SEO has long been a moving target. Back in the early days, “success” looked like stuffing keywords into web pages and trying to game the algorithm with backlinks. Then came the era of “Content is King,” user intent and semantic search — ultimately shifting the balance from tricks to value … black hat to white hat.

However, today, a new force is looking to reshape that search landscape: generative AI search.

Tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE), as well as my favorite one, Perplexity, are changing how search engines understand, rank and present content.

All of a sudden, traditional SEO tactics aren’t enough. Content isn’t just competing with other websites — rather, it’s up against AI-generated summaries, direct answers and dynamic search results. And really, it’s transforming SEO.

If you’re a marketer, content creator, SEO expert or business owner, you’ve got to understand these changes. It’s the only way you’re going to stay competitive in this brand-new world of search.

Related: How AI Is Transforming the SEO Playbook — and What Businesses Must Do to Ensure Long-Term Relevance and Visibility

SEO before generative AI: The old-school playbook

Before we entered the era of the bots, SEO was all about mastering the basics — and then some. Here’s what it used to look like:

Traditional SEO practices:

• Keyword research and optimization: You focused on exact-match terms and strategically placed them throughout content.

• Backlink building: You would build a network of links to boost domain authority and improve rankings in the SERPs.

• On-page and technical SEO: You placed emphasis on making sure your pages had meta tags, header tags and site structure — all in the name of better indexability.

But despite the structured approach, there were major growing pains. SEO was not always efficient — nor was it scalable.

The challenges:

• Manual content creation: In order to craft high-quality content that ticked all of the SEO boxes, you needed to invest time and resources.

• Scaling personalized content: It’s hard to create content tailored to different audience segments — and impractical when having to do this to scale.

• Data-heavy strategy development: There is little room for flexibility when you also have to analyze data, monitor trends and refine tactics — all slow and cumbersome processes.

But generative AI has flipped the script here, and there are new solutions to old SEO headaches. Let’s take a look at how the times have changed.

Related: 5 Ways to Change SEO Strategies in an AI Search Engine World

AI’s disruptive influence on SEO: From content to search behavior

Generative AI has ushered in a revolution in SEO. According to a survey conducted by Statista in 2023, 13 million people “used generative AI as their primary search tool for online searches.” That figure is only set to skyrocket to 90+ million by 2027 (for the record, that’s a mere two years away).

It’s changing everything from content creation to how search engines rank results. Here’s a breakdown:

Content creation and optimization

• Automated content generation: AI tools have the ability to generate high-quality, SEO-optimized content at scale — adding ease and efficiency.

• Real-time content updates: The bots can adjust content in real time based on user behavior and search trends. This ensures your site stays relevant and up-to-date.

Search engine algorithms adaptation

• Context and intent: AI has the ability to read intuitively, like a human. So, the content behind queries and user intent is more important than matching keywords alone.

• E-E-A-T principles: Search engines are now placing more weight on the Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness of content. And this is an area where AI reigns supreme.

User behavior and search patterns

• AI-driven search assistants: As voice and chat-based AI assistants have become increasingly prevalent, search must adopt a conversational approach — and this influences how content is optimized.

• Personalized search results: Users demand personalized, human-like interactions with search engines. AI, ultimately, can offer targeted results based on the preferences and behaviors of the person.

And statistics are highlighting this shift, too. According to a 2024 report by SEMRush, 65% of businesses report better SEO results due to AI integration, 67% observe boosted content quality through AI, and 68% realize higher content marketing ROI via AI.

At the end of the day, this isn’t some flash-in-the-pan trend. This is an evolution of how SEO works. AI can make processes faster, smarter and savvier than ever before.

There is a double-edged sword

For as groundbreaking as AI has been in the past few years, it’s not all smooth sailing.

One of the biggest hurdles lies in maintaining content authenticity and quality. Sure, AI can churn out content faster than you can say “writer’s block,” but there’s a huge risk of AI-generated “fake news” slipping through the cracks.

That’s why it’s key to make sure a human with a working cerebral cortex is manning the content creation process. Someone has to take the wheel to keep things grounded in relevance and truth.

