How James Merrix Using AI To Multiple Businesses At Once! (Your complete AI for SME Blueprint) | Ep 69

If you're a business owner or entrepreneur running an SME and drowning in decisions, emails, and operational chaos, this episode is your wake-up call. AI isn’t just the future, it’s the shortcut you’re probably ignoring. Most founders believe they’re “too busy” to explore AI, but that thinking is exactly what keeps them trapped in the day to day grind.

In this episode, Dr. Lewis Haydon is joined by James Merrix entrepreneur, investor, and AI applications expert, who’s successfully scaling multiple businesses simultaneously using AI. From automating sales processes and customer communication to making faster, smarter decisions, James shares the complete blueprint for how SMEs can leverage AI without being technical.

This is not about hype or gimmicks. It’s about real world, proven strategies that save time, reduce costs, and open up new growth opportunities for your business while avoiding the biggest AI mistakes that could set you back.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – AI: The Shortcut Most SME Owners Are Ignoring

03:24 – The Biggest Misconceptions About Using AI in Business

06:44 – How to Start Using AI Without Being Technical

09:53 – AI Data Privacy, Governance, and Paid Plans for SMEs

13:31 – How Business Tech Needs Have Shifted Over the Last 5 Years

17:36 – Why Time to Experiment With AI is a Business Priority

18:34 – Real Example: Automating Sales Calls, CRM, and Marketing Content

22:15 – Identifying Your Biggest Pain Point to Deploy AI Effectively

26:01 – AI’s Impact on Software Development and the Skills of the Future

28:02 – Why AI Should Never Be the Final Decision Maker

30:07 – How AI Behaviours and “Hype” Responses Can Mislead

34:36 – AI in Negotiations: The $12K to $6K Domain Deal

37:10 – The Pros and Cons of AI in Real Business Scenarios

38:16 – The Role of Human Decision Making in the AI Era

Key Takeaways:

• AI is not just for tech companies any SME can start using it today without technical skills.

• Treat AI as a powerful assistant, not a replacement for human decision making.

• The biggest misconception: you don’t need to be technical if you can use Google, you can use AI.

• Always use paid AI tools for business to protect your data and ensure privacy.

• Start by applying AI to your biggest pain point for the fastest return on investment.

• AI can automate sales processes, CRM updates, meeting notes, and marketing insights.

• AI is transforming software development, and the most valuable skill will be the ability to direct AI effectively.

• Never give AI full control, human verification is essential to avoid costly mistakes.

• AI outputs can be overly positive or “hyped” you need to prompt and review critically.

• AI can save you money and time, but it can’t replace strategic human judgment.

Keywords:

AI for SMEs, business automation with AI, AI tools for entrepreneurs, how to use AI in small business, ChatGPT for business owners, AI for sales teams, CRM automation with AI, AI in business strategy, using AI for marketing insights, AI-powered decision making, AI productivity tools for SMEs, business process automation with AI, AI data privacy for SMEs, non-technical AI for business, scaling a business with AI

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