Being great at your job used to guarantee security and visibility. Now? It barely earns you a seat at the table.

In this episode of Strategic Thinkers, Sean Atkinson and Melody Ann break down how AI is rewriting the rules of work — and what that means for experienced professionals trying to stay visible, valuable, and relevant without losing who they are.

💡 Inside This Episode:

- Why traditional work habits are getting you ignored

- The real reason seasoned professionals are feeling invisible

- How to reclaim your edge (without hustling harder)

- The quiet ways AI is already transforming your industry

- How to evolve without selling out

🔥 Whether you're a strategist, entrepreneur, or team leader — this episode gives you the lens and the tools to reposition in an AI-powered economy.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro & Episode Promise

01:29 - The Rules of Work Have Changed

03:05 - Why Experienced Pros Feel Invisible

05:01 - Can AI Actually Help Work-Life Balance?

08:05 - Is This the Next Industrial Revolution?

10:52 - The Adaptation Economy is Here

11:46 - How AI Is Hiding in Plain Sight

15:15 - Deepfakes, Likeness, and Legal Gray Areas

17:47 - Why Strategy Beats Copying

20:27 - The Trap of One-Size-Fits-All Models

22:59 - The Power of Voice, Story, and Context

26:29 - Identity-Driven Messaging vs Generic Content

29:54 - Let Them Copy You (and Why It’s Okay)

32:57 - Redefining Value in the Age of AI

35:44 - Sponsored Ad: Unfair Advantage Quiz

36:45 - Using AI to Discover Strategic Gaps

38:44 - Emerging Roles in the Age of AI

42:06 - AI Is a Bright-Eyed Intern

46:18 - You Are Still Responsible

48:26 - How Non-Creatives Can Use AI Creatively

53:28 - Build Foundations, Not Just Trends

57:14 - Play the Long Game with Principles

59:40 - Sustainable Business vs Pyramid Schemes

1:01:42 - Workflow and Long-Term Security

1:03:22 - What You Can Do on a Bad Day

1:05:44 - Why Context Always Wins

1:07:32 - Inconveniently Valuable Work

1:10:07 - Power, Scarcity, and Strategy

1:13:18 - Final Takeaways & What's Next

🎯 Free Resource Mentioned in This Episode:

Discover what sets you apart before AI learns to imitate it.

Take the Unfair Business Advantage Quiz to uncover your natural strengths — the ones you’ve likely been overlooking — and get a strategy for turning them into your niche-defining edge. https://www.assess.seanmatkinson.com/sean-g8zz3edl

It only takes 10 minutes, and the insights could change everything.

⏭️ Next Up:

Get ready for Part 3 of our AI Work Reimagined series:

Who Gets to Write the New Rules — And Why It Should Include You

🔗 Like, Share, and Subscribe if you’re ready to lead — not just adapt.

#StrategicThinking #FutureOfWork #AIandWork #PersonalBranding #ProfessionalGrowth #UnfairAdvantage

Most creatives are paralyzed by AI—convinced it will replace them. After years helping authors create compelling non-fiction content and witnessing the shift from encyclopedias to internet to AI, Melody Ann shares why the key isn't catching up to AI, but moving forward with it.

In this conversation, you'll discover how to protect your creative voice while leveraging AI as a strategic partner, not a threat. From permission-based prompting to real-world content strategies, this episode transforms anxiety into action.

⚡ KEY TAKEAWAYS:

✅ Why "catching up" to AI is the wrong approach (move forward instead)

✅ The encyclopedia lesson that applies to AI adoption today

✅ How to protect your unique voice while using AI tools

✅ AI-generated vs. AI-assisted: the crucial difference

✅ Permission-based prompting strategies that work

✅ Real-world content creation with AI as your partner

✅ The "stupid questions" approach that accelerates learning

🎯 TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction: AI as Partner, Not Threat