To make matters murkier, we also have to address the issue of dependence on AI tools. Yes, automation feels easy, but the risk of becoming addicted is real. You must strike a balance between the efficiency of AI and the creativity that only has a home in your head. Don’t be tempted by over-reliance on AI, but it’s like allowing your Tesla to drive you home after a night out because you want to take a nap.

Sometimes, you’ve got to trust your gut and use your brain.

Related: How to Use AI for SEO Wins in 2025

The road ahead

Looking into our crystal ball, let’s state the obvious: Generative AI isn’t going anywhere. And it’s only going to get more powerful.

SEO strategies need to evolve alongside it. The best marketers will be those who become friends with the bots — using the technology to improve content, refine user experiences and stay ahead of the search engines. And know that human creativity will remain at the heart of content. Only a person can bring that unique spark.

For SEO professionals and digital marketers, the future means transitioning from the manual to the automatic, from human strategy executions to human strategies but AI execution. Take advantage of the power and efficiency of AI tools and trends.

As an entrepreneur, the journey to becoming a top performer is paved with goals to achieve, obstacles to overcome and endless areas to master. Through years of trial and error, success and failure and learning from coaches, experts and some of the most successful entrepreneurs, I noticed that there are five essential pillars you must embody to break through barriers and lead in your industry. These pillars aren’t just abstract concepts — they’re actionable, foundational habits that will empower you to elevate every aspect of your business and life.

1. Energy: Your foundation for success

Your physical and mental energy is non-negotiable. It deserves the protection to the equivalent of the highest security clearance.

You can be the most disciplined person on earth, have state-of-the-art systems and processes and the most brilliant and innovative product, but if you’re running on low sleep, poor nutrition and artificial energy, your body will soon give you the finger.

Prioritize quality sleep, balanced nutrition and movement, and recognize that every moment of vitality is an investment in your capacity to perform. Remember, your biology will always win. Nurturing it is the first step to peak performance.

Related: 8 Self-Care Tips From Wildly Successful Entrepreneurs

2. Clarity: Prioritize your time and money

True clarity starts with a crystal-clear vision for your life and business, along with well-defined goals. On a daily level, it means aligning your two most valuable resources — your time and money — with that vision.

In fact, the quickest way to get to know someone is to look at how they spend their time and money.

When you’re deliberate about how you invest these assets, you stay focused, steadily build momentum and move closer to achieving the life and business you desire.

And, continual reflection and refinement also keep you heading in the right direction. It’s one thing to know your vision and another thing to reflect and assess how you’re heading to that destination.

3. Structure and speed: Build routines and act decisively

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, having a solid structure combined with the agility to act quickly is needed for success. The world’s most disciplined man, Craig Ballantyne ends all of his emails with “Success Loves Speed.” Firstly, because it’s true. And secondly, because he wants to always keep that quote top of mind.

Success starts with designing an optimal daily system in your calendar that maximizes your energy and productivity levels.

When designing a schedule, start with your foundations; sleep, nutrition and movement. From there, build on focused work blocks where you can be distraction-free from interruptions so you can consistently advance on your priorities.

Can some of us multi-task? Yes! Is multitasking optimal for productivity? No. Research has found that multitasking actually impairs executive function and slows you down. Putting your priorities into your schedule will allow you to say no to projects, meetings and collaborations outside of your vision and act decisively where it counts.

4. Mindset: Resilience and reflection

Your mindset is the engine that drives every decision and every breakthrough. High-performing entrepreneurs harness a positive, resilient attitude even in the face of setbacks.

There is always an opportunity to learn and grow from any experience. It starts with embracing challenges with a spirit of gratitude and determination, knowing that every obstacle is a chance to grow. A relentless, positive attitude not only propels you forward but also inspires your team and peers to reach greater heights.

Related: Resilience Is One of the Most Essential Entrepreneurial Traits. Practicing This Can Help You Build It.

5. Accountability and resourcefulness

No entrepreneur reaches the pinnacle of success on their own. Surrounding yourself with mentors and accountability partners is essential. Consider the greatest athletes — the G.O.A.T.s — who consistently rely on coaches to challenge them, hold them accountable and celebrate their victories while turning setbacks into opportunities. Seek out mentors who have already navigated the hurdles you face; their experience can help you sidestep common pitfalls and accelerate your journey to excellence.

