156 - AI SERIES: 7 - She Shut Down a $1M Biz—Then Built an AI Brain to Replace It, with Abbi Perets

A quick update from Nik: exciting guests are on the way, and the show is evolving. Nikonomics is going all-in on AI for boring businesses—plus a sneak peek at a new community (maybe?) and a potential AI incubator.Subscribe to my newsletter to get other, custom insights:🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Jake Colling (https://x.com/JacobColling). We dive into the exciting world of AI and automation and how it's reshaping the way businesses operate.Jake, a software developer and founder of the startup Carrot, shares his insights on building and deploying easy-to-use AI workflows. We discuss the rise of different AI models like Gemini from Google, Claude, and OpenAI's ChatGPT, and explore which models excel in different use cases, from document processing to coding and even content creation. Jake also gives us a sneak peek into how Carrot simplifies AI integration for non-technical users, drawing parallels with tools like Zapier and N8n, but with an AI-native approach.We even touch on the productivity gains AI tools like Cursor are bringing to software development.Questions This Episode Answers:What's the easiest way to build and use AI-powered workflows?Which AI models are surprisingly effective for specific business tasks like document processing?How can businesses leverage AI to automate everyday tasks like lead follow-up?What makes AI-native platforms different from traditional automation tools?How is the increasing use of AI impacting the speed of software development?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Unexpected Connection with Sam Parr02:57 Building Sam's List: The Business Model05:49 Navigating the Relationship with Sam Parr09:09 The Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship11:56 The Growth of Sam's List and Its Impact14:55 The Journey of an Entrepreneur: Lessons Learned24:00 The Decision to Leave Corporate Life30:11 Building Sam's List: The Early Days35:59 Navigating Challenges and Growth42:01 SEO and Content Strategy for Success

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Kimi Green (https://x.com/NotGoKGreen). We dive into the unexpected journey of building Sam's List, a platform connecting individuals with financial professionals. Hear the quirky story of how a random text from Sam Parr of My First Million fame turned into a promising business venture.We explore the importance of authenticity in business and the evolution of Kimi's entrepreneurial role.Questions This Episode Answers:How did Kimi Green initially think she was being catfished by Sam Parr?How did a side project selling newsletter ads and a run club marketplace lead to co-founding Sam's List?How did Sam's List transition from a side hustle to a full-time commitment?How was the decision made for Kimi Green to become the CEO of Sam's List?How has the focus on content and SEO become crucial for the growth of Sam's List?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Unexpected Connection with Sam Parr02:57 Building Sam's List: The Business Model05:49 Navigating the Relationship with Sam Parr09:09 The Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship11:56 The Growth of Sam's List and Its Impact14:55 The Journey of an Entrepreneur: Lessons Learned24:00 The Decision to Leave Corporate Life30:11 Building Sam's List: The Early Days35:59 Navigating Challenges and Growth42:01 SEO and Content Strategy for Success

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Abbi Perets (https://x.com/abbiperets in this insightful episode. We dive into Abbi's fascinating journey from the early days of freelance writing before Google, navigating the tech boom in Silicon Valley, and her experiences with the evolution of content. We also explore her current perspective on how AI is reshaping the writing landscape and how she leverages tools like Claude in her daily work helping experts uncover their hidden value. Hear her practical tips and unique insights on building a successful writing career and adapting to technological changes.Questions This Episode Answers:How did you figure out how to get paid as a freelance writer in the late 90s?What seemingly simple business practice significantly set you apart in the freelance world?How did you decide what to write about when you were first starting your freelance career?What was your initial reaction to AI being seen as a replacement for writers?How do you set up project instructions in Claude to make it a valuable assistant?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction and Background00:53 Freelance Writing Journey05:38 Balancing Family and Career08:40 Impact of AI on Writing14:00 Exploring AI Tools20:40 Using Claude for Writing21:43 Integrating Personal and Professional Life with AI21:33 Choosing Claude Over ChatGPT for Content Creation22:43 Setting Up Projects in Claude23:19 Detailed Project Instructions and Guidelines24:50 Writing Style and Preferences27:20 Using AI for Decision Making and Feedback33:00 Leveraging AI for Personal and Professional Organization35:26 Project Knowledge and Capacity in Claude36:10 Conclusion and Contact Information

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview John Long of Thynk.AI. We dive into the fascinating world of AI agents and how they're being used to automate crucial business processes like communication with customers.John shares the story behind Thynk.AI, revealing how they use AI to help other businesses leverage this powerful technology. We even get a live demonstration of their AI agent, Eric, in action! It's a look at the present and future of AI in business that you won't want to miss.Questions This Episode Answers:What is your business?What models do you use and for what purposes?Has the AI agent technology progressed and gotten better?Is there kind of like an ideal customer that this works for?How is the podcast done?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction and Overview of Think.ai01:53 AI Models and Use Cases02:45 AI in Podcasting05:55 The Origin Story of Think.ai07:47 Capabilities Beyond Sales08:49 AI Integration and Customer Interaction17:30 The 10-80-10 Principle18:40 Live Demo of Think.ai19:58 CRM System Overview20:19 AI Interaction Demonstration22:05 Training AI Agents23:20 Live AI Call Test29:35 AI's Future in Business29:59 Integration with High Level32:13 Adoption and Growth of AI37:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), and my business partner Chris Koerner (https://x.com/mhp_guy) in a fascinating conversation diving into the practical applications of AI for businesses. We explore the landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs), uncovering which ones entrepreneurs are actually using and for what.We also touch upon surprising insights into tools that work alongside these AI models and even debate the potential biases within ChatGPT. Plus, stick around as we brainstorm innovative marketing strategies, including the bold move of using billboards for podcast promotion and the challenges of tracking their impact.Questions This Episode Answers:What's the most popular LLM right now?What are people mainly using ChatGPT for?Which LLM is actually used by more people in aggregate?What's a surprising AI tool many developers are raving about?How do you even begin to track the success of a billboard ad for a podcast?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Exploring AI Use Cases in Business03:01 Comparing Popular LLMs: ChatGPT, Claude, and More05:57 The Role of AI in Coding and Project Management08:52 Sales and Revenue Generation with AI11:48 AI's Unbiased Nature and Its Implications15:09 Using AI for Personal and Relationship Insights18:01 Innovative Marketing Strategies with AI21:03 The Future of AI in Business and Mediation