1:02 - Welcome and the Value of Long-Term Networking

2:18 - The Encyclopedia Story: Pre-Internet Learning

5:19 - Computer Science vs. Typing: The Move Forward Lesson

8:00 - Don't Catch Up, Move Forward Philosophy

12:00 - From Dial-Up to 24/7 AI: The Evolution

18:00 - AI's Impact on Creative Industries

24:00 - Protecting Your Voice in the Age of AI

30:00 - AI-Generated vs. AI-Assisted Content

36:00 - Practical AI Tools for Creators

42:00 - Permission-Based Prompting Strategies

48:00 - Ask AI Your "Stupid Questions" Without Fear

52:15 - Real Content Creation Strategies

54:18 - About Melody Ann and Author Nation

55:29 - Best Ways to Connect (LinkedIn Priority)

57:31 - Series Preview and What's Next

💡 EPISODE PROMISE:

By the end of this episode, you'll stop feeling paralyzed by AI and start seeing how to use it as a creative partner, not a creative threat. Walk away with real-world ways to protect your voice, preserve your value, and move forward with confidence.

🔗 CONNECT WITH MELODY ANN:

Website: https://authornationtube.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melodyowen/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AuthorNation

Services: Non-fiction book writing and content creation coaching

🔗 CONNECT WITH SEAN:

Website: https://thestrategicthinkers.com

Social: @TheCoachesCorner-SBA

Free Unfair Business Advantage Assessment: https://www.assess.seanmatkinson.com/sean-g8zz3edl

📺 WHAT'S NEXT:

This is part of an ongoing series on AI for creatives. Subscribe and hit the bell to catch:

• AI content strategy deep-dives

• Voice protection techniques

• Practical tool tutorials

• Mini-episodes on specific topics

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💬 What's your biggest fear about AI in your creative work? Drop it in the comments—we'll address it in upcoming episodes!

👍 Like this episode? Share it with a creative who's struggling with AI anxiety.

#AI #ContentCreation #CreativeStrategy #AITools #ContentStrategy #NonFictionWriting #DigitalTransformation #CreativeConfidence #AIForCreatives #ContentCreator #AuthorTips #WritingCommunity #BusinessPodcast #StrategicThinkers

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*Mini-episodes breaking down individual topics from this conversation will be released separately for easy reference and sharing.*

Most salespeople are stuck using 1980s scripts that make prospects hang up. After a decade in real estate and sales coaching, Travis Goodwin reveals why feature-heavy presentations now repel buyers and how permission-based selling turns awkward pitches into conversations that close—while making prospects actually thank you for the call.

YOU'LL DISCOVER:

- The 3-minute urgency test that qualifies prospects fast

- Why "I've heard that before" kills your close (and what to do instead)

- Permission-based opening that lowers their guard immediately

- When to close on call one vs. scheduling follow-ups

- The complete closing sequence that prevents buyer's remorse

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Modern Sales Techniques

02:41 Building Trust in Sales Conversations

05:28 The Importance of Genuine Conversations

08:15 Understanding Urgency and Follow-Up

11:10 Navigating Phone Etiquette in Sales

13:59 The Role of Tone and Approach in Sales Calls

23:13 Establishing Permission in Sales Conversations

26:19 The Shift in Consumer Awareness

28:59 The Importance of Genuine Conversations

34:52 Structuring Follow-Up Calls

40:21 The Role of Coaching in Sales

44:24 Recognizing the Right Moment to Close

46:10 Real-Time Coaching vs. Traditional Methods

47:07 The Art of Closing: Building Connection

48:05 Qualifying Questions: Understanding Needs and Urgency

49:26 Asking for Permission: The Path to the Offer

51:46 Addressing Buyer’s Remorse: Ensuring Comfort in Decisions

54:23 Aligning Solutions with Client Needs

56:27 Establishing Authority in Sales Conversations

58:34 The Importance of Practice: Getting Comfortable with Conversations

59:49 Initiating Conversations: Building Rapport in Everyday Life

01:04:04 Transforming Sales Pitches into Genuine Conversations

01:08:55 Travis Goodwin Episode Outro.mp4

CONNECT:

Travis: 304-444-6744 | https://linktr.ee/tgoodwinwv

Sean: thestrategicthinkers.com | @TheCoachesCorner-SBA

Take the free Unfair Business Advantage Assessment: https://www.assess.seanmatkinson.com/sean-g8zz3edl