Success as an entrepreneur isn’t a mysterious alchemy — it’s a disciplined practice of nurturing your energy, honing your clarity, building robust systems with the agility to act fast, fostering an indomitable attitude and leveraging the wisdom of mentors and accountability partners. Embrace these five pillars, and you’ll not only overcome obstacles and reach your goals — you’ll redefine what it means to be a top performer in your field.

Running a business is by no means an easy career path. From managing resources to keeping staff happy and delivering a consistently high-quality product or service, it’s a constant effort that breeds many highs and lows.

No matter how well you finish one year and start the next, it’s vitally important to examine your business performance over the past 12 months. By celebrating the wins and critically assessing the shortcomings, you can develop a robust plan not just to survive but thrive.

Make a list of what is and isn’t working

Taking a good, hard look at your business strategy and deciphering what is and isn’t working is the best way to eliminate the unnecessary and make way for the bigger and better. There will always be ups and downs, but how you manage them is what makes the difference.

Reviewing your Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) from the previous year, including financial, operational, sales, marketing and customer service goals, is a great way to identify your strengths and weaknesses and learn from them.

Data is key during this analysis process. Seeing where there is room for improvement is the surest way to learn from mistakes and set your business up to grow from them in the year ahead.

Related: How to Determine Your Franchise’s KPIs and Achieve Profitability

Set big, audacious goals

Setting a business goal that might seem almost impossible is a huge motivator for business leaders and staff alike. A big, audacious goal is the kind of goal that is brave, bold, and compelling enough to empower your team to strive toward achieving it.

This could be to hit one million followers on your social media platform, increase revenue by 50%, become the number one product in your industry market or reach capacity on client intake.

A big, audacious goal looks different for every business, so there is no one set of rules for how it should exist or manifest throughout the year. The best way to create your ideal goal is to know what is realistic for your business, but still scary enough to push you and your people to make it a reality.

Talk to your team members

Without your staff, your business won’t survive. Checking in with your team members is a great way to gain insight into their working experience, build mutually beneficial relationships, improve workplace culture and nurture the well-being of the business as a whole.

Unhappy employees create poor business outcomes. Any good leader knows that taking care of your staff, listening to their needs and understanding their expectations plays a big role in a business’s success.

Whether through one-on-one reviews, company-wide surveys, workshops, or anonymous feedback, allowing your team to have their voice heard is crucial to fostering a healthy workplace environment.

Setting goals for your business is one thing, but recognizing that employees have their own goals and creating a space for that to happen is a game-changer. The bottom line is this: if you look after your staff, they will look after your business.

Related: Building a Resilient Workplace — 5 Strategies for Fostering a ‘Got Your Back’ Culture

Fill up your calendar

Getting through the working year can be tedious and stressful, especially if you feel as though you’re just trying to manage each day as it comes. Putting things on your calendar is a practical way to break up the year, have things to look forward to, and stay on track to achieving your goals.

Marking the dates on your calendar isn’t just about reminding yourself when the next meeting is. It’s about creating a plan that excites you and your team and inspires a desire to make the most of every day.

From staff get-togethers to networking events, company milestones and industry conferences, there is a whole year to pack everything into, so why not make your schedule count? It goes without saying that adding a bit of fun to the mix is a must.

Related: Why Having ‘Big Hairy Audacious Goals’ is Key to Inspiring People and Nurturing a Growth Mentality

Redirect your company to success

With a little bit of planning, a lot of analysis and some honest conversations, you can right the wrongs of the previous year or make your company an even bigger success. How you will feel in 12 months’ time is entirely dependent on how willing you are to embrace change and put in the work to reap the rewards.

Amazon is reinstating a pre-pandemic policy bringing back metal detector screenings for its 750,000 U.S.-based hourly warehouse employees, per a new Bloomberg report. The retail giant will also require workers to register their phones so security personnel know they haven’t stolen the devices.