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Pranav Ghatraju (https://x.com/PranavGhatraju). In this episode, I had a fascinating conversation with Pranav, a chemical engineer turned AI automation expert.We dove deep into the world of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude, exploring how he uses them in his daily work and for his AI automation agency. We discussed practical applications of AI for content creation, streamlining business operations, and boosting efficiency.Pranav even gave me a sneak peek into an interview bot he's building to automate content generation. It was eye-opening to see how AI is being used to augment capabilities and create new possibilities for businesses.Questions This Episode Answers:What LLMs do you use and what do you currently use them for?What are you using Perplexity for exactly?What do you use Claude for?When did you start your AI automation agency?How are you using AI in your business today?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 AI Tools and Their Applications07:09 Transitioning from Engineering to AI Automation10:01 Leveraging AI for Business Efficiency20:09 Innovative Content Generation with AI

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I sit down with Liz Knopf (https://x.com/leveragedupside) about the wild week in AI, from Grok releasing image editing software to OpenAI's phenomenal advancements in the same space.We dive into how these tools are becoming incredibly easy to use and their potential impact on various aspects of business. Liz shares her initial thoughts on ChatGPT's new features and how they might overshadow even giants like Google. We also explore practical applications, such as transforming social media content for different platforms and generating compelling ads.Later in the episode, we shift gears to discuss the power of automation using tools like Make.com, offering a glimpse into how businesses can streamline their workflows by connecting different software. We even touch upon leveraging AI to process meeting transcripts from platforms like Google Meets to gain valuable insights.Questions This Episode Answers:How can AI simplify the creation of professional-looking marketing materials?What are some practical applications of AI in sales and marketing?How can automation tools like Make.com save time and improve efficiency in business operations?What is a basic example of how Make.com can automate a series of tasks?How can AI be used to extract valuable information from recorded meetings?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Impact of AI Tools03:04 Image Editing Revolution05:50 AI in Marketing and Content Creation09:08 Claude vs. ChatGPT: A Comparative Analysis11:56 Visualizing AI News15:07 The Future of AI in Daily Life17:51 Automation with Make.com

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Matt (https://x.com/MattMelli) a digital entrepreneur with his hands in local SEO through Local SEO Partners, SEO Analytics with SEO Gits, and a local newsletter, the Cookville Buzz.We dive deep into Matt's practical applications of Artificial Intelligence in his daily business operations. He shares his experiences with different AI models like Claude, ChatGPT, and Midjourney, revealing why he prefers specific tools for tasks like copywriting, analytics, and even generating unique images for client websites.Discover how Matt is leveraging AI to streamline website development using platforms like WordPress and experimenting with no-code tools like Lovable to prototype and iterate faster, ultimately impacting his agency's efficiency and client offerings.Questions This Episode Answers:What do you do?What models do you use currently and what do you use them for?Why are you not a fan of Grok?How did you build these websites?How much is Lovable a month?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 The Power of AI in App Development03:02 Exploring AI Models for Marketing and SEO05:55 Leveraging AI for Content Creation08:51 Building Websites with AI Tools11:45 Enhancing Client Interactions with AI15:06 The Future of AI in Business17:58 Maximizing Efficiency with AI20:51 Advice for Non-Technical Entrepreneurs

🚨MY NEWSLETTER https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribe 🚨Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Dan Thompson (https://x.com/DanThompsonIV) from a family-owned silicone manufacturing company in Texas.We dive into his fascinating journey from a 20-year career as an executive at Microsoft to leading a traditional manufacturing business and how he's leveraging the power of AI in unexpected ways. Discover how this seemingly old-school industry is being revolutionized with cutting-edge technology to enhance efficiency, empower employees, and gain a competitive edge.We explore real-world applications of AI, from internal chatbots that democratize knowledge to sophisticated systems that analyze crucial business processes like quoting and sales pipelines. Get ready to be inspired by this unique blend of manufacturing expertise and tech innovation!Questions This Episode Answers:How can a small manufacturing business utilize AI to improve efficiency?What are some practical applications of custom AI chatbots within a company?How can AI be used to analyze and understand business process data?What's a cost-effective way for small businesses to start experimenting with AI?How can AI help bridge the technology gap for family-owned businesses?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at [email protected] with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to Silicone Manufacturing and AI Opportunities02:50 The Role of Silicone in Various Industries06:12 Challenges and Opportunities in Manufacturing09:07 Navigating Tariffs and AI Solutions12:00 Leveraging AI for Business Efficiency15:09 Creating Custom AI Solutions for Internal Use18:03 Enhancing Sales and Customer Interaction with AI20:51 The Future of AI in Manufacturing and Education28:06 Exploring API Integration with Flowwise30:03 Utilizing AI Models for Enhanced Analysis32:56 Democratizing AI for Small Businesses35:48 Automating Sales Processes with AI39:32 Real-Time Reporting and Process Analysis43:47 Custom Software Development with AI49:34 Building Efficient Workflows with AI54:20 The Future of AI in Small Businesses