The Journal

24 April 2026

Left Behind

Most small businesses will be 3 years behind their competitors by mid 2027.

Not because they lack the budget. Not because they lack the talent.

Because they didn't start using AI in 2025.

I've spent two decades working in large transformation programmes for top UK corporations. The pattern is always the same — the businesses that adopt new technology early don't just save time, they fundamentally change what they're capable of.

AI is that moment right now. And the barrier to entry has never been lower.

The businesses winning with AI aren't the big ones with big budgets. They're the small ones with innovative owners who took a few hours to learn the tools that matter.

What would you do with an extra 10 hours a week?