Amazon reportedly began telling workers in select test locations about the phone registration and metal detector screenings on Monday. The company is planning to gradually roll out the anti-theft measures, starting first with test warehouses and then expanding to all of its U.S. facilities, per Bloomberg.

Under the new policy, employees will have to walk through a metal detector to leave Amazon warehouses to ensure that they haven’t taken anything with them. Phone registration entails sharing the last six digits of the phone’s serial number in exchange for an identifying sticker.

Related: ‘Difficult Decision’: Amazon Announces a New Round of Layoffs. Here Are the Roles Affected.

“We’re always working to make our facilities more safe and secure for our employees and for all companies of all sizes that put their trust in us to store their inventory,” an Amazon spokesperson told Bloomberg in an emailed statement.

Metal detector screenings aren’t new at Amazon warehouses — they were the norm before the pandemic. But they were controversial, and workers filed lawsuits over the screenings in 2014, seeking more than $100 million in back wages for time spent in line waiting to be screened. They alleged that they stood in line for up to 25 minutes at a time to comply.

^{Inside an Amazon fulfillment center in Robbinsville, New Jersey. Photographer: Bing Guan/Bloomberg via Getty Images}

That same year, the U.S. Supreme Court had the final say on the matter and ruled that workers weren’t entitled to back pay for time lost after a shift to metal detector screenings.

Amazon also stopped employees from accessing their phones before the pandemic, mandating that they leave personal devices in cars or lockers. The retail giant relaxed this policy during the pandemic as workers sought to be connected to real-time medical information, per Bloomberg.

Related: Amazon CEO Andy Jassy Says the ‘Way to Get Ahead’ at Amazon Isn’t By Overseeing a ‘Giant Team and Fiefdom’

According to Business Insider, Amazon operates 110 warehouses in the U.S. with some as large as a million square feet.

Statista estimates that Amazon is the second-largest company in the world after Walmart, with 1.5 million global employees as of 2023.

Building and running a successful business requires a steady flow of revenue and new customers. This is especially true in the beginning stages of building a business. Without a solid client base, you run the risk of financial trouble or drying up your capital reserves. For this reason, entrepreneurs will often bend over backwards for their clients to make sure they are happy.

Most people assume that having more clients is always better. The reality is that some clients may actually be bad for the well-being of your business. In some cases, you might not even realize that some clients are actually costing you money. Having a roster of bad clients can be a financial drain on your business, cause stress to your team and take time away from other valuable tasks like sales.

While it may seem counterintuitive, it may benefit your business to fire certain clients from time to time. You don’t want to develop a reputation for casting clients aside, so it’s important to take the right, professional approach when firing a client.

Related: 6 Signs It’s Time to Fire a Client

1. Identify bad clients

Sometimes, it’s easy to spot a bad client. Signs of an obvious bad client include those that are abusive to your team, constantly dispute invoices, or create legal issues. However, there are other factors to consider when deciding whether to continue working with certain clients.

• Revenue per client hour: A great place to start is by understanding how much effort you are exhausting with each client compared to the revenue they generate. This can be a good guide to identify where you might be exhausting your resources for little return. Keep in mind that even high-value clients can be bad clients, but this metric should help you quantify if trouble clients are worth the headache. In some cases, the money might be worth the hassle.

• Unclear scope of work: We’ve all worked with a client who always wants to add “one more thing” to a project without adjusting the timeline or budget. This is fine on occasion, but frequent, last-minute changes can be a sign of a bad client.

• Payment issues: Identify which clients tend to make late payments, dispute invoices or attempt to negotiate lower fees after the work is completed.

• Boundary issues and unrealistic demands: Some clients expect high-quality work in an unreasonably short timeframe. Most clients are demanding. Bad clients will get upset when you try to explain that their request isn’t feasible, require 24/7 responses from your tea, or make requests late on a Friday afternoon and expect you to work over the weekend.

• Too much or too little communication: Some clients don’t respond timely, causing major delays in important feedback or approvals. Others want to be too involved and micromanage the entire process. The extreme ends of this spectrum are a red flag when it comes to spotting bad clients.

