Here's the Video Transcript:

Jack Monson: This is the Social Geek Radio Network. Back chatting now with the AI Sherpa — it's Robert Mitchell. What's going on, man?

Robert Mitchell: Hey Jack, what’s up? I’m skipping out on a roundtable just to be here. But yes, there are a lot of AI conversations happening here at IFA.

Jack Monson: No surprise! So what are people asking you the most?

Robert Mitchell: It’s the question I hear over and over: Where do I start? People see the buzz, the use cases — but it either goes over their heads or feels too basic. They’re struggling to apply AI to their own business context. They know competitors are using it, other industries are adopting it, but they don’t know where to begin or what to look for.

Jack Monson: And you've been hearing that same question for a while now, right?

Robert Mitchell: Absolutely. And here’s the thing — people expect some magic solution. But AI isn't fairy dust. It’s not a fix-all. It’s a tool to solve real business problems. You need to identify a bottleneck or challenge and look at it through the lens of AI. Solve that, and you’ll find the next constraint. It's about working through a process — not buying into hype.

Jack Monson: You’ve brought a guest with you today — Dan Monaghan, CEO and founder of Clear Summit Group. Dan, I remember you being the first in franchising to take the stage and really talk about AI. Welcome back!

Dan Monaghan: Great to be here, Jack. And yes, there’s still a lot of mystery around AI. For most, it starts with ChatGPT — writing emails, asking questions. But the challenge is turning that into true economic value.

Jack Monson: And with Clear Summit and WSI, AI is becoming part of your core business, right?

Dan Monaghan: That’s right. When I founded WSI 30 years ago, I was solving a problem for my own business — building a quality website with good design, code, and marketing behind it. Eventually, I realised every business would need that — so we franchised the model.

Now, with AI doing everything from writing copy to coding and design, some agencies are being disrupted. But we saw it as an opportunity. We re-engineered our model so AI could handle 85% of the work. That completely changed the unit economics for our franchisees.

And then we thought — if this model works for us, why not help others do the same? That’s how our AI arm was born. You could call it the world’s first AI franchise, but it’s really a new model that scales far beyond traditional franchising.

Jack Monson: So who are the end customers for this AI consulting model?

Dan Monaghan: We’re targeting businesses between $1 million and $50 million in revenue — the ones too small for firms like McKinsey or Accenture, but still big enough to benefit from AI transformation. We're helping them identify where AI can unlock hidden revenue, efficiency, and profitability.

Jack Monson: And how do you keep your franchisees — the AI experts in each market — ahead of the curve?

Dan Monaghan: It comes down to building a learning organisation. From day one, we’ve said our only sustainable competitive advantage is the speed at which we learn. Our global network collaborates constantly. We’ve essentially built a mini IFA within WSI — everyone learning faster, together.

Jack Monson: Robert, what does this look like in two years?

Robert Mitchell: Our podcast tagline used to be “Enterprise is on notice” — and it’s more relevant now than ever. Thanks to AI, small and mid-sized businesses will leapfrog competitors that are double or triple their size. Our franchisees will be the ones driving that transformation, helping clients do more with less and compete at levels they couldn’t reach before.

Jack Monson: Is this a selling point for franchise development? Are you seeing people drawn to WSI because of AI?

Dan Monaghan: Absolutely. Everyone wants to ride the AI wave — but you need a surfboard. WSI is offering that surfboard. We've built a business model that unlocks value for clients and profitability for franchisees — and AI is a huge part of how we do that.

We’ve created a suite of Genius Tools that help consultants turn AI into outcomes. This is what allows someone who may not have considered owning a marketing agency to jump in — because the model is built to scale, and it’s powered by innovation.

Jack Monson: Robert, last question — we haven’t done an On Notice segment in a while. Based on all your conversations this week, who’s on notice?

Robert Mitchell: Honestly? Some franchisors. AI is hitting a tipping point. The vendors we work with — like Easy Assist — are seeing far more traction this year than last. The ones ignoring AI are going to be left behind. At this point, everyone needs a surfboard.

Jack Monson: Love that. If people want to connect with you, where should they go?

Dan Monaghan: They can reach out on LinkedIn or visit danmonaghan.com.

Robert Mitchell: Same here — LinkedIn is perfect. I’m always up for connecting, learning, and helping wherever I can.

Jack Monson: Thanks, gentlemen. We'll be back in 30 days with the next monthly installment of the AI Sherpa. Thanks again to WSI, Robert Mitchell, and everyone listening here on the Social Geek Radio Network.

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