guest Shane Barker, founder of TraceFuse, a company specializing in removing policy-violating negative reviews.00:03:50 The Current State of Amazon ReviewsShane discusses the importance of reviews and how Amazon's changes, like limiting review visibility, affect sellers and their strategies.00:07:56 Types of Non-Compliant ReviewsShane explains which reviews violate Amazon's guidelines, such as those with profanity, competitor mentions, pricing details, or shipping complaints.00:12:53 Can Sellers Use AI to Remove Reviews Themselves?Shane addresses whether sellers can use AI to manage reviews themselves, offering a free tool but highlighting the complexities involved.00:17:21 TraceFuse Process and Success RateShane explains his company's process, which uses human filers and has a 25% success rate without special Amazon connections.00:22:41 Is It Safe to Use a Review Removal Service?Shane addresses seller concerns about account safety, confirming they stay compliant with Amazon's policies and have never had an account suspended.00:25:52 Case Studies and ROIShane shares how TraceFuse helps sellers identify high-impact ASINs to work on, using a calculator to show potential ROI.00:30:11 Pricing for Large SellersShane discusses pricing models for larger sellers with thousands of ASINs, explaining why deep discounts aren't feasible due to manual effort.00:32:24 Prevalence of Black Hat AttacksShane reveals that black hat attacks are rampant in categories like supplements, beauty, and pet products due to high customer lifetime value.00:37:50 Identifying Competitor AttacksShane explains how his software identifies attacks by monitoring review velocity and flagging unusual spikes in negative feedback for investigation.00:39:18 The Future of Amazon ReviewsShane predicts reviews will become even more critical and hopes Amazon will improve its system to prevent unverified purchase reviews.00:43:07 Actionable Takeaways for SellersJosh Hadley summarizes three key takeaways: use free tools, focus on high-value tasks, and prioritize creating excellent products.00:50:19 Lightning Round QuestionsShane answers rapid-fire questions about his most influential book, favorite AI tools, and who he respects in the e-commerce space.00:53:33 Special Offer and How to ConnectShane offers listeners a discount on the onboarding fee and shares the best ways to connect with him and TraceFuse.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites"TraceFuse": "00:01:50""Amazon Review Checker": "00:13:35""Review AI": "00:41:55""Loom": "00:51:32""Phantom": "00:51:32"Books"Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill": "00:51:14"Videos"Video Testimonials": "00:25:11"Special Offers"Onboarding Fee Discount": "00:54:08"Additional Resources"Amazon Community Guidelines": "00:08:26"Episode Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by eComm Breakthrough Consulting where I help seven-figure e-commerce owners grow to eight figures. I started my business in 2015 and grew it to an eight-figure brand in seven years.I made mistakes along the way that made the path to eight figures longer. At times I doubted whether our business could even survive and become a real brand. I wish I would have had a guide to help me grow faster and avoid the stumbling blocks.If you’ve hit a plateau and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then email me at [email protected] and in your subject line say “strategy audit” for the chance to win a $10,000 comprehensive business strategy audit at no cost!Transcript:Automatically Transcri...

Josh Hadley once argued that ecommerce businesses shouldn’t waste time building software. Now he believes the best use of AI may be building a custom ERP and has reassigned a longtime employee to lead the effort. In this episode, he explains why he’s changing his mind, what Domino’s digital ordering reveals about competing with technology, and how his team is approaching a 12–18-month AI rollout. Get his five-step framework, problem, owner, prototype, proof and scale for choosing automations that improve profits or save meaningful time, rather than producing another shiny dashboard.Bullet Points:Why businesses selling physical products increasingly need software capabilities.Using AI to improve competitiveness, speed, and decision-making.Developing existing employees’ AI skills instead of immediately hiring outside specialists.Building custom systems, including ERP capabilities, when they better fit a company’s needs.Reducing operational friction by connecting systems and automating information gathering.Choosing AI projects based on clear business problems, such as cost reduction or increased sales.A five-step approach to AI implementation: identify a problem, assign an owner, prototype, prove the impact, and scale.Keeping humans responsible for reviewing AI outputs, making decisions, and maintaining systems.Establishing accountability for data quality, testing, integration, and ongoing maintenance.Rolling out AI incrementally, focusing on one useful automation at a time.Timestamps:00:00:00 Why Every Business Must Become AI-FirstAI is changing competition; businesses must build software capabilities alongside their physical products.00:01:06 Lessons from an AI ConferenceJosh reflects on companies embracing AI and the risks of businesses delaying adoption.00:02:11 Why Internal AI Talent Beats Outside ConsultantsThe strongest AI results come from developing curious, capable people already on the