3 rules for using AI as an entrepreneur | Zachariah Stratford | TEDxSouthLakeTahoe
Zachariah Stratford shares his personal journey of overcoming failure and loss to embrace the power of artificial intelligence (AI), illustrating how AI can help entrepreneurs and businesses thrive in an increasingly automated world. Through his struggles of being replaced in business, he highlights how mastering AI can lead to greater opportunities and stability. His story serves as a guide for others to integrate AI into their business strategies, becoming irreplaceable in the face of technological change.Zachariah discusses the rising threat of AI replacing workers, as seen in various industries. A study found that up to 800 million workers might need to find new jobs by 2030, highlighting the pressure businesses and employees face. He shares his own struggles of being forced out of companies he built and the emotional toll it took on him, demonstrating the vulnerability of being "replaceable."Embrace AI to become irreplaceable. Zachariah explains how he leveraged AI to launch successful businesses, helping entrepreneurs integrate AI into their processes. By mastering the use of AI bots—intelligent automation tools—he found success, both personally and professionally.Three Laws for Using AI Bots:1. Master the Art of Asking Questions
AI is a tool that requires guidance. Understanding your business and its processes allows you to ask the right questions and prompt the AI effectively. AI supports you, but your expertise makes it shine.2. Hide Your Bots
The best AI tools are seamless and human-like. Zachariah warns against using bots in a way that feels impersonal or deceptive. Your human touch is your superpower—use AI to enhance, not replace, your relationships.3. Pull Your Biggest Lever First
Focus on the areas of your business that can benefit most from AI. Start with the tasks you're already good at and automate them. Gradually scale up, using AI as a rocket fuel to accelerate growth.Zachariah has helped thousands of entrepreneurs use AI to build their businesses, from automating social media management to streamlining customer service. He also partnered with one of the largest universities in Latin America to create an AI business certification program. As AI continues to reshape industries, those who integrate it into their businesses stand to gain a competitive edge.Entrepreneurs, take charge of your future by integrating AI into your business. Start small, focus on automation, and use AI as a tool to enhance your business and personal interactions.If you're an entrepreneur or business owner looking to stay ahead in the age of AI, Zachariah’s story and practical advice will help you understand how to leverage this technology without losing your humanity. ? TEDx & International Speaker | ? AI & Publishing Visionary | ? Bestselling Author & EntrepreneurI’ve been replaced. Three times.
Each time, I rebuilt, learned, and adapted—until I became irreplaceable.Now, I help entrepreneurs and thought leaders turn their ideas into bestselling books and AI-powered businesses. As the founder of The One Book Millionaire, I’ve helped publish over 100,000 titles and launched multiple AI-driven startups.My TEDx talk explores how AI is transforming the future of work and how you can embrace it to stay ahead.? AI Business & Publishing Expert
? Author of Published with Jarvis, The AI Author Cookbook, and The Brain Dump Method
? 30 Bestsellers Published in 2023
? Co-Founder of Millionario.AI & Creator of AuthorWizard.AI
? Partnered with a top Latin American university to launch one of the world’s first AI business certificationsWant to become irreplaceable? Let’s connect.
? www.TheOneBookMillionaire.com
? YouTube | Instagram | Facebook This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
More from TED
- 3:05Why Not! | Sarah El Bardan | TEDxInternationalCollegeBeirutSarah's talk highlights the empowering mindset of asking, 'Why not?' instead of just questioning 'Why?'—encouraging us to embrace opportunities with boldness and curiosity. Sarah is an Elementary School student. One of her favorite hobbies is skiing as it gives her a sense of freedom. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 3:17The Magic of Positivity | Jad El Sayed | TEDxInternationalCollegeBeirutIn this talk, Jad emphasizes the power of self-belief and perseverance in overcoming obstacles and achieving success. Jad is a grade five student. He loves basketball, and enjoys playing the guitar. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 5:02Being Multinational: A Blessing or A Curse? | Julia Toramanian | TEDxInternationalCollegeBeirutIn this talk, Julia shares her story with having multiple nationalities. By addressing the struggles she went through, she hopes she can help others who have felt isolated like she did.Julia is interested in pursuing a career in engineering. She loves reading, her favorite author is a Japanese writer named Haruki Murakami. She likes sci-fi movies and series. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 18:32How to Unlock Creativity as a Highschooler | Ryan Huang | TEDxOakville Trafalgar HSHow do we balance being young and being creative? Ryan Huang speaks about embracing your own creativity without fear, despite the systematic and personal pressures that try to prevent us from making our ideas come to life. He reminds youths that you are not too young to create something meaningful, you are just getting started. How to Unlock Creativity as a High SchoolerWhat holds us back creatively as high-schoolers, and how we can all learn to overcome that. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 9:00The power of systems thinking: changing how we see the world | Petri Uusikylä | TEDxVaasaWhat if the biggest problems we face aren’t hard to solve, they’re hard to see clearly? In this compelling talk, Petri Uusikylä explores the power of systems thinking as a tool to better understand and navigate the complexities of our world. From climate change to policy failures and societal disruptions, he invites us to shift our mindset: to see patterns instead of isolated events, relationships instead of silos. By changing how we see, we can change how we act and start designing solutions that actually stick. This talk was given at TEDxVaasa under the theme Unseen Forces. Petri Uusikylä (PhD) is a research director at the University of Vaasa, specializing in public policy, governance, and resilience. With over 25 years of experience in systems analysis, complexity research, and innovation policy, he has worked as a consultant and advisor to governments across Europe and the Global South. Petri is also a published author and entrepreneur, with a deep commitment to helping societies thrive in “wicked environments.” This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
- 14:26AI for people and profit – Beyond productivity and efficiency | Anna Häggblom | TEDxVaasaWhat if AI wasn’t just about speed, automation, or cutting costs, but about creating space for people to thrive? In this forward-thinking talk, Anna Häggblom challenges the traditional narratives around artificial intelligence in business. She invites us to rethink AI not as a tool for squeezing out more productivity, but as a powerful force for unlocking creativity, improving well-being, and building businesses that grow sustainably. It's time to shift the conversation from efficiency to impact, from automation to augmentation. This talk was given at TEDxVaasa under the theme Unseen Forces. Anna Häggblom is an AI strategist, entrepreneur, and speaker who helps organizations adopt AI in ways that benefit both people and profits. With a background in finance and statistics, she founded AveoAI to guide companies through human-centered, sustainable AI integration. A passionate advocate for cognitive well-being and the four-day workweek, Anna is on a mission to prove that when people have time to think, innovation follows. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx