Entrepreneur Conversations Implementing AI realistically... - Lee Russel
Jan 21, 2026
Lee Russel, AI expert and business strategist who helps entrepreneurs use AI practically and commercially. He discusses where AI actually adds customer value and simple fixes that free staff for high‑impact work. Topics include real-world AI use cases, vector databases and agent pipelines, pricing for AI projects, and building repeatable AI products and systems.
01:42:27
Apply AI To Amplify Customer Value
- Apply AI where it 10x's customer value, not to hide from customers.
- Use AI to remove low-value tasks so staff can do higher-impact human work.
Start With Problem Scouting
- Do problem scouting: interview staff about most impactful work and biggest blockers.
- Prioritise quick, high-impact AI agents that free senior people for high-leverage tasks.
Freeing A Senior Engineer From Rework
- A senior engineer kept getting pulled off new tenders to answer questions on old bids.
- They built a system so junior staff could answer, letting the senior focus on million-pound deals.
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Intro
00:00 • 32sec
How Lee entered AI and early machine‑learning work
00:32 • 2min
Quitting corporate to start an agency
02:11 • 4min
Making AI accessible for nontechnical founders
05:59 • 57sec
Where to apply AI: customer value first
06:56 • 2min
Ideal client size and AI strategy
08:43 • 1min
Practical examples: wedding planners and engineers
10:08 • 1min
Lee’s two business tracks: moonshots and ops
11:20 • 1min
Problem scouting and prioritisation process
12:33 • 1min
Example: enabling junior staff with AI
13:48 • 41sec
Beyond chatbots: diverse AI applications
14:29 • 1min
Limits of LLMs and human strengths
15:50 • 3min
Consciousness debate and AI
18:40 • 4min
Pricing audits and ROI for AI projects
22:15 • 2min
Working with customers who trust outcomes
23:51 • 2min
Agency growth, standardisation, and scaling
25:40 • 2min
Building a company that runs without the founder
27:40 • 2min
Context engines: personalised documents at scale
29:59 • 2min
Foundational tech: vector databases and agent pipelines
31:39 • 1min
Narrow focus strategies for early AI consultancies
32:42 • 1min
Competing with giants: problem obsession wins
34:06 • 2min
Authenticity vs AI‑polished content
35:50 • 3min
Voice interfaces and the future of interaction
39:02 • 1min
Brain‑computer interfaces and augmentation
40:11 • 2min
Ad break
42:10 • 25sec
AI purchasing and agent failure modes
42:35 • 2min
What hallucinations are and why they happen
44:47 • 4min
Bias, prompting and the 'yes‑men' problem
48:30 • 51sec
Lee’s future: building multiple ventures and learning
49:21 • 3min
Equity, focus, and mistakes scaling too fast
51:57 • 3min
Talent, personal brand and hiring lessons
54:54 • 2min
AI as David’s sling: leapfrogging with new experiences
56:50 • 2min
Bookkeeping, BREEAM and industry wins
58:45 • 2min
Small fixes, big impact and data troves
01:00:45 • 3min
Vector databases explained for entrepreneurs
01:04:13 • 2min
Generating customer conversations to personalise offers
01:05:45 • 2min
Systems Lee is proud of: fast proposals
01:08:10 • 7min
Organisational resilience through cross‑training
01:15:28 • 3min
Hiring indicators: influences and lifelong learners
01:18:46 • 3min
Sales secret: ask better questions
01:21:25 • 5min
Learning, reading habits and influence
01:26:14 • 6min
Lee’s book: Minimal Viable Launch
01:32:01 • 5min
Books as lasting marketing and relationship tools
01:36:55 • 5min
Outro
01:41:32 • 55sec
#
The Minimal Viable Launch
a guide to selling a building software that sells itself
Lee Russel
string
#267
• Mentioned in 84 episodes
Blink
The Power of Thinking Without Thinking
Malcolm Gladwell
In 'Blink', Malcolm Gladwell explores the concept of 'thin-slicing', the ability of our unconscious mind to make rapid decisions based on limited information.
The book delves into both the strengths and pitfalls of this process, using examples from various fields such as psychology, medicine, sales, and law enforcement.
Gladwell discusses how these snap judgments can be both incredibly accurate and sometimes tragically wrong, influenced by factors like prejudice, stereotypes, and psychological priming.
He also examines how experts develop their intuitive judgment through experience and training, and how stressful situations can affect our decision-making abilities.
#30536
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
Socratic Selling
How to Ask the Questions That Get the Sale
Kevin R. Daley
Socratic Selling by Kevin R. Daley teaches sales professionals how to engage customers through a series of strategic questions, guiding the dialogue to uncover needs and make informed decisions.
The book emphasizes respecting customer power and decision-making authority to achieve more predictable sales closures.
#
A Pocketful of Happiness
Richard E. Grant
This memoir is a deeply personal and profound account of Richard E. Grant's life, including his marriage to dialect coach Joan Washington, their nearly 40-year relationship, and her battle with Stage 4 lung cancer.
The book is composed of diary entries that reflect on both the highs of his acting career and the lows of personal loss.
It celebrates the unexpected joys of life and the enduring love between Grant and his wife, who challenged him to find 'a pocketful of happiness in every day' after her passing.
#557
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
How to Get Rich
Felix Dennis
In 'How to Get Rich,' Felix Dennis shares his insights and experiences on building wealth.
The book is distinct from other self-help or get-rich-quick guides as it emphasizes the importance of hard work, calculated risks, and ownership.
Dennis discusses the necessity of execution over great ideas, the role of luck, and the need to overcome fear and embarrassment of failure.
He also highlights the importance of maintaining control over one's business and the sacrifices required to achieve significant wealth.
The book is known for its blunt and practical advice, reflecting Dennis's own journey from a college dropout to a multi-millionaire.
This episode of Entrepreneur Conversations hosted by James Martin features Lee Russel, AI expert and business strategist focused on implementing artificial intelligence into businesses in a practical, realistic, and commercially viable way.
Lee shares his journey into the world of AI and explains how business owners can move beyond hype and fear to actually use AI as a tool that improves efficiency, decision making, and profitability. The conversation explores how entrepreneurs can integrate AI into existing businesses without overcomplicating operations or losing the human touch.
James and Lee discuss real world use cases, mindset shifts around technology, and how leaders can future proof their businesses by adopting AI in a smart and intentional way. This is an eye opening conversation for any entrepreneur who wants to stay ahead while keeping things grounded and achievable.
Books mentioned in What Are We Reading?📘 Socratic Selling by Kevin Daley📘 How to Get Rich by Felix Dennis📘 Blink by Malcolm Gladwell📘 A Pocket Full of Happiness by Richard E. Grant📘 The Minimal Viable Launch by Lee Russel
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