team.00:03:27 From Physical Products to Technology-Enabled BusinessJosh revisits his view on software tools and argues for building custom systems where they create value.00:06:05 Domino’s as a Technology CompanyDomino’s used digital ordering and better customer updates to reduce friction and improve sales.00:08:29 How AI Can Speed Up Business DecisionsConnected systems can surface information faster, letting teams focus on judgment and action.00:12:03 Find AI Champions on Your Existing TeamGive employees room to experiment, then identify the people producing valuable AI work.00:17:35 Set Clear Goals for AI ProjectsLeaders should define the problem and desired outcome instead of asking teams to build dashboards.00:19:51 Measure AI by Business ResultsUseful AI work must improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase sales, or otherwise deliver measurable value.00:21:12 A Five-Step AI Implementation FrameworkIdentify a meaningful problem, assign an owner, prototype a solution, prove its value, then scale it.00:22:27 Assign Business Owners and Build Narrow PrototypesPair process experts with technical builders and begin with small, reviewable workflows.00:25:44 Prove the Improvement Before ScalingMeasure time saved, output accuracy, and whether teams act on the results before expanding a solution.00:27:57 Create Ownership for Software ResponsibilitiesBusinesses need people accountable for requirements, data quality, development, testing, and ongoing maintenance.00:30:20 Roll Out AI Gradually and Stay FocusedJosh recommends incremental automation, disciplined prioritization, and focusing on the business’s main constraints.00:31:34 The Weekly Automation ChallengeChoose one manual workflow to improve each week, building progress through small, consistent steps.Links and Mentions:Tools, websites, and platforms"External AI consultants and AI engineers": "00:02:11"  "Sellerboard": "00:03:27"  "Upwork": "00:12:03"  "Claude": "00:12:59"  "ChatGPT": "00:12:59"  "OpenClaw": "00:12:59"  "PPC agents": "00:24:37"  "Amazon API": "00:29:05"  "LinkedIn": "00:32:52"  "Slack": "00:32:52"  "Facebook": "00:32:52"  "WhatsApp": "00:32:52"Other named businesses and services"Domino’s Pizza": "00:06:05"  "Domino’s ordering channels": "00:07:24"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  You thought you were running a physical products business? Well guess what? Now you're running a software business too. Whether you are ready for it or not. AI is changing how businesses compete, and if your team keeps doing everything the old way, your competitors are going to smoke you. It's adapt or die. And today I am sharing why I believe every business needs to develop the capabilities of a software company and how to start with the team you already have. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons le...

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Jamie Davidson, co-founder of AMZ Insiders and nine-figure Amazon seller. Jamie shares his journey from selling cell phone accessories in 2012 to surpassing $100 million in revenue. He discusses breaking through a $50 million plateau by focusing on two key strategies: building a strong team, including expanding overseas to China, and maintaining a laser-focused product strategy. The conversation also covers actionable takeaways on team building, product development, and inventory management, along with book recommendations and favorite tools for scaling an Amazon business.Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction to the Ecomm Breakthrough PodcastHost Josh Hadley introduces the podcast, his consulting service, and this episode's special guest, nine-figure Amazon seller Jamie Davidson.00:01:38 Introducing Jamie DavidsonJosh formally introduces Jamie Davidson, co-founder of AMZ Insiders, highlighting his nine-figure Amazon FBA success and coaching background.00:02:16 The Journey to Nine FiguresJamie discusses his journey, starting with cell phone accessories in 2012 and the plateaus faced at $40M and $60M.00:04:47 Systems for Scaling Past $50 MillionJamie explains the strategic changes and systems implemented to break through the $50-$60 million plateau and reach nine figures.00:07:00 Building a Team and Product DevelopmentJamie details the two key changes for growth: building a 200+ person team in China and expanding product categories.00:09:08 Three Actionable TakeawaysJosh summarizes the episode's key lessons: systematically build your team, focus on innovative product development, and manage profit margins.00:12:35 Most Influential BookJamie recommends "Blue Ocean Strategy," a book about finding uncontested market space to make the competition irrelevant.00:13:52 Favorite Productivity ToolJamie shares his appreciation for GoHighLevel, an all-in-one marketing and sales platform for managing funnels, emails, and more.00:14:44 Most Respected People in E-commerceJamie names Dema Kubik and Carlos Alvarez as two of the smartest and most respected people in the e-commerce industry.00:16:44 How to Connect with JamieJamie shares how listeners can connect with him via his Instagram handle and the AMZ Insiders website to apply for coaching.