Howdy, folks! Biz Builder Mike here, and I’ve just been down a rabbit hole that’s got my gears turning faster than a combine in July. I sat through a video presentation that promised “5 Genius Ways to Make Money with AI,” and while some of you might be picturing robots taking over the local diner, what I saw was a blueprint for something much bigger: the revitalization of rural America.
Now, I’ve already put together a report on the five main pillars of this AI revolution, and how they can be applied to our communities. But the truth is, a simple report can’t capture the full picture. It’s like trying to describe the Grand Canyon on a postcard – you get the general idea, but you miss the sheer scale of the opportunity. So today, I want to talk about what wasn’t in that report. I want to talk about the heart of the matter, the stuff that gets me fired up, and how this AI thing isn’t just about making a buck; it’s about reclaiming our future.
The “A-Ha!” Moment: It’s Not About Being a Tech Guru, It’s About Being a Guide
The biggest misconception about AI is that you need to be some kind of Silicon Valley prodigy to make it work for you. I’m here to tell you that’s a load of bull. The video I watched drove home a point that I’ve been shouting from the rooftops for years: you don’t have to be the expert, you just have to be the guide.
Think about it. We’ve got folks in our towns who know how to build a house from the ground up, how to raise a prize-winning steer, how to run a family business for three generations. They’re experts in their own right, but they’re not coders. And they don’t have to be. AI is the tool, but you, the entrepreneur, are the one who wields it. You’re the one who can take these powerful new technologies and apply them to the real-world problems we face every day.
Take the “AI Workshop Builder” concept from the video. You don’t need to be a data scientist to teach a workshop on how to use AI to market a local craft business. You just need to know a little more than the person you’re teaching, and you need to be passionate about helping them succeed. AI can help you create the curriculum, the slides, even the marketing materials. Your job is to be the human connection, the guide who leads your neighbors into this new era.
The Hidden Goldmine: Your Network is Your Net Worth, and AI is the Shovel
Another gem from the video was the idea of the “Hidden Network Finder.” Now, in a small town, we all know each other, right? But do we really know what everyone is capable of? Do we know who’s got a cousin in the city who’s a big-shot investor? Do we know who’s secretly a whiz at social media?
That’s where AI comes in. It’s like having a super-powered version of the town gossip, but one that’s actually useful. AI can analyze your social media connections, your email contacts, even your local business directories, and find the hidden opportunities. It can tell you, “Hey, that farmer you know? His nephew just started a successful e-commerce business. Maybe you two should talk.”
This isn’t about being nosy; it’s about being strategic. It’s about taking the close-knit nature of our communities and amplifying it with the power of technology. It’s about finding the “gold under the ground,” as the video put it, and giving our local businesses the tools to mine it.
The DeReticular Revolution: From Pipe Dreams to Paychecks
Now, I know some of you are still thinking, “This all sounds great, Mike, but how do we actually do it?” And that’s where I want to talk about something that’s not just a good idea, but a working reality: the Rural Infrastructure Operating System, or RIOS, from a company called DeReticular.
These folks are taking the concepts from that video and putting them into action. They’re not just talking about AI; they’re building the infrastructure to make it a reality in rural America. They’re installing community-owned AI servers that generate revenue for the town, creating a self-funding ecosystem that can support new businesses, improve local services, and bring high-speed internet to every corner of the community.
This is the kind of big-picture thinking that we need. It’s about flipping the script, turning our towns from the “last mile” into the first and most important mile. It’s about creating a future where our kids don’t have to leave to find good jobs, where our businesses can compete with anyone in the world, and where our communities are not just surviving, but thriving.
The Call to Action: It’s Time to Go “All In” on Rural America
The video I watched ended with a powerful message: the word “calling” has “all in” right in the middle of it. And that’s what I’m asking of you today. It’s time to go all in on our communities. It’s time to stop waiting for someone else to solve our problems and start building the solutions ourselves.
Whether it’s starting a small business using one of the AI methods from the video, or working to bring a RIOS platform to your town, the opportunities are out there. And I’m here to help you seize them.
So, let’s get to work. Let’s build a future for rural America that’s as bright as a field of sunflowers in August. Let’s show the world what we’re made of. And let’s do it together.
Stay Inspired,
Biz Builder Mike