E12: The $30K Ad Test That Changed My Career & How AI Makes It Obsolete

In this high-energy episode of AI for Business, I join Brad Weimert on his podcast to talk about what really drives conversions in today’s AI-powered marketing world. We get real about what’s changed—and what hasn’t—when it comes to crafting messages that resonate with your audience. I share how I went from testing newspaper ads in the early 2000s to now building sophisticated, scalable copy systems using tools like ChatGPT and Claude.

We also dig into the deeper side of entrepreneurship, from handling stress as a high performer to how hiring the right people can unlock massive growth. If you’re a marketer, founder, or operator trying to break through plateaus and bring clarity to your messaging, this episode will give you the tools and the mindset to get it done faster—with fewer mistakes.

Timeline Summary

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:14] – How I got my start in marketing through newspaper and radio ads

[4:21] – Why today’s AI tools let you test messaging 100x faster than before

[7:39] – What never changes in marketing, even with all the tech

[10:43] – From freelancer to CEO: The systems I built to scale myself

[15:28] – Why most founders struggle to articulate what they actually sell

[20:05] – My “$30K ad test” lesson and how it shaped my copywriting

[24:40] – Hiring lessons: finding thinkers, not just doers

[29:15] – Handling stress and staying sharp in high-performance environments

[35:12] – How I use Claude for content and ChatGPT for prompts

[41:08] – The overlooked power of research in creating sales copy

[45:23] – Why empathy is still the ultimate conversion strategy

[51:00] – Scaling fast without burning out or losing your message

Five Key Takeaways

1. Old-school principles still win – Empathy, clarity, and testing remain at the heart of great marketing.

2. AI is a speed enhancer, not a replacement – Tools like Claude and ChatGPT help you move faster, but only if you know your customer.

3. Hiring right changes everything – Surrounding yourself with curious, critical thinkers allows your business to scale without losing quality.

4. Stress is a signal – It’s not just about working hard—it’s about aligning your work with your capacity and values.

5. Research drives results – Market data, not guesswork, is what fuels winning copy and scalable offers.

Links & Resources

• AIForBusiness.com – My AI training and resource hub

• Claude by Anthropic – My go-to tool for writing and outlining

• ChatGPT – Prompt generation and copy variation

• Brad Weimert’s Podcast – For more interviews with high-performance entrepreneurs

If this episode helped you sharpen your marketing game, be sure to rate, follow, and review AI for Business. And don’t forget to share it with a friend or team member who’s ready to scale their business smarter—with AI.