How to Make Time for Innovation

December 9, 2024

We know you're an incredibly busy business owner. It's easy to get caught up in the daily tasks and operation of your business. But if you're only doing what must be done, and never making time for innovation, you will fall behind.


But how do you make time to innovate?


For the busy business professional, being told to make time to innovate is like someone critiquing your swimming stroke when you feel like you're drowning. To innovate you must have (or feel like you have) your business under control and very few business owners feel that way.


Something is always coming up that demands time and energy and so innovation takes a back seat to the business’ immediate needs.


It's likely you've heard that AI can streamline your tasks and make you more efficient. While that's true and a lot of businesses are using AI in administrative ways, it can do so much more.


However, even as good as AI is, it cannot oversee your strategic planning and innovation. As the leader of your company, you need to be the one to take that on.


With AI you can get several hours back in your week and that extra time can be used to innovate and strategize.


Here's how:


Things AI Can Take off Your Plate



Here’s a list of ways AI can free up your time as a small business owner, enabling you to focus on innovation and growth.


Please note: these technology suggestions are starts. There are many other options out there. Perform your due diligence to find a solution that works best for the way you work.


Let’s get started…


Automate Administrative Tasks

-         Email Management. Use AI tools like Gmail's Smart Compose or apps like Superhuman to prioritize and automate responses.

-         Scheduling. Leverage AI scheduling assistants like Calendly or Clara to manage appointments and meetings.

-         Document Handling. Use tools like DocuSign or PandaDoc for automated contract creation, signing, and tracking.

But don’t stop there. How much time does your team spend on interacting with your customers, not in engaging ways but answering the same questions over and over. Once when visiting a liquor store on Christmas Eve, I witnessed the employee answer the phone five times within a three-minute span. He answered each time with “Hello, we’re open until six.” Most people hung up after that. All they wanted to know was the store’s hours.


That’s a waste of everyone’s time. Instead…


Streamline Customer Interactions

-         Chatbots. Deploy AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Intercom to handle FAQs, basic inquiries, and customer support 24/7.

-         CRM Integration. Utilize AI-powered CRMs like HubSpot or Salesforce Einstein to manage customer relationships and follow-ups.

Where else are you spending your time? Marketing? Financial management? Training? Let’s look at a couple of ways to streamline those.


Enhance Marketing Efforts

-         Content Creation. Generate social media posts, blog content, and email campaigns with tools like Jasper AI or Copy.ai or personalize your email campaigns based on customer data with MailChimp.

-         Ad Optimization. Use AI platforms like Adzooma or Smartly.io to analyze and optimize your ad performance automatically.

-         Social Media Scheduling. Automate post scheduling and analytics with tools like Buffer or Hootsuite Insights.


Optimize Financial Management

-         Bookkeeping. Employ AI-based accounting tools like QuickBooks or Xero for automated expense tracking, invoicing, and tax preparation.

-         Budgeting. Use AI financial tools like Fathom to generate forecasts and identify savings opportunities.

-         Payment Systems. Square and Clover integrate AI for tracking sales and managing promotions.


Enhance Team Collaboration

-         Project Management. Use AI-enhanced tools like Asana or Trello with smart suggestions to streamline workflows and assign tasks.

-         Talent Management. Automate hiring processes with tools like Zoho Recruit or LinkedIn Talent Insights to find the right candidates faster.

-         Virtual Assistants. Use Zapier to integrate and automate workflows between apps like Gmail, QuickBooks, and Slack.


Boost Personal Productivity

-         AI Assistants. Tools like Otter.ai can transcribe meetings and summarize notes.

-         Focus Tools. Apps like Freedom or Serene use AI to help you minimize distractions and improve focus.


Gain Insights for Innovation

-         Data Analytics. Tools like Tableau or Google Analytics with AI capabilities can help you gather insights into customer behavior or market trends.

-         Competitor Monitoring. Tools like Crayon can track competitor activities and strategies in real time.


Automate Customer Feedback

-         Survey Tools. Platforms like Qualtrics or Typeform can collect and analyze customer feedback.

-         Sentiment Analysis. MonkeyLearn analyzes customer reviews and identifies trends or areas for improvement.


Train Your Team with AI

-         Learning Management Systems (LMS). Use AI-driven platforms like Udemy Business or Coursera for Business to provide personalized learning paths for employees.


For businesses with specific industry needs, we’ve compiled a few additional tools as well.


For Retail Shops


Inventory Management:

Tools like Vend or Square Inventory use AI to track stock, predict trends, and automate reordering.

 

Customer Loyalty Programs:

Platforms like Fivestars or Loyalzoo personalize rewards and send automated reminders to drive repeat visits.

 

Visual Merchandising Assistance:

AI apps like Diorama can simulate store layouts to optimize product placement.


Pricing Optimization:

Tools like Wiser analyze competitors and suggest the best pricing strategies.


For Restaurants and Cafes


Order Management:

Toast or Square for Restaurants automates online orders, menu updates, and payment processing.


