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
- 13:20How watching movies at the cinema shapes your mind and community | Pauliina Ståhlberg | TEDxVaasaWhat happens when you gather in the dark with strangers to watch a film? According to Pauliina Ståhlberg, it’s more than entertainment, it's an act of cultural connection, empathy building, and even social change. In this talk, Pauliina explores how local cinemas influence not just our personal perspectives but the collective consciousness of entire communities. From global storytelling to shared emotional experiences, she reveals why the magic of movies is even more powerful when experienced together. This talk was given at TEDxVaasa under the theme Unseen Forces. Pauliina Ståhlberg is the Executive Director of the Helsinki International Film Festival, Finland’s largest film festival. With a rich background in cultural leadership and international arts diplomacy, she previously served as the Director of the Finnish Cultural Institutes in both Madrid and London. She’s also an acclaimed audiovisual producer behind Netflix’s Nordic Noir hit Deadwind/Karppi. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, training karate, and of course, watching films. 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
- 12:46Breaking Point | Zeynep Homan | TEDxYouth@BodrumCollegeIn this talk, Zeynep Homan reflects on how life's challenges can lead to powerful turning points. Through her journey as a ceramic artist, she shows how creativity can be a path to resilience and self-discovery. 1975 yılında Almanya’da doğan sanatçı, üniversitedeki artistik seramik heykel eğitiminin ardından yüksek lisans yaparak uzman olmuştur. Uzun yıllar editörlük, yayın direktörlüğü ve reklam yazarlığı yaptıktan sonra, harflerin ve metinlerin dünyasındaki serüvenini toprakla birleştirerek seramik çamuru ile hikâyeler yazmaya başlamıştır. Anadolu’nun kadim birikimini eserlerine yansıtan sanatçı; “Geleceğe Notlar: Düş Zamanı”, “Axis Mundi”, “Çingene Palamutu”, "Ata Ana" adlarını verdiği eserleri ile çeşitli karma sergilere katılmıştır. Heykel çalışmaları yanı sıra özel imzalı sofra koleksiyonları da bulunan sanatçının "Narkuş" koleksiyonu, Kültür Bakanlığı'nca sergilenmektedir. Homan, Bodrum Gümüşlük’teki atölyesinde seramik-heykel dersleri vermekte ve kişisel çalışmalarını yürütmektedir. Bunun yanı sıra, her yıl geleneksel olarak "Çamurdan Çingene" Şenliği’ni düzenleyerek, sanatı doğa ve topluluk ile birleştiren interaktif deneyimler sunmaktadır. 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
- 14:05Violence against women is not inevitable – Your actions are | Elina Viitasaari | TEDxVaasaViolence against women is not a tragic certainty; it’s a consequence of silence, inaction, and the invisible norms we’ve come to accept. In this urgent and empowering talk, Elina Viitasaari dismantles the myth that gender-based violence is inevitable. She challenges us to recognize the unseen forces, from everyday attitudes to systemic failures, that allow violence to persist. Most importantly, she reminds us that while violence may feel overwhelming, our actions are powerful, and change begins with what we choose to do next. Elina Viitasaari is an award-winning expert in sexual and gender-based violence, with a career that spans from direct client work on the ground to shaping global policy in UN forums. Her work bridges the personal and the political, grounded in both empathy and action. With a deep commitment to ending violence and building safer, more just societies, Elina continues to lead conversations that turn awareness into impact. 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
- 12:51How culture and perspective shape who we become | Khin Phyu Cyn Kyi | TEDxVaasaHow do the cultures we move through, and the perspectives we gather, shape who we become? In this inspiring talk, Khin Phyu Cyn Kyi shares her personal journey of growing across borders, embracing change, and navigating identity in unfamiliar spaces. From Myanmar to Finland, she reflects on the power of cultural exchange, the invisible impact of belonging, and how international experiences can help young people find their voice and purpose. Her story is a call to open minds, cross boundaries, and build communities where every background is valued. Maybe after listening to this talk, the next time someone asks you ‘Are you married?’ ‘How much do you earn these days?’, you will have a different perspective. This talk was given at TEDxVaasa under the theme Unseen Forces. Khin Phyu Cyn Kyi, also known as K, is a passionate youth advocate for community development and international collaboration. Originally trained in civil engineering, she now studies international business in Finland and actively participates in global diplomacy programs like SSEAYP, AFMAM, AAYLF, and YSEALI. Through her blog The K Channel and her work with Vaasa for All, she empowers young people to chase their goals, embrace diversity, and grow with confidence in cross-cultural spaces. 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
- 11:26Breaking Point | Rüzgar Gökdemir | TEDxYouth@BodrumCollegeSometimes, the bravest step we take to grow is stepping outside the line we've always known. In this inspiring talk, Rüzgar explores the power of leaving the comfort zone and how that moment can become a true breaking point in one’s life. With a thoughtful perspective and a compelling voice, Rüzgar encourages us all to question, to dare, and to embrace change. A student at TED Bodrum College. 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
- 15:11How greed, selfishness, and apathy can help build a better future | Anu Ennelin | TEDxVaasaWhat if the traits we often view as harmful - greed, selfishness, and apathy - could actually be leveraged for good? In this thought-provoking talk, Anu Ennelin invites us to rethink how change really happens in the world of sustainability. Instead of relying solely on idealism or moral obligation, she explores how real, lasting progress often stems from tapping into what truly motivates people. Whether it’s saving money, gaining recognition, or simply doing what’s easiest, these "unseen forces" can become powerful tools for building a better future when guided with intention. This talk was given at TEDxVaasa under the theme Unseen Forces. Anu Ennelin is a Finnish sustainability consultant, certified change leader, and former HR executive whose career spans science, business, and social impact. As the founder of Vastuutakomo, she helps companies, especially SMEs, turn sustainability strategies into meaningful actions by empowering employees at every level. Anu believes that sustainability should be practical, inclusive, and driven by how people actually think and behave, not how we wish they did. 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