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites  "Ecomm Breakthrough Consulting": "00:00:58"  "AMZ Insiders": "00:02:14"  "NetSuite": "00:06:20"  "Go High Level": "00:14:02"  Books  "Blue Ocean Strategy": "00:12:44"  Notable Individuals  "DeMar Kubrick": "00:15:06"  "Carlos Alvarez": "00:15:53"Transcripts:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in e-commerce. Past guests include Michael E Gerber, author of the email, Bradley Sutton, and Kevin King. Today I'm speaking with Jamie Davidson, the co-founder of AMZ insiders, and we are going to be talking a lot about how to build your Amazon business faster, make it better, and make it more efficient. This episode is brought to you by Ecomm Breakthrough Consulting, where I help seven figure companies grow to eight figures and beyond. Listen, Jamie, I started my business back in 2015 and grew it to an eight figure brand in seven years, but I made a lot of mistakes along the way. That made the path of getting to eight figures take a lot longer than it needed to. There were times where I had a lot of self-doubt as a leader, whether I could lead a team of people or whether my brand could survive, or whether we would have the cash flow to purchase new products, I wish I would have had a guide along the way that would have made getting around those obstacles a little bit easier.Josh Hadley 00:00:58  So for our fellow listeners, those of you who are hitting similar plateaus and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to E-comm breakthrough. That's Ecomm with two M's to learn more. And as a special bonus to my podcast listeners, this month I'm giving away one $10,000 comprehensive business strategy audit session at no cost. All you need to do is email me at Josh at Ecom Breakthrough Comm and in your subject line say strategy audit and then plead your case as to why I should choose you and your brand to work with for this month. But today I am super excited to introduce you all to Jamie Davidson. Jamie is an Amazon coach and co-founder of AMZ insiders. In 2018, he crossed the nine figure mark selling products online through Amazon FBA. Jamie is also a West Point graduate and a former Army officer, and was the CEO of a private equity backed company until 2013. Jamie now invest a lot of effort into helping new and upcoming entrepreneurs hit six and seven figures on Amazon through his AMZ insiders course.Josh Hadley 00:02:05  And he also guides seven and eight figure on entrepreneurs to help them exit their brands. With that introduction. Welcome to the show, Jamie.Jamie Davidson 00:02:14  Hey, Josh. Appreciate it. Yeah, great to be here.Josh Hadley 00:02:16  Jamie hitting that nine figure mark. That's a pretty big deal. You know we talk about you know, going from 7 to 8 figures and beyond on this podcast. And you're the guy who's gone way beyond right. You've hit that nine figures. I'm curious, why don't you tell us a little bit more about that journey of of getting to nine figures and maybe some high level lessons learned?Jamie Davidson 00:02:38  Yeah. So, you know, everything is, you know, a number is a number, but the kind of the strategies or the approach can be applied, whether you're looking to go from, you know, trying to get to nine figures or a lot of people, you know, or let's say maybe low seven figures and trying to get to eight figures, and that might be the toughest part. Through it.Jamie Davidson 00:02:58  So I can share a little bit about. But a lot of the lessons are very similar. In our case, back in 2012, 2013, early days, we were beginning we were selling, in the cell phone accessory space. So cell phone cases actually originally iPad cases was was kind of our really big thing. And there was an early opportunity. So there was a good window of opportunity with my my next door neighbor at the time, I was a, said an executive for a private equity backed compan...

Get your free masterclass here:www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclassMessage Gloria on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr/?hl=en and send the word "Josh" to get additional freebies!Gloria Chou is the #1 small business PR expert and is the host of the top rated Small Business PR podcast. Making traditional PR finally accessible to solo founders, entrepreneurs and biz owners with her award winning pitchwriting method now built into AI workflows, she has helped hundreds of founders get featured in top tier magazines, podcasts, tv and radio without pay to play or needing prior PR experience.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. How public relations can help small businesses build credibility and reach customers without costly agency retainersHow earned media coverage may influence AI recommendations and brand visibilityChoosing relevant products, trends, and seasonal angles for media pitchesUsing AI tools to research editorial opportunities and draft pitchesWriting concise outreach emails that make journalists’ jobs easierFinding journalists and publications beyond media-request platformsDistinguishing unpaid editorial coverage from pay-to-play placementsManaging product photos, samples, affiliate links, and sales destinations for media featuresTracking media mentions and evaluating PR’s role in traffic, sales, and search visibilityBuilding a consistent, time-efficient PR process for small and growing brandsAI-referred shoppers can convert at up to four times the rate of organic traffic, but how do small brands earn AI’s trust? PR expert Gloria Chou explains how consistent editorial mentions, from niche blogs and gift guides to major publications, can help brands get recommended. She shares a practical AI-assisted pitching workflow, including how to use Perplexity to spot timely angles and write concise pitches that give journalists what they need. Plus: why one founder’s custom LEGO figures now get three to four sales a week through Claude, and why a single old feature may matter less than a steady stream of recent coverage.Here are 3 action items that Josh identified from this episode:Pitch the Right Product to the Right StoryDon’t pitch your entire catalog. Find the product that naturally fits what a journalist is already writing about gift guides, seasonal trends, price-specific roundups, etc.Action: Research the journalist and publication first, then tailor your product pitch to their audience and current editorial needs.Use AI to Research, Not Replace Your JudgmentTools like Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude can help identify trends, find angles, and draft pitches, but the final pitch still needs human research and personalization.Action: Use AI to find 3–5 relevant editorial angles, verify the information, then write a short pitch that clearly explains the product, price, availability, and why it matters now.Don’t Wait for the Big PublicationSmall blogs, local media, and niche publications can create a growing trail of third-party coverage that may eventually lead to bigger opportunities and potentially help AI systems discover and recommend your brand.Action: Build a consistent PR outreach system. Track every mention, add coverage to your press page, and monitor your brand with tools like Google News Alerts.Timestamps:00:00:00 AI-referred traffic and purchase intent Gloria argues that AI-referred shoppers are more likely to convert because they arrive ready to make a decision.00:00:42 Why PR and third-party credibility matter Josh discusses how earned media can help brands gain visibility in AI recommendations and shopping.00:01:07 Meet Gloria Chou Josh introduces Gloria, her small-business PR expertise, and her approach to helping founders earn media coverage.00:02:10 Making PR accessible to small businesses Gloria explains how founders can pitch journalists directly without expensive agency retainers or industry connections.00:04:27 Where to begin with PRJosh asks how e-commerce brands can start earning coverage without paying for a costly PR agency.00:05:37 AI discovery and the value of earned mediaGloria describes how AI recommendations rely on trust signals, including press mentions, reviews, and discussions across platforms.00:08:22 Recency and consistent coverageGloria explains why ongoing mentions can matter more than relying on one older, high-profile feature.00:09:10 Finding relevant editorial anglesGloria outlines how to connect products with trends, seasons, holidays, and suitable price points.00:11:03 Are smaller blogs still worth pitching? Gloria says smaller outlets can contribute to consistent, recent coverage and recommends pitching throughout the year.00:12:49 Using Perplexity to research pitchesGloria shares prompts for researching trends, ranking editorial opportunities, and drafting a pitch.00:14:52 Choosing AI tools for research and writing Gloria recommends Perplexity for research and ChatGPT or Claude for writing pitches.00:17:20 Why journalists consider new brands Gloria explains that journalists seek relevant products, not just established brands, and shares what founders should prepare.00:20:57 Making pitches useful to journalists Gloria advises providing relevant product details and a few handpicked options rather than writing the article for the journalist.00:22:30 Which media opportunities to pursueGloria recommends exploring different outlets and keeping pitches concise, complete, and easy to act on.00:24:16 Paid placements and affiliate commissionsGloria distinguishes editorial coverage from pay-to-play placements and explains when affiliate links may be useful.00:25:50 Structuring an effective pitch emailGloria covers subject lines, personalization, product details, images, links, and a concise closing.00:29:36 Tracking media mentions and building a press page Gloria recommends Google News Alerts and a press page to monitor and display coverage.00:31:06 Direct pitching versus journalist request platforms Gloria explains that platforms like HARO and Qwoted offer opportunities, but direct outreach reaches many other journalists.00:32:41 Where PR traffic should landGloria discusses choosing between Amazon and a brand’s own store, and clarifies PR’s role in driving qualified visitors.00:34:39 Measuring the potential impact of PRGloria shares a case study of a brand gaining AI-referred traffic and sales through consistent media coverage.00:36:41 PR for larger brands and early opportunities Gloria says brands of different sizes can benefit, and argues that earning coverage early may improve AI visibility.00:38:27 Time required for PR outreachGloria estimates that AI-assisted research and writing can make pitching a relatively small weekly time commitment.00:39:47 The importance of getting started Gloria encourages founders to take action rather than wait for the opportunity to become more competitive.00:40:24 Three actionable takeaways Josh recommends learning the process, tracking outreach, and sending concise pitches that make journalists’ work easier.00:43:17 Gloria’s recommended books Gloria names 10x Is Easier Than 2x and The Soul of Money as influential books.00:44:00 Gloria’s favorite AI toolsGloria describes using Perplexity, ChatGPT, and Claude, including Claude for business analysis and workflows.00:44:36 E-commerce v...