Chatbots for Reservations:

Platforms like Tock or OpenTable use AI to handle bookings, reducing staff workload.


Predictive Analytics:

SevenRooms forecasts demand and customer preferences to manage staffing and inventory effectively.


Social Media Automation:

Use Planoly or Canva Content Planner to schedule posts showcasing daily specials or events.


For Service Businesses (e.g., Salons, Spas, Auto Shops)


Appointment Scheduling:

AI-powered apps like Booksy, Fresha, or Schedulicity automate booking and send reminders.


Customer Upselling:

Tools like Mindbody suggest related services or products during the booking process.


Review Monitoring:

AI platforms like Birdeye aggregate and analyze online reviews to improve your reputation.


Employee Scheduling:

Apps like Homebase optimize staff shifts based on predicted demand.


If you want more time to innovate in your business, ask yourself where you’re spending the most time and if your skills are really needed there. If not, there’s probably an AI tool for that.


Implementing even a few of these AI solutions can free up significant time and mental bandwidth, giving you the space to strategize, innovate, and lead your business forward in 2025 and beyond.




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Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle, rediscovering the magic within.

_______________________________________

Medium: @christinametcalf

Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking

Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor

LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

Mid-Year Reset: 5 Smart Moves to Strengthen Your Small Business

June 9, 2025
The year's midpoint is your wake-up call—refocus now to finish strong. Scrutinize your numbers to find what’s working (and what’s not). Reboot your marketing before seasonal shifts hit. Remove workflow roadblocks to boost team output. Reconnect with your business’s core purpose. 597 Words ~ 3 minute read The midpoint of the year often hits like a reality check: goals half-met, momentum lagging, and a to-do list that keeps growing. But this moment is also a strategic gift: a reset button that can set you up for a stronger, smarter second half. Here are five high-impact moves to help you reset with intention and finish the year with confidence: 1. Run the Numbers, Then Rewrite the Playbook Take a hard look at your financials. Are you ahead, behind, or coasting? Scrutinize revenue trends, margins, and expenses. Identify what’s draining resources and double down on what’s driving growth. Use the insights to reshape your financial strategy for the next six months, because winging it isn’t a plan. 2. Reboot Your Marketing Before the Fall Rush If your marketing has lost steam, this is your window to revive it. Launch a seasonal promotion, refine your messaging, or test new channels to re-engage your audience. And don’t wait to prep for fall. Holiday planning starts now. Review your content calendar, track past performance, and align campaigns with your business goals. 3. Clear the Roadblocks Slowing Your Team Small inefficiencies become big headaches by year’s end. What processes are wasting time? Where’s the communication breaking down? Invite your team to flag friction points and co-create solutions. Even modest upgrades, such as automating reports, streamlining meetings and clarifying roles, can drive major gains. Harvard Business Review explores how better collaboration fuels better outcomes. 4. Recalibrate Your Goals and Reset Priorities It’s okay if the goals you set in January don’t fit anymore. Priorities evolve. What matters is focus. Reassess your KPIs and trim anything that’s distracting from your top objectives. Reset your team’s focus around fewer, clearer targets so execution becomes simpler and more powerful. 5. Reconnect with Your Why Amid the grind, your original mission can get blurry. Take a step back to reflect: Why did you start this business? Who do you serve, and how do you want to show up for them? Realigning with your purpose energizes your leadership and clarifies your brand. Fast Company outlines how reconnecting to your “why” boosts both engagement and performance. Bottom Line: A mid-year reset isn’t just a productivity hack, it’s a strategic imperative. It gives you space to pause, zoom out, and ask the critical questions that get lost in day-to-day urgency. By evaluating your numbers, refreshing your marketing, streamlining operations, focusing your goals, and reigniting your purpose, you give your business the fuel it needs to finish the year not just intact, but thriving. This isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters most with greater clarity, consistency, and conviction. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.

