Rob Levin argues that small and midsize business owners need to act now: get hands-on with AI, intentionally improve culture, and carve out time to think strategically. He points to a growing economy with inflation pressure, a setup he describes as "profitless prosperity", and says the owners who win will be the ones who adapt faster.

Key Takeaways

• AI is no longer optional. Owners should take a course, experiment, and build with AI personally. Block 2 hours this week to learn one AI workflow that could free up your time and help your team deliver better service.
• Culture determines who joins, stays, and leaves. Audit your culture, review Glassdoor/Indeed, then ask your top performers what is working and what is broken.
• You need strategic time away from the noise to rethink products, vendors, customer behavior, and new capabilities. Schedule a weekly strategy block.
• The businesses that move quickly will outperform the ones that keep waiting for conditions to improve. Identify one product, service, or process to improve, automate, or eliminate in the next 30 days.

Timestamps

01:06 — Wake-up call for business owners

02:44 — Why now: AI, growth, and inflation

04:09 — Dive into AI yourself as the owner

05:41 — Improve culture by design

07:12 — Protect time for strategy and next moves

08:15 — Final challenge: which group will you be in?

Additional Resources

• ITR Economics on Profitless Prosperity
• What Every Business Owner Should be Doing with AI Right Now
• The State of AI for Business Report
• 7 Culture Moves Behind a Fast-Growing Company
• Don't Have an Assistant? You are One

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More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

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Scott Mesh explains how strong leadership starts with listening, solving the right problem, and building a culture where A players feel valued. He shares why appreciation, peer recognition, and treating remote or offshore teammates like full team members are essential for retention. He also introduces Opportunity Focus: a practical way to reframe problems as opportunities, surface blind spots, and improve through deliberate feedback.

Key Takeaways

• Effectiveness comes before efficiency. If you are solving the wrong problem, speed will only make the mistake faster.
• Set clear culture goals. Scott credits Los Niños Services becoming a great company to deliberately setting the goal of improving recruiting and retention.
• People stay when they feel appreciated. Make public recognition and honest peer appreciation part of your weekly rhythm, not a once-a-year gesture.
• Remote and offshore teams should be integrated, not separated. Scott's rule is simple: treat everyone like one team.
• Opportunity Focus reframes challenges as opportunities, which changes motivation and action.
• The most important growth question is: "What can I do better next time?" Ask it often and invite direct feedback.

About the Guest

Scott Mesh is an award-winning CEO and leadership coach making a real impact on early childhood education and organizational development. Scott founded Los Niños Services, which provides specialized education and support to young children in New York City. He also helps leaders unlock their potential through the Opportunity Focus methodology, guiding them to recognize and capitalize on both internal and external opportunities. As a psychologist-turned-executive, Scott brings a unique perspective to modern leadership challenges, including scaling teams, building resilient cultures post-pandemic, and navigating the complexities of both onshore and offshore talent.

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More About Scott Mesh

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn.

Check Out scottmesh.com

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

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Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.

Rob Levin breaks down key findings from SmarterX's 2026 State of AI for Business report and translates them into a practical roadmap for founders and SMB leaders. The big message: AI is no longer optional, and the companies that start building skills, workflows, and a culture of experimentation now will outpace those that wait.

Key takeaways

• Most employees believe AI will eliminate more jobs than it creates, but only 20% are worried about their own role, a sign that awareness is lagging behind reality.
• Most teams struggle with four common barriers: not enough training, lack of awareness, no time to implement it, and fear or mistrust of something new.
• The best starting point is the leader: learn AI, build workflows, and focus humans on judgment-heavy work while AI handles repeatable tasks.
• Training, recognition, and team show-and-tell sessions can help build confidence and momentum across the organization.

Timestamps

[01:57] Employee beliefs about AI job loss vs. personal job security

[02:37] Why AI layoffs in the news are mostly noise for SMBs right now

[06:59] Where to start: the leader adopts AI first, then builds workflows and strategy

[09:02] Training the team, making time for learning, and recognizing AI wins

[10:52] Why founders must set the tone and create a culture that embraces change

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Bottom line
AI adoption is not just a technology decision; it is a leadership and culture decision. Start with your own workflows, invest in team training, and create a company rhythm that rewards learning and experimentation.

Related Substack posts

• How WBN Is Becoming an AI-First Company
• Don't Have an Assistant? You are One

More About Rob Levin & WorkBetterNow

Like this show? Click on over and subscribe to our YouTube channel!
Follow Rob Levin on Substack.
Out now! The New Talent Playbook: The Ultimate Guide to Building Your Dream Team 📕 Available on Amazon or visit thenewtalentplaybook.com and get the free scorecard.