If you're reading this, there's a decent chance something just happened to you. Maybe your company "restructured." Maybe your role got "consolidated." Maybe someone sat you down and explained that automation is handling your responsibilities now, and they appreciate everything you've done.
It stings. It's disorienting. And I'm not going to sugarcoat it — it's happening to a lot of people right now.
But here's what I want you to hear: this isn't the end of your story. It might actually be the beginning of a better one.
You're Not Alone in This
The workforce is going through a seismic shift. Entire categories of tasks — data entry, basic customer service, scheduling, report generation, content drafting — are being absorbed by AI at a pace nobody fully anticipated. Industry research suggests that up to 70% of routine work tasks could be automated by the end of 2026.
That doesn't mean 70% of jobs disappear. It means the nature of work is changing, fast. And the people who land on their feet won't be the ones who fight the wave. They'll be the ones who learn to ride it.
On Reddit and X, the conversations are raw and real. People sharing that they just got let go from marketing roles because AI handles content now. Customer service teams cut in half. Administrative assistants told their position has been eliminated. The fear and frustration are legitimate.
But mixed into those same threads? People who took that same gut punch and turned it into something.
The Skills You Have Are More Valuable Than You Think
Here's what AI can't do: build relationships. Read a room. Understand the nuance of a frustrated customer who just needs someone to listen. Make judgment calls that require life experience. Show up to a job site and solve a problem that wasn't in any manual.
If you've spent years in any role — managing people, serving customers, running operations, solving problems — you have skills that are becoming more valuable, not less. Because as AI handles the routine work, the human work becomes the differentiator.
The contractor who shows up on time, communicates clearly, and stands behind their work? AI isn't touching that. The consultant who actually listens to what a client needs instead of running a script? That's irreplaceable. The person who takes their decade of industry knowledge and applies it in a new way? That's where the opportunity is.
Maybe It's Time to Work for Yourself
A lot of people who get displaced by automation discover something surprising: they're good enough at what they do to go independent. The marketing person who got replaced by AI? They know more about marketing strategy than any chatbot — and there are thousands of small businesses who need that expertise but can't afford a full-time hire.
The operations manager whose role got consolidated? They understand systems and workflows in a way that's incredibly valuable to growing businesses.
The customer service lead who trained AI to handle their job? They literally know how to implement and manage AI tools — and that's one of the most in-demand skills in the market right now.
Going independent isn't for everyone. But if you've been thinking about it — if there's been a voice in the back of your head for years saying "I could do this on my own" — this might be the push you didn't know you needed.
The New Playbook: Work With AI, Not Against It
Whether you go independent or find your next role, the people who thrive in this economy will be the ones who learn to work alongside AI rather than compete with it.
That doesn't mean becoming a programmer. It means understanding that AI is a tool — a powerful one — and the people who know how to use that tool effectively will always be in demand.
Think of it this way: when spreadsheets replaced ledger books, the accountants who learned Excel didn't lose their jobs. They became more valuable. When email replaced memos, the communicators who adapted didn't get left behind. They reached more people.
AI is the same inflection point, just bigger. The people who lean into it — who learn to use AI as an assistant, a research tool, a productivity multiplier — will run circles around those who don't.
What This Looks Like in Practice
If you're starting over, here's what I'd tell you as someone who helps small businesses navigate this exact transition:
Start with what you know. Your experience in your industry is your unfair advantage. AI can generate generic advice. You have specific, hard-earned knowledge that people will pay for.
Use AI to punch above your weight. A one-person operation with the right AI tools can produce the output of a small team. Content creation, customer communication, scheduling, research — AI handles the volume while you provide the quality and the judgment.
Get your online presence right from day one. This is critical, and most people get it wrong. The way customers find businesses has fundamentally changed — AI search tools are now recommending businesses directly, not just showing a list of links. If you're starting something new, your website needs to be built for this reality from the start.
Don't try to figure it all out yourself. The AI landscape is overwhelming. There are hundreds of tools, and most of them won't be relevant to what you're building. Find someone who's already mapped the territory and can set you up with what actually works for your situation.
This Chapter Isn't Over — It's Just Starting
Getting displaced by AI is jarring. I won't pretend otherwise. But the same technology that disrupted your last chapter can power your next one — if you let it.
The small business owners I work with every day aren't tech people. They're contractors, restaurant owners, consultants, salon operators, and service providers who decided to bet on themselves. Most of them felt exactly like you might be feeling right now at some point.
The difference? They didn't stay stuck. They moved.
If you're ready to figure out your next move — whether that's launching something new or just understanding how AI fits into your future — that's a conversation worth having.
Problems Solved.