Before & After AI: Lessons from 2 Years of AI Adoption

Annelize Booysen
Mar 12
4 min read

It's been two years.

That's how long the Your Global Village community of business owners has been exploring AI to uncover its potential.

We recently gathered to reflect on these past 2 years and, just for fun, we used the hero’s journey as a framework to map out each person's progress.

The results were very insightful.

This is the story of their collective AI journey.

THE CALL TO ADVENTURE: AI ENTERS THE SCENE

Two years ago the entrepreneurs in Your Global Village were operating in a familiar world, business-as-usual.

They had workflows they trusted, strategies they refined over the years, and challenges they worked through with conventional solutions.

AI was out there, but not part of their reality.

STEPPING INTO THE EXTRAORDINARY: THE SHIFT

Then, change started to stir. Conversations hinted at something bigger on the horizon. We got direct access to a general, user-friendly AI.

AI wasn't the domain of only large corporates with deep pockets anymore.

Our SME business owners saw the shift but, like so many others, weren’t sure how—or if—they needed to respond.

Already curious about how tech was changing the world around us, they found it harder to ignore AI.

THE CALL TO ADVENTURE: THE WAKE-UP MOMENT

Then we got working.

As part of our Tech Masterclass Trainings, I shared the insight that AI is our Gutenberg Moment—spelling a fundamental shift in how we work, learn and live. The consensus was that AI wasn’t just another tech trend; this was a transformation no business could afford to overlook.

For some in our community, this was the call to adventure.

Others hesitated, uncertain of where AI fit into their world.

But the call had been made. The journey had begun.

THE CHALLENGES: THE FRUSTRATIONS OF LEARNING AI

Just as the hero isn't invited to step onto a level paved road, stepping into AI wasn’t without stumbling blocks for these business owners.

Early challenges included:

The struggle to communicate with AI. Having access to a seemingly very smart and helpful entity was one thing, but learning to communicate with it was a learning curve.
Disappointing results. The output didn’t always make sense, or worse, AI fabricated information. At times it felt like speaking to a gifted, but unruly child. (It took time to realize it wasn't AI's fault. Garbage in. Garbage out.)
Fitting AI into daily operations. Many were overwhelmed by their existing workload and didn’t see a clear return on investment. After all, who had time to learn all of this?

These frustrations made some question if AI was worth the effort. Yet, those who stayed the course found allies along the way.

THE JOURNEY SIDEKICK: LEARNING TOGETHER

No hero walks the path alone, and neither did these business owners.

Alongside each person were key companions:

The learning community. Monthly training sessions in Your Global Village provided continuous learning within a group. In addition to the content, they also learned from each other through shared insights and collaborative problem-solving.
AI itself. Once viewed as an enigma, AI started revealing its patterns, behaviors, and strengths and, in itself, started to become a teacher.

This phase of shared discovery fueled more curiosity and built resilience.

Our Village business owners learned that, like any tool, AI required skill. It also required an open mind and adaptation. The more they learned what was possible, they more they refined their approaches, and the better their results became.

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: GOING ALL-IN

At a certain point, dabbling wasn’t enough. The proverbial dragon showed up.

Necessity, deadlines, and problem-solving forced full engagement.

This was where:

Frustration turned into focus. Instead of treating AI as an experiment, they used it intentionally to get to results. Exceptional results.
The learning curve accelerated. They refined their prompting, expanded their scope, integrated more AI tools, and created AI-assisted workflows.
Results became tangible. It started to flow. No more hit or miss. Real outcomes with faster, quality content, streamlined in-depth research that contributed to conversations, and clearer, blue-ocean strategic insights emerged.

THE TRANSFORMATION: AI IS AN ALLY

With better results and deeper understanding came a new relationship with AI.

AI was no longer an unpredictable tool—it was a reliable partner. It had become a trusted ally and an increasingly valuable team member in their businesses.

The initial struggle was worth it.

AI was no longer an external force—it was an internal advantage.

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN: OLDER AND WISER

With this transformation came clarity, and wisdom.

These business owners returned not just to their businesses but also to their networks, clients, and communities. They had crossed the threshold, gaining deeper insight into AI’s value and potential.

Yet, what struck many was how few others had embarked on this journey. It was both illuminating and baffling to see how many still viewed AI as an unknown frontier.

Now, as transformed AI-embracing business owners, they have the wisdom and experience to guide others. In this fast paced world, being even one step ahead makes all the difference in business.

THE NEXT JOURNEY: A BETTER-EQUIPPED HERO

The AI landscape is evolving, with more becoming possible every day. These future-focussed business owners are no longer just keeping up—they are in fact leading and influencing.

They understand the power of AI, the value of learning companions, and the unfolding horizon of immense possibilities. They also understand the risks and the challenges.

This was their journey, but in many ways, it's only the beginning.

"Extraordinary" is now their business-as-usual.

This is their message: "For those starting out, learn from our experience. The challenges are real but the rewards are huge. Without a doubt. Just. Get. Started."

Where are you on your AI journey? Have you crossed the threshold, or are you still finding your way?

Let’s set up a call to talk about it.