Josh Hadley’s Amazon team was busy, every leading indicator was green and the business still missed its back-to-school forecast. He realized his own steady stream of ideas, from new AI tools to dashboards and ad placements, had helped distract the team from profit and sales velocity. In this episode, Hadley shares a five-question framework for getting clear on who owns which outcome, what’s blocking it, how to measure progress, and what work to stop. He also draws on Alan Mulally’s turnaround at Ford, where leaders learned to surface red flags instead of presenting a wall of green. The takeaway: sometimes growth comes from subtraction.Bullet Points:Focusing teams on outcomes that drive sales, profitability, and distributable cashHow too many priorities and new initiatives can distract teams from important workThe CEO’s role in setting priorities and avoiding unnecessary distractionsUsing lagging business results to assess whether leading indicators are meaningfulIdentifying the main constraint limiting business performanceCreating a transparent review process where teams can surface problems and ask for helpApplying the 80/20 principle to identify high-impact activitiesA five-question framework for clarifying ownership, obstacles, priorities, measurements, and trade-offsBalancing accountability and guidance with team autonomyGrowing through subtraction by simplifying, stopping, or deprioritizing work that competes for attentionTimestamps:00:00:00 Why Busy Teams Still Miss Results  Josh introduces a five-question framework for focusing teams on work that grows the business.00:01:00 The CEO’s Responsibility: Focus  Busy teams can complete tasks without increasing sales, profitability, or distributable cash; leaders must clarify outcomes.00:03:42 When Leaders Create Distractions  New ideas can crowd out existing priorities, leaving teams busy but unable to deliver important results.00:04:54 A Back-to-School Season Miss Green leading indicators masked underperformance, prompting a review of the team’s priorities and business outcomes.00:07:18 Refocus on Sales Velocity and Profit Josh owns how his new tools and projects distracted the Amazon team from improving sales and profitability.00:09:24 AI Makes Prioritization More Important With endless options, disciplined execution and choosing the most impactful work matter more than generating ideas.00:10:33 Ford’s Weekly Business Plan Review Alan Mulally’s review process encouraged leaders to surface problems, even when reports initially showed everything as green.00:13:09 Diagnose the Constraint Compare expected results with actual performance, identify the gap, and create an open environment for solving it.00:14:11 Match Actions to the Business Problem  Different issues—such as low traffic, poor conversion, stockouts, or weak margins—require different responses.00:16:23 Find the Few Activities That Matter Use weekly conversations and the Pareto principle to identify high-impact work and remove distractions.00:18:32 The Five Questions for Weekly Reviews  Clarify each person’s owned outcome, current obstacle, highest-impact activities, success measures, and trade-offs.00:21:09 Make Room Through Subtraction  Prioritization requires deciding what to pause, simplify, delegate, or stop while maintaining essential operations.00:23:28 Balance Direction with Ownership  Leaders align outcomes, resolve competing priorities, and remove obstacles while giving teams space to execute.00:24:33 A 30-Day Team Alignment Exercise  Ask team members about their goals, constraints, impactful actions, measures, and competing work; review progress weekly.00:25:45 The CEO May Be the Bottleneck Leaders should assess whether fewer initiatives and more focus on proven work could improve results.Links and Mentions:Sales and marketplace tools"TikTok Shop": "00:00:00""Amazon ad placements": "00:07:18"AI and automation"AI": "00:01:00""Automation": "00:01:00"Dashboards and software"Dashboard": "00:01:00""Sellerboard": "00:08:18"Sources of ideas"Business conferences, webinars, and LinkedIn": "00:03:42"Management practices"Weekly business plan review at Ford": "00:10:33"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Is your team failing to deliver results, or are you keeping them busy with the wrong priorities? Well, today I'm sharing a five question framework to get your team focused, accountable, and actually producing results that truly grow your business. Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, I'm Josh Hadley. I've scaled my own ecommerce brand from 0 to 8 figures, and I'm actively building towards nine figures in sales. This podcast is where I document that journey and share the systems, the strategies, and the lessons learned in real time so that you can learn what actually matters and scale your own business. My name is Josh Hadley. First and foremost, I'm a man of faith. I'm a husband to a beautiful wife and a father of four children. I've been selling in the e-commerce space for a decade, doing over $20 million in annual revenue and selling multi-millionaire on channels such as Amazon, TikTok, Shop and Shopify. And last but not least, I'm the host of the number one business strategy podcast for ecommerce entrepreneurs, and that is E-com breakthrough.Josh Hadley 00:01:00  So look, you can have a team full of hard working people, give every one of them access to AI and still finish the week wondering why your business isn't moving forward. That is going to be the premise of today's conversation, and honestly, it's something that I am actively living in right now and that is the biggest challenge. And honestly, that's what I love about business, is it's one of the best leadership training methods that is out there, because every week you are faced with a new obstacle, a new challenge, and as you continue to work with more and more people, things get more complicated and you yourself have to level up as a leader. So let's dive in. Everyone has updates. Everybody's completing tasks. Somebody built in automation this last week, somebody created a new dashboard. Somebody researched a tool that could save the company time. But here's the question I want you to ask yourself did you actually sell more products than you were intending to sell. Did you actually improve profitability, or did you actually fix any of the problems that were holding you back from growing your business, generating more sales and primarily more profit? But not even just more profit, more distributable cash? Because from ...

