Andrew's Mindmate (00:00):
Okay, so let's imagine this for a second. You're a boutique consultant. You've got your specialized knowledge, you're agile, and you offer that personalized touch that clients really are drawn to. But here's the question. Are you keeping up with this AI revolution that's completely changing consulting?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (00:20):
Yeah, it's a game changer. It really is. Clients want more, they want it faster, and AI is becoming the key to giving them those incredible results,
Andrew's Mindmate (00:28):
And that's what we're diving into today. We're really going to explore how boutique consulting firms can not just survive, but really thrive in this age of ai. To help us out with this, we've got insights from Andrew Lawless. He's a consultant and a coach who's helping firms just like yours unlock what AI can really do.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (00:45):
Yeah, and what's really interesting about boutique consulting right now is just how popular it's becoming. Businesses are dealing with more and more complex issues. Think about navigating e-commerce or building sustainable practices, and they're looking for specialists who can offer that deep expertise and really create solutions just for them.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:04):
It's true. It makes sense. It's like choosing between, I don't know, a general practitioner and a heart surgeon.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:10):
Sure.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:11):
When you need a specialist, you go to the expert.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:12):
Exactly. And what Andrew Lawless talks about in his article 2024, the Dawn of a Golden Era for Boutique Consulting, is that this need for really specific expertise is only going to increase. Boutique firms are in a great spot to take advantage of this trend because they're really adaptable. They offer a better return on investment, and they can actually connect with those specialized markets.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:36):
So let's bring AI into this. Andrew shared a story in AI lessons from a failed school counselor. That really resonated with me.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:44):
Yeah.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:44):
His son was going into eighth grade, which is a big year.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:47):
Huge.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:48):
And he got this 192 page document about the school's counseling program. Can you imagine?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:55):
Oh, wow. That's overwhelming.
Andrew's Mindmate (01:57):
Trying to go through all of that in detail,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (01:59):
Right. Most people wouldn't know where to even start.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:01):
Exactly. So instead of getting lost in all of that, Andrew turned to chat. GPT
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:05):
Smart
Andrew's Mindmate (02:06):
Uploaded the document and just said, Hey, summarize my rights as a parent here.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:10):
Oh, wow.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:11):
15 minutes later, boom. He has his answers.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:13):
That's amazing. What's really important there is not just the time saved, but it's like you have this access to all this information. AI helps you understand all that complicated stuff fast, so you can actually do something about it.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:26):
It's like a superpower, and this is just one example of how it can change those simple tasks. Imagine what it can do for your consulting work.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:34):
That's where Andrew Lawless' Simplifi sell scale framework comes in.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:39):
It's
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:39):
A game changer, especially for boutique firms.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:41):
So it seems like this framework, which is outlined in Andrew's High Performance Consultant Academy, it's all about working smarter, not harder.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:49):
Yeah.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:49):
Tell me a bit more about that.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:51):
For sure. The simplify sell scale framework is about using AI in a strategic way.
Andrew's Mindmate (02:57):
That
Ann's Digital Ambassador (02:57):
Simplify part is really important for boutique firms, since a lot of them are solopreneurs or small teams. Think about all the tasks that take up your time that you could be spending with clients instead, like scheduling, data entry. Even some of the research AI can handle all of that, so you're free to focus on the stuff that really matters.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:16):
That makes a lot of sense.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:17):
So
Andrew's Mindmate (03:17):
You're making things easier on the backend.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:19):
Exactly.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:19):
What about the sell part?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:20):
Oh, this is where it gets really interesting. AI can totally change the way you attract and connect with clients. Imagine using AI to look at market trends and figure out exactly who your ideal client is.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:35):
Wow.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:36):
With laser focus,
Andrew's Mindmate (03:38):
You could read their minds or something.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:39):
Right.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:40):
Okay. So I'm starting to see how powerful this could be.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (03:42):
Right? Then you can use AI to personalize your outreach, create really strong proposals, even automate parts of your sales funnel. So you're generating leads all the time without being glued to your computer.
Andrew's Mindmate (03:56):
So they're coming to you instead of you having to chase them down.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:00):
Exactly.
