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What happens when small business owners and marketing leaders stop trying to do it all themselves? In this episode of the Human First AI Marketing Podcast, host Mike Montague sits down with Jaime Jay, founder of Bottleneck Distant Assistants, to explore the power of delegation in a world transformed by AI. Together, they explore the critical distinction between task delegation and establishing a true “delegation department,” the significant impact of turnover on business costs, and how combining AI and human assistants can drive productivity, creativity, and growth.

Listeners will learn about Jaime’s concept of Delegation Intelligence, a framework for identifying what to automate, delegate, or keep on your plate. From brain-dumping ideas to documenting repetitive tasks, Jaime shares practical tools SMB owners and marketing directors can use to reclaim time and scale smarter. Whether it’s freeing yourself from email, avoiding burnout in the AI era, or empowering others to shine, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the future of work and the human edge that will keep your business thriving.

Key Takeaways

1. Every business needs a “delegation department.”
Jaime argues that delegation isn’t just an HR task; it should be treated as a core business function to reduce turnover, improve clarity, and unlock growth.

2. Turnover costs more than you think.
Hiring and replacing an employee can cost thousands in training, onboarding, and lost productivity, making smart delegation a powerful cost-saving strategy.

3. Delegation Intelligence is a new framework for leaders.
His Delegation IQ blueprint helps entrepreneurs decide what to automate, delegate, or eliminate, freeing up mental space and reducing stress.

4. Don’t try to create a “mini-me.”
Leaders often fail by delegating only the tasks they dislike; instead, they should empower assistants to complement their strengths rather than duplicate them.

5. Document tasks as if it’s the last time you’ll ever do them.
By recording processes as you perform them, you create a reusable library that assistants or AI can leverage, paving the way for scalability.

6. Hire for values, not just skills.
Jaime stresses the importance of assistants aligning with company beliefs and having the confidence to disagree, fostering stronger collaboration and trust.

7. Delegation creates ripple effects.
Empowering assistants not only benefits the business but also helps them grow personally and professionally, leading to positive global impacts

8. AI is powerful, but burnout is real.
While AI can supercharge productivity, many founders risk “CEO AI burnout” unless they learn to delegate the heavy lifting to specialists and teams.

9. The future of work is hybrid.
Jaime envisions a world where humans, AI, and distant assistants collaborate, creating leaner, more innovative companies, eve

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

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What if AI wasn’t just another shiny object but a way to get back to what actually works in marketing? In this episode, Mike Montague sits down with David Berkowitz, founder of the AI Marketers Guild and author of The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI in Marketing, to talk about how small and mid-sized businesses can avoid the trap of AI slop and instead use smart tools to create real connections, trust, and creativity at scale.

Together, they unpack the risks of lazy automation, the rise of spammy AI outreach, and how thoughtful marketers can stand out by doing less but better. You’ll learn practical ways to personalize proposals, customize your content engine, use AI as an “editor”, not an engine, and create experiences your buyers actually care about. If you’re overwhelmed by tools, tired of robotic content, or just looking for a smarter, more human-first way to market, this conversation is your permission to rethink everything.

Key Takeaways

1. Avoid the Tragedy of the Commons in Marketing
When everyone uses AI to blast more content, we risk burning the very channels we depend on. Attention is a limited resource.

2. Don’t Reward Shortcuts That Hurt the Brand
The immediate ROI from spammy outreach may look good in the short term, but it erodes trust and damages long-term growth.

3. Personalization Beats Proliferation
AI is most powerful when used to create custom, relevant experiences, not just more messages.

4. Use AI to Do What Was Previously Impossible
The real power of AI isn’t just speed; it’s enabling small teams to create interactive, personalized tools like quizzes, assessments, and tailored content they could never afford before.

5. Be the Editor, Not the Typist
AI should be your first draft assistant, not your final voice. Great marketers still have to think critically and creatively.

6. Build Custom AI Projects by Use Case
Create saved projects or "custom GPTs" for each client, product, or process to increase relevance and reduce repetition.

7. Ask Your AI How to Make Things Better
One of the most useful prompts is simply: “How would you improve this?” It invites iteration and innovation.

8. Interactive Content is the New Differentiator
Tools like quizzes, assessments, and vibe-coded landing pages stand out in a world of static blog posts and cold email.

9. Quizzes Aren’t Just Gimmicks, They’re Lead Qualifiers
AI-powered quizzes provide personalized insights to your audience while collecting valuable data for your marketing efforts.

10. Train AI to Know You, Then Ask for Strategy
When AI understands your business, values, and clients, it can serve as a valuable strategic sounding board, not just a content machine.

11. Creative Layering is the Next Marketing Superpower
By lay

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.

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In this episode of The Social Shift, Mike Montague (Avenue9) sits down with Katie Brinkley (Next Step Social and Podcast) to unpack how AI is changing social media and why the brands that win will be the ones that sound most human, not most automated. They explore the rise of “AI slop” in our feeds, why going viral isn’t a business strategy, and how local and B2B businesses can use podcasting and authentic content to build genuine relationships, not just rack up views.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by content chaos or unsure how to make AI work without losing your voice, this conversation is your reset button. You’ll learn how to blend AI with authenticity, why smaller audiences often lead to bigger results, and how to turn conversations into your most powerful content engine. It’s a must-listen for marketers, business owners, and creators looking to bring marketing back to life.

Top Takeaways

1. AI Made Social Media Sloppy, Now Authenticity Stands Out More Than Ever:
With everyone posting AI-generated fluff, real human content is easier to spot and more potent than before.

2. Going Viral Is Not a Business Strategy:
Business owners should prioritize relevant reach over random views from audiences unlikely to convert.

3. Influencers Chase Attention; Business Owners Should Spark Conversations:
Social media works best when it leads to fundamental interactions, not just likes or trends that disappear tomorrow.

4. Podcasting Builds Trust, Authority, and Community at the Same Time:
A podcast lets you connect directly with your audience and expand your network by interviewing real people in your space.

5. You Don’t Need a Fancy Setup to Start a Podcast, Start the Conversation:
Most of Katie’s podcasting success comes from consistency, genuine curiosity, and a webcam, not expensive gear.

6. Local Businesses Gain a Competitive Edge by Showing Up Online with a Human Voice:
People want to buy from real people in their community; consistent, authentic content can make you the go-to name in your niche.

7. Repurposing Podcast Content Can Fill Your Entire Marketing Calendar:
One great episode can become blog posts, social clips, emails, and more with AI, making it even easier to scale your message without losing your tone.

8. Trust Comes From Depth, Not Just Reach:
It’s better to build deep relationships with 100 people than be forgettable to 10,000.

The Human-First AI Marketing Podcast is brought to you by Avenue9. We use artificial intelligence to amplify your unique voice, empower your marketing team, and enable your scaling business to achieve big-brand success.

Explore new avenues available with AI marketing at Avenue9.com.

No matter where you’re starting from or how big your goals are, we turn modern marketing challenges into exciting opportunities. Let's get started with a discovery consultation!

Want to be a guest? Send Mike Montague a message on PodMatch here.