Ten years in the past, Jessica Spencer was on a six-hour journey to Atlanta. Like many street journey warriors, she determined to cross the time with a podcast.
That was the primary time Jessica heard The Sensible Passive Earnings Podcast, a present that’s nonetheless up and operating weekly with Pat Flynn behind the mic. She was taken by Pat’s method to customer-centric advertising and marketing. What Jessica didn’t know, as her automotive floated gently down the Georgia freeway, was the place the podcast would lead her.
9 years later, she discovered SPI’s All-Entry Cross group and her entrepreneurial journey would by no means be the identical.
An Advocate for Synthetic Intelligence (AI)
As an early adopter of AI, Jessica — who describes herself as a “whole laptop nerd” — shortly realized the potential for AI applied sciences to alter the way in which we work, stay, and run our companies.
It began with an IBM Watson certification via Coursera, the place Jessica constructed a mannequin able to figuring out totally different canine breeds and created her personal chatbot. “It opened so many doorways,” she says. Quickly, she was exploring AI’s functionality to draft written content material, write customized code for web sites, and extra.
However the actual breakthrough got here when she and her husband, a sixth-grade instructor, began to debate what AI might do for individuals like him. That dialog was a jumping-off level for a course on utilizing ChatGPT for lecturers.
“AI is one thing that there’s numerous power round,” Jessica says. “There’s numerous alternative to enhance our lives with it.”
Jessica’s targets as an advocate for AI are bold, to place it frivolously. “I wish to assist hundreds higher their lives by studying the way to leverage AI and different applied sciences in an genuine and aligned method,” she says. On a extra private stage, Jessica’s targets embody constructing transparency on the planet of political investments and bringing consciousness to the foster-to-adopt system, a trigger she is deeply obsessed with.
Talking of — Jessica does all of this as a mother to 5. When requested how she does it, she laughs and says “I attempt to verify I take my ADHD meds.” She goes on, “My husband, Noah, has been completely superb and so supportive of my journey as an entrepreneur. Setting expectations with the children and staying agency with my boundaries is one thing that I’ve been engaged on. One factor I’ve began doing not too long ago is obstructing off time on my calendar for doing actions with the children. Noah and I’ve additionally began making date nights a extra common factor. It’s simple to get caught up within the each day whirlwind of to-do’s, and it’s been actually essential to remain conscious of the place I spend my time to make sure that it’s holistically aligned with my priorities.”
Having left her company profession — the place she most not too long ago labored because the Director of Advertising and marketing for a big healthcare IT agency — Jessica knew she wanted a supportive group. Someplace she might discover inspiration, get questions answered, join with different entrepreneurs, and be taught essential abilities as she continued to develop her model. That place was the All-Entry Cross, SPI’s studying group constructed round community-driven programs.
She quickly discovered herself immersed in an inspirational group she might entry anytime, wherever. As she continued to construct her LLC, Penguin Connective, she determined to transition to the SPI Professional group — a membership geared in the direction of established entrepreneurs.
“Being part of that, the place everybody’s sort of driving one another however there’s this excessive stage of help — you see what’s attainable,” she says. “There’s accountability with it and it’s been actually motivating.”
Jessica cites the excessive stage of engagement in SPI Professional as one of many key elements in her progress. Inside SPI’s communities, she’s discovered a spot the place she will be able to go not only for validation or a fast reply, however to truly have interaction and dive additional on matters via message threads, mastermind calls, and extra. “Folks take a real curiosity in one another’s lives as an alternative of simply liking one thing to get visibility,” she says.
She’s been in a position to join with different members one-on-one and unlock new alternatives for collaboration too. “There’s a deeper stage of connection than what I’ve discovered elsewhere beforehand,” she emphasizes.
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Tussling with Imposter Syndrome
Jessica doesn’t hesitate to underscore simply how a lot the group has helped her really feel supported. Nevertheless, crucial transformation she’s skilled is in her mindset. “After I began out as an entrepreneur, I assumed that I’d have the ability to simply run with it… I had an MBA, a background in advertising and marketing, and almost 20 years in company below my belt,” she says. “What I wasn’t anticipating was the mindset work I would wish to do. Imposter syndrome is a bear.”
By means of one-on-one calls with different members, Jessica discovered extra route and readability via her journey, main her to appreciate the following steps and uncover deeper work forward. Furthermore, her expertise has given her a more healthy perspective on the entrepreneurial journey; she now views “failure” as a chance to be taught and develop.
A Podcast, a Group, and a Lovely Future
Throughout a number of the one-on-one calls Jessica has had with different members, she realized she needed to do one thing she hadn’t considered earlier than — beginning a podcast. Regardless of describing herself as an introvert, the group helped her understand that she needed to share these fascinating conversations about AI with a wider viewers. Being a part of a group filled with podcasters and entrepreneurs, she was within the good place to take action — many group members turned visitors on the present, and AI Genie was born.
Now, Jessica is constructing a group for others who wish to leverage AI to make a significant affect on the planet. AI Explorers was born, with a mission to “demystify AI, to open your eyes to a world of potentialities that transcends the well-trodden path of content material creation.” She cites SPI’s Group Enterprise Blueprint course as key to her group’s success. “I believe typically as entrepreneurs, we really feel like we’re similar to throwing spaghetti on the wall to see what, see what sticks,” she says. “Going via that course specifically, I positively felt like I had a pathway to put the muse and create a extremely stable construction.”
As for what’s subsequent for Jessica, the phrase “vary” involves thoughts. She’s presently making a course on AI for musicians and one other on AI for entrepreneurs.
“I need to have the ability to journey the world with my household and create superior reminiscences whereas constructing a safer future for us on our personal phrases,” she accentuates.
With a robust group supporting her, she’s properly on her method.
