Your First AI Win: Automate What You Hate – YouTube

Your First AI Win: Automate What You Hate

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

In this episode, Esther Angell shares a grounded approach to adopting AI without hype or overwhelm. The conversation focuses on starting with real business problems, using the tools you already have, and improving efficiency without losing trust or human connection. Esther explains where AI delivers real value for small teams, the risks of misuse, and why culture matters as much as capability. The core message is simple: solve the work nobody wants to do, move fast, and stay purposeful as AI adoption accelerates.

👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/808

🎙️ What you’ll learn   
• How to identify the right problems before introducing AI 
• Where small businesses can gain real efficiency with AI 
• Why overusing AI can damage trust and customer experience 
• How to reduce risk when using free and built-in AI tools 
• Practical ways to start small and fail fast with AI initiatives 

👉 Chapters
• 00:00 Curiosity Is a Leadership Advantage in the Age of AI
• 03:35 The Real Reason She Went Solo: Democratizing Tech for the “Ignored” Business
• 06:05 AI Should Advise, Not Decide
• 07:45 “Everyone Uses AI”… But Most Are Stuck at the Lowest-Value Use Case
• 10:05 Trust Is the Currency: How AI Overuse Quietly Breaks Customer Experience
• 13:20 Culture, Fear, and Adoption: Start With What People Hate Doing
• 16:45 The 2026 Playbook: Basics Win, Lose Fast, Automate the Drudge Work

✅ Find Esther Online:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherangell/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsightfullyCurious

🔴 Highlights 
• “You can’t be in a state of curiosity and judgment at the same time.” 
• “AI shouldn’t be your decision-making platform.” 
• “We still have people making those buying decisions.” 
• “Most folks are using it, but at a preference level.” 
• “What tools do you own, and are you using them?” 
• “Content is great, but it can get you into trouble.” 
• “People are doing business with a small business because they feel connected.” 
• “Most AI projects are not successful.” 
• “Start with the thing nobody really wants to do.” 
• “Small businesses can be more nimble.” 

🧰 Mentioned 
• Microsoft Power Platform: https://www.microsoft.com/power-platform  
• Dynamics: https://www.microsoft.com/dynamics-365  
• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com (https://www.salesforce.com/)  
• HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com (https://www.hubspot.com/)  
• Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com (https://workspace.google.com/)  
• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com (https://gemini.google.com/)  

✅Keywords   
ai adoption, small business ai, automation, efficiency, digital transformation, crm, power platform, entrepreneurship, ai risk, ai culture, process improvement, human centred ai 

🔴 Subscribe for all the latest Microsoft Power Platform News: https://www.youtube.com/nz365guy?sub_confirmation=1

🔴 Share this video with a Youtuber friend: https://youtu.be/JuqtmOQXR-k

✅ Recommended Playlist: Hear the latest from Senior Microsoft Staff
👉 Power 365 Show – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqyy0tYMOozNcXsEdVn4sqh
👉 Copilot Show – https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLzf0yupPbVkqPyRqPii192UiJuT-SQHw-/videos

✅ All our Microsoft Innovation Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkoEIfkNYZ0dModTR5aLbRh3

✅ Let’s Connect:
Collaborate with me here – https://cloverbase.com
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/nz365guy
Website: http://www.nz365guy.com/subscribe
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy
X – https://twitter.com/nz365guy
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nz365guy
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nz365guy
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.nz/nz365guy

I’m Mark Smith – nz365guy – Helping people reach their full potential

I have been a Microsoft Business Applications MVP for over 14 years. I am passionate about helping people reach their full potential, through training, coaching and mentorship.

Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge (https://www.90daymc.com/)

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nz365guy)

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy).