Andrew's Mindmate (04:00):
I bet that frees up a ton of time and energy.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:02):
Totally.
Andrew's Mindmate (04:03):
What about scale? What does that look like?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:05):
So with AI taking care of those routine things and making your sales process smoother, you're in a great position to really grow your impact. You can take on more clients, add more services, even try out new markets, all without burning yourself out,
Andrew's Mindmate (04:18):
And you're still giving that personalized, high touch experience that boutique consulting is known for.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:24):
Exactly. It's not about being replaced by robots. It's about being the human who knows how to use AI to deliver that amazing value. Remember, AI is a tool and any tool, it's all about using it the right way.
Andrew's Mindmate (04:37):
It's about knowing how to use that tool to make your expertise even better and give your clients the best service. I think when people hear ai, they think it's going to be cold and impersonal,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:46):
But
Andrew's Mindmate (04:46):
That's not what we're talking about.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (04:48):
No, not at all. The future of consulting is not about being replaced by robots. It's about being the human who knows how to use those robots to build those connections and give clients those amazing results.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:00):
So it sounds like a win-win for everybody.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:02):
Yeah.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:03):
Boutique firms can do even more and clients get even better solutions.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:07):
Exactly, and the best part is you don't have to become an AI expert overnight to use it. Remember what Andrew Lawless said in AI lessons from a failed school counselor?
Andrew's Mindmate (05:18):
Oh, right. He said to start small.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:20):
Yeah.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:20):
What were those steps again?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:21):
Okay, so first find just one thing you do all the time that you could automate, like scheduling meetings or those email, there are so many AI tools made for that,
Andrew's Mindmate (05:30):
Right? So start small and get the ball rolling.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:32):
Exactly.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:33):
What was the second step?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:34):
See if you can use AI to make your data analysis better. Could you use an AI tool to really dig into that client data and find patterns, or even see what they might need in the future? Wow. Think about the insights you'd
Andrew's Mindmate (05:49):
Get. Yeah, that would definitely give you an advantage. What about the third step?
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:52):
So think about those interactions with clients and how you can make them even more.
Andrew's Mindmate (05:57):
Okay.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (05:58):
What if you used AI to change up, how you communicate what's in your proposals, even your services based on what that client likes?
Andrew's Mindmate (06:06):
Wow. You'd be like, you could read their mind,
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:09):
Right?
Andrew's Mindmate (06:10):
But in a good way.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:11):
Of course.
Andrew's Mindmate (06:11):
So these three things, automate, analyze, personalize. They're all about working smarter.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:16):
Exactly. And you can do all of them right now with the AI tools that are out there. Remember how Andrew analyzed that huge 192 codes document with chat GPT in just a few minutes? You can have that same power.
Andrew's Mindmate (06:27):
It's incredible. Client reports, market research, competitor analysis. It's like having a whole team of superpowered research assistants working for you 24 7.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (06:38):
And it's not even just about speed. It's about understanding things on a deeper level, making those connections you might've missed and finding hidden opportunities. It's about using the power of AI to give your clients something truly amazing and really shape what consulting looks like in the future.
Andrew's Mindmate (06:52):
So for all those boutique consultants out there listening, the message is clear. AI is here. It's not something to be afraid of. It's an opportunity.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:01):
Exactly like we've seen in this deep dive. Boutique firms are actually in a really good spot to do well in this age of ai. They're adaptable, they specialize, and they know how to adjust quickly. By using ai. Boutique consultants can really make their expertise even stronger, create incredible experiences for their clients and shape the future of the entire industry.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:20):
So if you're ready to jump in and explore the world of AI for consultants, Andrew Lawless offers a free chat GPT Prompt Guide on his website.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:28):
Oh, that's a great resource.
Andrew's Mindmate (07:30):
It's a great place to start experimenting and see what AI can do for you. You can find a link to that in our show notes.
Ann's Digital Ambassador (07:35):
The future belongs to those who are willing to embrace it. So the question is, are you ready to ride this wave of innovation and take your boutique consulting firm to the next level in this age of ai.