5 Genius Ways AI Can Stretch Your Existing Content

June 9, 2025
Who isn’t feeling the pain of being stretched too thin these days? If you’ve dabbled with AI, you may have cut the time it takes you to do administrative tasks by as much as 26 minutes a day (at least according to a recent survey in the UK). However, it’s possible to do a lot more than that when you move past administrative tasks and see where else you can do more with less. One of these areas is content. Most businesses are sitting on goldmines of content and don’t even know it. This article will show you five genius ways to get more out of what you already have by repurposing and restructuring the media. 1. Turn Longform Content into Shortform Gold Feed your existing blog posts, eBooks, or newsletters into an AI tool to extract highlights, tips, or quotes for social media posts. Creative twist: Use AI to rewrite the same message in multiple tones—professional, humorous, casual—or tailor it for different platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook. 2. Transform Video or Podcast Transcripts into Written Content AI transcription tools can convert spoken content into text. Use a language model to turn that transcript into blog posts, newsletters, or Q&A articles. Creative twist: Convert a video transcript into a “Top 5 Takeaways” post, a tutorial, or a visually rich infographic with AI-generated headlines. 3. Create Content for Different Audiences from One Source Take a general piece of content (like a blog post) and ask AI to adapt it for different member personas such as new members, loyal/engaged members, or industry partners. Creative twist: Turn one blog post into: · A beginner’s guide on the topic · A technical breakdown · A “pitch” version for partners or press releases 4. Build an Email Series from a Single Piece Take a detailed guide or blog post and ask AI to break it into a 3–5-part email series, complete with subject lines, CTAs, and value-focused messaging. Email series can be very effective in helping your content get noticed. People may not take the time to read a 700-word blog post, but if you email the summary points across several days, they’ll get the gist of the message and will most likely remember it better than reading it all at once. Creative twist: Include AI-generated teaser lines or questions at the end of each email to boost open and click rates. 5. Reimagine Content as Interactive Tools or Experiences Use AI to turn tips, FAQs, or how-to guides into interactive quizzes, calculators, or chatbot scripts that educate and engage users. Example: Turn a skincare routine blog into a “What’s Your Skin Type?” quiz, or a business checklist into a “Startup Readiness Scorecard.” The titles you choose for the materials can make the content a lot more appealing. You can even use reimagined, designed pieces as lead magnets. People often won’t recognize it in another format. Speaking of, upload any written content onto NotebookLM and create a podcast on the topic. You can even tell it which parts of the text you want it to pay attention to or avoid. There are so many things you can do with existing content and marketing collateral you already have. If you can’t think of any creative ideas on how to repurpose those critical pieces, ask AI. Tell it your audience and your goal behind repurposing the content. Then ask it to suggest some ideas to you. You’ll be surprised what it comes up with. ------------- Christina Metcalf is a writer and women’s speaker who believes in the power of story. She works with small businesses, chambers of commerce, and business professionals who want to make an impression and grow a loyal customer/member base. She is the author of The Glinda Principle , rediscovering the magic within. _______________________________________ Facebook: @tellyourstorygetemtalking Instagram: @christinametcalfauthor LinkedIn: @christinagsmith

When Strategy Stalls: 4 Moves to Regain Momentum

June 2, 2025
Pause to Stabilize: Cut costs and renegotiate to create breathing room. Pivot, Don’t Panic: Explore new markets or customer segments while staying agile. Learn Fast or Fall Behind: Turn setbacks into insights through rapid experimentation. Guard the Downside: Hedge risks and protect what matters most. 600 words ~ 3 min. read Even seasoned leaders know the sting of a strategy that’s no longer working. But the real measure of leadership isn’t avoiding failure—it’s how decisively and creatively you pivot when the path ahead shifts. When strategic plans falter—whether due to market turbulence, internal missteps, or external shocks—leaders must act not with panic, but with precision. Drawing from Harvard Business Review’s “How to Rescue a Failing Strategy,” here are four pivotal moves to help regain strategic traction. 1. Pause to Stabilize If your strategy is wobbling, the first priority is to buy time without triggering chaos. Consider: Reducing burn rate by cutting non-essential expenses Freezing expansion plans that strain resources Renegotiating contracts or vendor terms to ease cash flow Retailers, for instance, might pause new store openings to refocus on e-commerce logistics. Nonprofits may temporarily halt new program rollouts to concentrate on core impact areas. This strategic pause buys clarity—and the space to think critically. 2. Pivot, Don’t Panic Locking into one approach can be dangerous when conditions change. Instead, design options: Enter adjacent customer segments Test low-risk partnerships or distribution channels Pilot tweaks to product offerings or delivery models For manufacturers, this might mean adapting existing equipment to serve a neighboring industry. Professional services firms could pivot to virtual delivery or a subscription-based model. Related reading: McKinsey on adaptive strategies 3. Learn Fast or Fall Behind Use turbulence as a catalyst to turn your organization into a fast learner. That means: Running controlled experiments on pricing, offers, or ops Creating real-time feedback loops from customers and staff Making strategic reviews more iterative, less static Construction firms might beta-test prefab components for speed and cost. Tech startups could A/B test UX changes weekly. Also worth reading: Bain on learning organizations 4. Guard the Downside Pivots come with risk. Your job? Minimize exposure while staying bold. Cap investments in unproven ideas Increase controls around key financial or operational processes Develop contingency plans for likely risk scenarios Think of this as smart aggression—pushing forward without leaving your core vulnerable. Bottom Line Every organization will face moments when strategy falters. The difference lies in the response. Leaders who act with focus—stabilizing, experimenting, and protecting—don’t just recover; they reposition for smarter, stronger growth. --- The Leavenworth-Lansing Area Chamber of Commerce is a private non-profit organization that aims to support the growth and development of local businesses and our regional economy. We strive to create content that not only educates but also fosters a sense of connection and collaboration among our readers. Join us as we explore topics such as economic development, networking opportunities, upcoming events, and success stories from our vibrant community. Our resources provide insights, advice, and news that are relevant to business owners, entrepreneurs, and community members alike. The Chamber has been granted license to publish this content provided by Chamber Today, a service of ChamberThink Strategies LLC.