
Episode #319
319: How AI Can Save Your Business: Automation, Systems & the Future of Small Business
Send us Fan Mail What do you do when the business you just bought starts falling apart—and you have 12 employees counting on you? That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Andrea Palacio. Andrea and her husband bought a landscaping company with a $500K SBA loan, believing they were stepping into a profitable business. But just days after closing, the seller disappeared, the business began to unravel, and Andrea found herself responsible for a company that was in serious trouble. She quickly realized she couldn’t simply hire her way out of the problem. Instead, she turned to AI and began building systems to handle the back-office work that was consuming her time—from scheduling and customer communication to invoicing and crew management. That experience eventually became the foundation for Run Crewless, where Andrea now helps other service-based business owners use AI and automation to build businesses that don’t depend on them doing everything. In this episode, we talk about what it really takes to lead through a business crisis, how to recognize when you need systems instead of more people, and how entrepreneurs can use AI in a practical way without losing the human side of their business. If you’ve ever felt like your business has become a job you can’t escape from, this episode will give you a whole new perspective on what’s possible. In this episode, we talk about: Buying a business that quickly turned into a crisis What happened when the seller disappeared after closing Leading a team when everything feels uncertain Why Andrea realized she couldn’t hire her way out of the problem Using AI to automate the back office The business tasks that are perfect for AI—and the ones that aren’t How systems can create more freedom for business owners The mindset shift from doing everything to actually leading as a CEO How service-based businesses can start using AI today Building a business that gives you your time and life back If you’re ready to stop doing everything yourself and start thinking like the CEO of your business, this conversation is for you. Connect with Andrea Placio: Website: https://andreapalacio.ai/ Instagram (personal): https://www.instagram.com/andreapalacio/ Personalized gameplan: https://andreapalacio.ai/personalized-90-day-game-plan Email: andrea@andreapalacio.ai Connect with Camille: Instagram: @CamilleWalker.co Podcast: @CallMeCEOPodcast Try the 5-minute routine tomorrow and tag @CallMeCEOPodcast on Instagram with your biggest takeaway. Schedule a free discovery call with Camille! https://calendly.com/callmeceopodcast/discovery-call-with-camille