2. Complete your obligations and decline future work

The best option when firing a client is to finish the task you have promised to complete. This shows that you are willing to honor your commitments and also provides a clear exit for your team. When the client requests additional work, you can simply let them know that you are not able to take additional work from them at this time.

Related: Don’t Let Your Biggest Client Become Your Biggest Nightmare — You Should Fire Them Instead. Here’s Why.

3. Renegotiate your contract

In some cases, you can remedy the situation by updating your contract and renewing expectations. For example, if the client always wants expedited work, you can outline the fees associated with faster delivery so there is no confusion. This approach can help minimize bad behavior like scope creep and payment terms from an otherwise good client.

4. Adjust your fees

Sometimes, simply raising your rates is a great way to deter a bad client, especially if they are sticklers for the budget. However, be cautious with this approach. By raising the rates, the client might expect even more in return. Be clear on what’s included and excluded in the new rate. It’s important to note that some clients may not be bothered by the higher fees, but at least you’ll be compensated for your additional suffering.

Related: 3 Red Flags You Have a Nightmare Client — and How to Cut Ties

5. Simply fire them

This may be a tough message to deliver, but sometimes it’s best to be direct. This option is especially important if they are causing harm to your business, such as being abusive toward your team. To soften the blow, it’s best to offer a referral to another company and provide some sort of notice to give them time to transition their work.

Firing a client is no fun for any business owner, but keeping bad clients around can create a number of financial, legal and operational problems. Most importantly, remain professional throughout the process and try not to burn any bridges. You never know if you might cross paths with this client again, especially if you work in a niche industry.

What happens when you realize that where you are is stifling your growth? This question comes up often in two areas: job environments and places where people live — cities, towns and communities. I’ve experienced both personally, and making a major change requires incredible courage and determination. It’s not for the faint of heart.

It’s easy to fall into complacency, mistaking familiarity for comfort. But if we are aware that a job or place isn’t right for us, can we ever truly feel at ease knowing that truth? And more importantly, what is the cost of staying somewhere that stifles our growth?

Over Christmas, a family friend gifted me an air plant. They told me it needed no water, just a little sunlight, to bloom. Skeptical, I placed it on my windowsill. Over two weeks, that little plant fought like hell and produced two beautiful flowers. But within 48 hours, the petals wilted, and the plant died.

That air plant reminded me of times in my life when I stayed in places that weren’t right for me. I survived against the odds, managing to bloom in small ways, only to quickly wither. The lesson is clear: Like that plant, people can’t thrive in the wrong environment. We might survive for a while, but eventually, being in the wrong space drains the life out of us.

Related: Seek Out a Different Environment, Increase Your Experience — and Change Your Life

The role of environment in creativity and innovation

While pursuing my Ph.D., I focused my research on creative personalities and innovation in the workforce. I wanted to understand the dreamers and the doers. My research led me to recognize that innovation is not a singular event but a multi-stage process: spotting an opportunity, developing an idea, championing it, securing support and ultimately implementing it so others can benefit.

I suspected that environment played a key role in this process. Specifically, I hypothesized that workplaces that discouraged risk-taking and punished mistakes would stifle innovation. I was right — but in a deeper way than I expected.

When an environment doesn’t openly encourage problem-solving, tackling tough issues and asking for help, innovation suffers. Anyone who has worked in a toxic environment knows this instinctively. But why does this happen? What about our self-concept gets shaken when we’re in the wrong place?

My research pointed to self-efficacy — the belief in our ability to perform and create. Self-efficacy is deeply tied to innovation. If we don’t believe we can generate new ideas, we won’t. And our environment significantly shapes this belief system.

We may enter a new job or community feeling confident and capable, but if the energy around us doesn’t support creative efforts, we internalize that resistance. Over time, we begin to doubt our own abilities. Once we stop believing in ourselves — and when those around us reinforce our limitations — we stop creating. This isn’t just a personal loss; it’s a loss to society. We need creators to keep creating, especially when their work contributes positively to the world.

Related: 8 Signs That You Need a Change … and Fast!