In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley interviews Jamin, co-founder of AI Commerce, about the importance of multi-channel distribution strategies for e-commerce brands. Drawing from over 20 years of experience, Jamin explains why relying solely on Amazon poses significant risks and how diversifying across multiple channels drives growth and increases brand valuation. The conversation covers practical steps for expanding distribution, including evaluating new marketplaces, starting with best-selling products, and partnering with experts. Jamin also recommends Traction and Scaling Up as essential business frameworks and highlights AI tools as key productivity drivers.Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction to the Ecomm Breakthrough PodcastHost Josh Hadley introduces the podcast, his consulting services, and a special offer for a free business strategy audit.00:01:38 Introducing Jamin from AI CommerceJosh Hadley introduces the guest, Jamin, co-founder of AI Commerce, and highlights his extensive 20-year experience in e-commerce.00:03:14 Jamin's E-commerce JourneyJamin explains how he started in e-commerce over 20 years ago, leading to the creation of his multi-channel service companies.00:05:20 The Importance of a Multi-Channel StrategyJamin discusses why a multi-channel strategy is crucial for growth, as individual channels become more saturated and expensive over time.00:07:26 The Future of Amazon-Only BrandsJamin explains the risks for brands focusing solely on Amazon, including knockoffs, and why diversification is key for long-term success.00:09:55 Three Actionable TakeawaysJosh summarizes three key actions: list and prioritize new channels, start with best-selling products, and partner with experienced experts.00:12:45 Jamin's Offer and Contact InformationJamin offers a free audit for listeners and explains how his team's expertise and relationships can help brands grow.00:14:11 Most Influential BookJamin recommends "Traction" and "Scaling Up" for their effective business operating systems that help manage and grow a company.00:15:09 Favorite Productivity ToolJamin discusses using AI tools like ChatGPT and integrating them into other platforms like Gmail to improve productivity and workflow.00:15:50 Most Admired Person in E-commerceJamin names Carlos Cashman, co-founder of Thrasio, as a leader he admires for his expertise in channel distribution and scaling businesses.Links and Mentions:Tools and Websites"Ecomm Breakthrough Consulting": "00:00:58""AI Commerce": "00:02:09""Buy with Prime": "00:02:09""Thrasio": "00:04:11"Books"The E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber": "00:00:00""Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business (Entrepreneurial Operating System) by Gino Wickman": "00:14:11""Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It... and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish": "00:14:11"Productivity Tools"ChatGPT": "00:15:09"Influential Figures"Carlos Cashman (Co-founder of Thrasio)": "00:15:58"Action Items"Create a list of marketplaces/channels": "00:09:55""Start with best-selling products": "00:11:27""Partner with experts/mentors": "00:12:30"Transcript:Josh Hadley 00:00:00  Welcome to the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast. I'm your host, Josh Hadley, where I interview the top business leaders in e-commerce. Past guests include Kevin King, Michael E Gerber, the author of the Emeth, and Roland Frazier. Today, I'm speaking with Jamin. Jamin is the co-founder of AI Commerce, a multi-channel digital agency offering a full spectrum of e-commerce services. And we're going to be talking a lot about the growth lever of expanding your distribution channels. This episode is brought to you by Ecom Breakthrough Consulting, where I help seven figure companies grow to eight figures and beyond. Listen, Jamin, I started my business back in 2015 and I grew it to an eight figure brand in seven years, but I made a lot of mistakes along the way. That made the path of getting to eight figures take a lot longer than it needed to. There were a lot of obstacles that I ran into that could easily have been avoided had I had a mentor or a guide along the way to help me oversee and overcome a lot of those obstacles.Josh Hadley 00:00:58  So to our listeners, those of you who are running into obstacles or hitting plateaus and want to know the next steps to take your business to the next level, then go to Ecom Breakthrough. That's ecom with two M's to learn more. And as a special bonus to my podcast listeners, this month I'm giving. I'm giving away one $10,000 comprehensive business strategy audit session at no cost. All you need to do is email me at Josh at Ecom breakthrough. Com and in your subject line say strategy audit and tell me why I should choose you and your business to work with for this month. And if you don't get selected this month, don't worry, you'll be entered to win for future months to come. Today I'm super excited to introduce you all to Jamin. Jamin is a co-founder of AI Commerce, a multi-channel digital agency offering a full spectrum of e-commerce services, including launching strategies, ad management and fulfillment. And he is also a partner with buy with Prime. Jamin is also a co-founder of brands, which helps e-commerce businesses sell into brick and mortar channels, and AIC brands, which invests in and owns multi-channel brands.Josh Hadley 00:02:09  He has been a thought leader in e-commerce for over 2020 years, and an early investor and advisor for e-commerce companies including Thrasio. So with that introduction, welcome to the show, Damon.Jamin Arvig 00:02:22  Thanks, Josh.Josh Hadley 00:02:23  Damon. We originally met at Camp Ecom, Brandon Young's event. You were speaking. I spoke, and, you know, I was impressed with the amount of knowledge that you shared there, and it really got my mind going in regards to what we could do with our own brand to expand not only into retail, but just across multi-channel distribution, to really capitalize and help take the brand to the next level. We've subsequently had follow up meetings and we've really dove in, and it has ...

