I began using AI around 2022 when ChatGPT first launched. It was unlike any technology I had encountered before, and I quickly started leveraging it in both my personal and professional life. At first, it helped me craft emails. I work in tech sales, which requires a lot of cold outreach. My role involves writing messages that resonate with various leaders, and ChatGPT proved invaluable for that. Once I started using it at work, I realized that as a sports coach and father, I could apply AI to many other tasks, such as sending post-practice communications to parents, creating schedules, or compiling game statistics. Tasks that once took days now only take minutes. ADVERTISEMENT Today, I use AI every day and have explored various tools. I use Claude for business communication and content creation, Perplexity for in-depth research, and Gemini for image generation. These tools serve a mix of personal, professional, and educational purposes.

For example, I've learned how to install an air conditioner and how to teach my son sixth-grade math through AI assistance. My company has also granted me access to powerful sales tools that provide valuable customer insights quickly. For instance, tools like Salesforce Sales Navigator can identify almost precisely the individuals who might be interested in the products I sell. This means my outreach is more targeted and productive compared to random cold calls. AI itself hasn’t closed deals for me—I’ve built those relationships—but I have seen an increase in my sales pipeline because AI helps me reach more clients with better data and messaging. Understanding the customer better enables me to communicate more effectively, which leads to a stronger pipeline and, ultimately, higher revenue. ADVERTISEMENT I’m cautious about sharing my “secrets” Though many people have access to similar AI tools, it’s still up to the user to organize data and craft effective prompts. After experimenting with numerous automation tools, I’ve developed a kind of “secret sauce. ” If a prompt generates a message that leads to better results, I might prefer not to share it widely. I want to test its effectiveness and maintain a competitive edge. We all have the same 24 hours to learn these technologies. So, if I invest time mastering prompt engineering and understanding AI, I’m less inclined to give those insights away freely since, at this point, we are all competing. I’m happy to help if someone asks, but I’m selective about what details I reveal. Sometimes, I share certain strategies with close friends or people I believe I can learn from, but not with everyone. ADVERTISEMENT Sales is fiercely competitive, and while many companies are discussing AI, not everyone is comfortable disclosing exactly how they leverage it because it can be a key advantage. When people ask if I use AI, my answer is always, “Absolutely, yes. ” However, only a select few get to engage with me in deeper conversations about how I apply it.