Thanks for listening 🚀 – Mark Smith

Get featured on the show by leaving us a Voice Mail: https://bit.ly/MIPVM

In this episode, Esther Angell shares a grounded approach to adopting AI without hype or overwhelm. The conversation focuses on starting with real business problems, using the tools you already have, and improving efficiency without losing trust or human connection. Esther explains where AI delivers real value for small teams, the risks of misuse, and why culture matters as much as capability. The core message is simple: solve the work nobody wants to do, move fast, and stay purposeful as AI adoption accelerates.

👉 Full Show Notes
https://www.microsoftinnovationpodcast.com/808

🎙️ What you’ll learn   
• How to identify the right problems before introducing AI 
• Where small businesses can gain real efficiency with AI 
• Why overusing AI can damage trust and customer experience 
• How to reduce risk when using free and built-in AI tools 
• Practical ways to start small and fail fast with AI initiatives 

👉 Chapters
• 00:00 Curiosity Is a Leadership Advantage in the Age of AI
• 03:35 The Real Reason She Went Solo: Democratizing Tech for the “Ignored” Business
• 06:05 AI Should Advise, Not Decide
• 07:45 “Everyone Uses AI”… But Most Are Stuck at the Lowest-Value Use Case
• 10:05 Trust Is the Currency: How AI Overuse Quietly Breaks Customer Experience
• 13:20 Culture, Fear, and Adoption: Start With What People Hate Doing
• 16:45 The 2026 Playbook: Basics Win, Lose Fast, Automate the Drudge Work

✅ Find Esther Online:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/estherangell/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsightfullyCurious

🔴 Highlights 
• “You can’t be in a state of curiosity and judgment at the same time.” 
• “AI shouldn’t be your decision-making platform.” 
• “We still have people making those buying decisions.” 
• “Most folks are using it, but at a preference level.” 
• “What tools do you own, and are you using them?” 
• “Content is great, but it can get you into trouble.” 
• “People are doing business with a small business because they feel connected.” 
• “Most AI projects are not successful.” 
• “Start with the thing nobody really wants to do.” 
• “Small businesses can be more nimble.” 

🧰 Mentioned 
• Microsoft Power Platform: https://www.microsoft.com/power-platform  
• Dynamics: https://www.microsoft.com/dynamics-365  
• Salesforce: https://www.salesforce.com (https://www.salesforce.com/)  
• HubSpot: https://www.hubspot.com (https://www.hubspot.com/)  
• Google Workspace: https://workspace.google.com (https://workspace.google.com/)  
• Gemini: https://gemini.google.com (https://gemini.google.com/)  

✅Keywords   
ai adoption, small business ai, automation, efficiency, digital transformation, crm, power platform, entrepreneurship, ai risk, ai culture, process improvement, human centred ai 

🔴 Subscribe for all the latest Microsoft Power Platform News: https://www.youtube.com/nz365guy?sub_confirmation=1

🔴 Share this video with a Youtuber friend: https://youtu.be/JuqtmOQXR-k

✅ Recommended Playlist: Hear the latest from Senior Microsoft Staff
👉 Power 365 Show – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkqyy0tYMOozNcXsEdVn4sqh
👉 Copilot Show – https://studio.youtube.com/playlist/PLzf0yupPbVkqPyRqPii192UiJuT-SQHw-/videos

✅ All our Microsoft Innovation Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzf0yupPbVkoEIfkNYZ0dModTR5aLbRh3

✅ Let’s Connect:
Collaborate with me here – https://cloverbase.com
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/nz365guy
Website: http://www.nz365guy.com/subscribe
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy
X – https://twitter.com/nz365guy
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/nz365guy
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/nz365guy
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.nz/nz365guy

I’m Mark Smith – nz365guy – Helping people reach their full potential

I have been a Microsoft Business Applications MVP for over 14 years. I am passionate about helping people reach their full potential, through training, coaching and mentorship.

Accelerate your Microsoft career with the 90 Day Mentoring Challenge (https://www.90daymc.com/)

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nz365guy)

If you want to get in touch with me, you can message me here on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/nz365guy).

Thanks for listening 🚀 – Mark Smith

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