Stefano leads a team of more than 40 people focused on driving growth for 7 and 8 figure e-commerce brands on Amazon. They've worked with over 100 brands, including some of the top 100 sellers on Amazon.com, and they do it in one of two ways. They either build and coach your in-house Amazon PPC team so you own the system and never need an agency again, or they manage the ads themselves and apply advanced strategies to scale you profitably.Highlight Bullets> Here’s a glimpse of what you would learn…. Building and managing in-house Amazon PPC teams for e-commerce brands.Common challenges and mistakes in hiring and managing PPC managers.Importance of setting clear expectations and defining KPIs.Differences between using agencies versus in-house teams for PPC management.Evaluating candidates for PPC roles based on cultural fit, technical capability, and track record.Team structure considerations based on ad spend and product complexity.Accountability and management practices for PPC teams.The evolving competitive landscape of Amazon and its impact on advertising strategies.Establishing a structured management system with regular meetings and feedback loops.Strategies for sourcing and attracting top talent in PPC management.In this episode of the Ecomm Breakthrough Podcast, host Josh Hadley reunites with Stefano Pretto, founder of Trainadz, to discuss building effective in-house Amazon PPC teams. They explore common hiring mistakes, the importance of clear KPIs, and structured management systems. Stefano emphasizes finding candidates with an ownership mindset, while Josh outlines a three-step hiring filter covering cultural fit, technical capability, and track record. Both agree that consistent accountability through regular meetings and performance reviews is essential. The episode concludes with actionable strategies for e-commerce brands ready to scale beyond seven figures through stronger advertising team management.Here are a few action items that Josh identified from this episode:Mindset Matters:Decide if you’re ready to manage people and build an in-house team. If not, hire an operator or stick with agencies until you are.Robust Hiring Process:Use a multi-step process: cultural fit, technical assessment, and track record review. Avoid shortcuts and prioritize ownership mindset.Structured Management System:Implement regular meetings, clear KPIs, and fast feedback loops. Stay involved and push for continuous improvement.Invest in Talent and Systems:A few hours spent defining roles, setting up meeting rhythms, and creating scorecards can put you far ahead of competitors.Stay Ahead of the Curve:Amazon is more competitive than ever. Elevate your team, systems, and strategy to thrive in this evolving landscape.Timestamps:00:01:07 Introduction to Building an In-house Advertising TeamThe host introduces the episode's topic: building an in-house advertising management team for seven and eight-figure e-commerce brands.00:02:14 Welcoming Stefano PrettoThe host welcomes back Stefano Pretto, founder of Trainadz, and outlines his expertise in Amazon PPC management.00:02:44 Recap of Previous ConversationStefano and Josh recap their last discussion about when to use an agency versus building an in-house team.00:04:37 Why Build an In-house Team?Josh explains why an in-house team can be a significant competitive advantage for scaling brands on Amazon.00:06:32 The Challenge of Managing PeopleJosh discusses the common entrepreneurial pitfall of not having a management system to hold in-house team members accountable.00:08:28 Common Hiring MistakesStefano highlights frequent mistakes business owners make, such as hiring the wrong person or setting incorrect expectations for them.00:12:56 The Three-Filter Hiring ProcessJosh shares his three-legged stool approach to hiring: personality fit, technical capabilities, and a proven track record of success.00:16:51 Stefano's Hiring ApproachStefano details his similar hiring process, emphasizing cultural fit, a live PPC test, and in-depth interviews about their life.00:22:28 Sourcing Top TalentStefano explains his strategy of using LinkedIn outreach to "steal" top talent who are already employed at other companies.00:24:05 Josh's Upwork Hiring HackJosh shares his tactic for finding great talent on Upwork by targeting new freelancers with zero reviews or earnings.00:28:05 Structuring Your PPC TeamStefano outlines how to structure a PPC team based on ad spend, from the founder managing it to building departments.00:33:23 Accountability and KPIsStefano emphasizes the importance of weekly performance reviews and a consistent meeting cadence to keep the team accountable and focused.00:36:21 Josh's Management SystemJosh describes his management operating system, which includes weekly planning meetings, daily huddles, and regular video reports.00:38:14 The Competitive Amazon LandscapeThe discussion turns to the increasing competitiveness of Amazon, requiring sellers to be more sophisticated and on top of their game.00:40:14 Three Actionable TakeawaysJosh summarizes the episode's key takeaways: determine your management style, build a robust hiring process, and implement an operating system.00:45:52 Final Three QuestionsStefano shares his most influential book, favorite AI tool, and a brand owner he admires.Resources mentioned in this episode:Josh Hadley on LinkedIneComm Breakthrough ConsultingeComm Breakthrough PodcastEmail Josh Hadley: [email protected] and Websites "Shopify": "00:00:00" "Meta": "00:00:00" "Amazon": "00:00:00" "BA Commerce": "00:02:49" "TikTok Shop": "00:08:51" "Claude (AI Tool)": "00:41:40" Books  "The E-Myth": "00:01:07"  "Good to Great": "00:45:52"  "The Obstacle Is the Way": "00:46:16"  Tools and Websites  "Trainadz": "00:02:14"  "Culture Index": "00:12:56"  "

After recording hundreds of product-research decisions, Josh Hadley turned his instincts into a 273-rule playbook—and handed it to AI to help train his team. In this episode, he shows how he’s using AI to help his executive assistant take ownership of email, travel, and recurring workflows, while freeing Josh to focus on growth. You’ll hear how short daily check-ins capture his decision-making, how Loom videos become practical SOPs, and how one automated coaching workflow prepares follow-up emails and notes before the next call. The key isn’t asking AI to replace people; it’s giving a trusted teammate the context and judgment to use it well.Bullet Points:Using AI to increase an executive assistant’s impact and free up a business owner’s time.Delegating ownership of email, calendars, travel, follow-ups, reporting, and other administrative responsibilities.Building trust by giving team members context, autonomy, and decision-making authority.Capturing decision-making rationale through recorded conversations and voice notes.Connecting AI tools to business systems, including email, calendars, documents, project management, and meeting transcripts.Creating judgment libraries and detailed SOPs from recorded examples of real work and decisions.Using an assistant as a human review layer to evaluate and refine AI-generated results.Automating recurring tasks and workflows with AI tools.Developing team members’ judgment over time through onboarding, feedback, and calibration.Timestamps:00:00:00 Introduction and Episode OverviewJosh introduces how he uses AI with his executive assistant to multiply productivity and free up the CEO’s time.00:02:22 What the Executive Assistant OwnsHe describes the assistant’s responsibilities, including inbox triage, calendar, travel, sports schedules, follow-ups, coaching administration, and financial coordination.00:06:40 The Goal: Own and Delete WorkDelegation should remove responsibilities from the CEO’s mind, not create more approvals, questions, or follow-ups.00:08:45 The CEO as the Delegation BottleneckTrust, onboarding, and sharing enough context are essential to help assistants make decisions independently.00:10:45 A Five-Step Foundation: Context and JudgmentJosh explains why team members need to understand the reasoning, trade-offs, and criteria behind decisions.00:12:54 Connecting Business Context to AIHe outlines his AI setup, connecting tools and business information so his assistant can access relevant context.00:15:13 Capture Thinking with Daily Check-InsShort daily meetings, voice dictation, and meeting transcripts capture decisions and help the assistant learn.00:21:41 Build a Judgment Library with Loom and AIJosh explains how recording real work and decision-making helps AI turn examples into practical SOPs.00:27:18 Product Research and Development ExampleHundreds of Loom recordings helped create 273 decision rules and an AI assistant for product research.00:29:38 Family Travel Planning ExampleAn Airbnb-search process becomes a repeatable AI workflow, with the executive assistant reviewing and refining options.00:32:47 Automate Recurring WorkJosh recommends using AI tools such as Claude Code to automate routine tasks rather than having assistants repeat them manually.00:34:01 Automated Coaching Follow-Up WorkflowMeeting recordings generate email drafts, saved notes, and preparation materials for future coaching calls.00:38:19 Why Executive Assistants Still MatterAI supports automation, but leaders and skilled assistants remain essential for growth, judgment, and human connection.00:40:38 The Six-Month Delegation RampJosh outlines onboarding, calibration, and momentum stages that help assistants gradually take ownership of work.00:43:53 Closing and Access to ResourcesHe invites listeners to subscribe, leave a review, and access his slides and AI prompts.Links and Mentions:Tools, websites, and platforms"YouTube": "00:01:09"  "Email address: [email protected]": "00:05:34"  "ChatGPT": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "Power BI": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "ClickUp": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "Email, calendar, and Google Drive": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "Fireflies": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "Slack": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "Calendly": "00:13:00–00:14:08"  "Claude": "00:14:08–00:15:13"  "Google Workspace CLI": "00:14:08–00:15:13"  "Whisper Flow": "00:15:13–00:16:20"   "Google Drive / Google Docs": "00:20:36–00:21:41"  "Loom": "00:23:56–00:25:01"    "Custom GPT / Claude skill": "00:28:23–00:29:38"  "Airbnb": "00:29:38–00:31:40"   "