Why self-efficacy matters — and how environment shapes It

Self-efficacy influences how we feel, think, motivate ourselves and behave. People with high self-efficacy are more likely to take on challenges, persist through setbacks and bring new ideas to life. Research supports this: Individuals with higher self-efficacy are more likely to improve work processes, tackle complex tasks and engage in innovative behavior. Since innovation often involves overcoming obstacles, the role of self-efficacy in pushing through challenges makes sense.

While it’s clear that self-efficacy fuels innovation, the role of a supportive environment in sustaining self-efficacy is less widely understood. This was a key finding in my doctoral research: Psychologically supportive environments create the conditions necessary for innovation. When people believe they are capable creators, they continue to operate with that mindset. This belief system is essential to having the courage to pursue big ideas. Without it, just like the air plant, even the most creative individuals will eventually stop fighting — and become a shadow of who they once were.

Related: The Almost Unbelievable Power of Your Belief Systems

What to do when you realize you’re in the wrong environment

What do we do when we recognize that we’ve become the air plant — fighting for survival in the wrong space? Whether it’s our workplace or our community, realizing that our environment is limiting us can be both eye-opening and daunting. I have close friends who are professional artists and have slowly come to understand that their current town lacks the supportive, creative energy they need. They’re trying to figure out their next move — but that’s no simple task. Here’s what I’ve learned from my own experience:

1. Awareness is the first step: Highly driven people often stay too long in the wrong place. Over time, they begin to internalize negativity, blaming themselves rather than recognizing that the environment is a poor fit. The first step is acknowledging that you are in the wrong space.

2. Get clear on your values: Understanding where you thrive versus where you feel drained is a critical part of self-discovery. This is highly individualized — some people need collaborative, fast-paced environments, while others flourish in solitude and stillness. Identifying where and with whom you create your best work is essential.

3. Take action: Transitioning to a more supportive environment takes time, courage and determination. It’s easy to slip back into old patterns, so create a plan with clear next steps. Sharing your intentions with trusted friends or mentors can help keep you accountable and provide much-needed support as you navigate the change.

Moving forward isn’t always easy, but recognizing the need for change and taking deliberate steps toward a better environment is how we ensure we don’t just survive — we thrive.

Artificial intelligence is no longer up and coming—it’s already here. Whether you’re a business owner juggling a dozen responsibilities, a marketer trying to stay relevant, or a team lead looking for an edge, mastering tools like ChatGPT and skills related to automation are essential.

The ChatGPT & Automation E-Degree Bundle can seriously help you amp up that skillset, and at just $19.97 (through April 27), it’s one of the best values you’ll find in AI education right now.

This online learning bundle includes 12 courses and 25+ hours of content that break down everything from the basics of ChatGPT to real-world applications of over 20 top AI tools. You’ll learn how to customize and use AI to streamline business tasks, automate repetitive processes, improve team communication, and boost your productivity—without needing to be a developer.

Courses cover a range of in-demand topics like data visualization, AI-enhanced creativity, automated marketing, chatbot design, and business process optimization. Instead of general concepts, the content focuses on how to apply AI in everyday work scenarios. Think: writing better proposals, creating engaging content faster, or building smart workflows that free up your time.

And if you’ve ever been overwhelmed by the number of new tools out there, this bundle is a curated introduction to what’s actually useful—and how to use it without drowning in tutorials or tech jargon. It’s beginner-friendly, available 24/7, and optimized for desktop or mobile.

You’ll also walk away with a Certificate of Completion, which is great for your resume, portfolio, or just letting clients know you’re not winging it.

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In business, just like in battle, uncertainty is a given. Markets change, technology advances and competition is relentless. The best companies don’t just react to change — they anticipate, adapt and execute with precision. But speed isn’t enough. Without a clear strategy, even the fastest teams will spin their wheels. That’s where commander’s intent comes in.

Originally developed in the military, commander’s intent is a principle that allows teams to make fast decisions without waiting for instructions from leadership. It’s about giving people the freedom to act while ensuring they never lose sight of the bigger objective. In an uncertain, high-stakes world, it’s the difference between teams that stall and teams that move forward with confidence.

As an entrepreneur, you’re leading your team into uncharted territory every day. If your employees need approval befo re taking action, bottlenecks form, momentum slows and opportunities slip away. But when your team knows the mission — the deeper “why” behind their work — they can solve problems, make smart decisions and drive results without waiting for permission. That level of clarity and trust is what separates companies that thrive from those that get stuck.

Related: 7 Steps to Building a Smart, High-Performing Team

How I learned the power of commander’s intent

When I was a U.S. Army Captain, I thought a tight command structure was the key to order and efficiency. But I quickly learned that in fast-moving situations, where the best-laid plans fell apart in seconds, something else was far more valuable: giving people the ability to make their own decisions within a clear mission framework.

In high-pressure situations, my unit couldn’t afford to sit around waiting for orders. We operated under commander’s intent, a leadership approach that defined the objective, the purpose and the guiding principles — but left the execution to us. Every soldier knew the overall mission. Instead of waiting for instructions, they moved forward, knowing their decisions would contribute to the success of the operation. That approach turned every team member into a problem solver.

Fast-forward to today. As the CEO of BuildOps, a fast-scaling tech company, I see the exact same principle apply in business. With teams across time zones, markets changing overnight and innovation cycles moving faster than ever, waiting for top-down approvals is a death sentence. The only way to move at the speed of the market is to ensure every person in the company knows the mission, the objective and the non-negotiables — then trust them to execute.

Related: 7 Proven Tips for Building Trust and Strengthening Workplace Relationships

How entrepreneurs can apply commander’s intent

The first step is to define the mission with absolute clarity. People can’t execute effectively if they don’t understand what success looks like. If your team needs a 50-page deck or a leadership meeting to remind them of the company’s core objectives, you have a communication problem. Everyone in the company should be able to articulate the mission in one or two sentences. What are we trying to achieve? Why does it matter? What principles guide our decisions? When the answers to these questions are crystal clear, execution becomes second nature.

Empowering teams to make independent decisions is the next step. Too many founders say they want autonomous employees but create environments where every decision requires approval. That mindset kills speed, creativity and accountability. The reality is that talented people want to own their work. They want to be trusted to figure things out. When leadership constantly intervenes, employees stop thinking for themselves and start playing it safe. A team that hesitates is a team that loses.

This isn’t about removing structure. It’s about building a culture where people move forward without fear. A company that encourages risk-taking and innovation will always outperform one that operates with a rigid playbook. The key is to establish clear parameters while giving people the flexibility to make judgment calls. That’s the difference between teams that just execute tasks and teams that drive outcomes.

Decentralized decision-making doesn’t mean teams operate in silos. It means they move fast, reflect often and continuously improve. The best companies build feedback loops into their culture. They don’t wait for an annual review to evaluate performance — they analyze, iterate and refine in real time. A company that celebrates learning moves faster than one that avoids mistakes.

At my company, we live by this approach. Last year, we launched a new product that missed key targets at an important milestone. Instead of calling it a failure, we dissected what went wrong, made adjustments and improved the offering based on real user feedback. That ability to course-correct without hesitation is what keeps a business agile. Every challenge is an opportunity to get stronger. The moment a company stops learning, it starts to fall behind.

Related: 3 Leadership Secrets That Lead to Team Empowerment

Why this matters more than ever

The business world is moving faster than ever. The companies that survive aren’t necessarily the biggest or the most well-funded — they’re the ones that can adapt the quickest. Leaders who insist on being the sole decision-makers will always lose to those who build teams that can execute independently. Speed is everything, but speed without clarity is chaos. Commander’s intent provides the structure that allows companies to move fast without losing direction.

The best teams aren’t the ones that wait to be told what to do. They’re the ones that ask, “What’s the mission, and how do we get there?” When leaders give their teams that level of clarity, everything changes. Decisions happen faster. Execution improves. Innovation accelerates. Leadership stops being a bottleneck and becomes a true enabler of growth.

The old model of leadership — where every decision funnels through the CEO — is outdated and unsustainable. In today’s world, a company that relies on bureaucracy will be outpaced by a company that prioritizes autonomy, trust and rapid execution.

The companies that embrace commander’s intent will build resilient, high-impact teams that thrive in uncertainty. The ones that don’t will be left behind.

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MrBeast, YouTube’s top creator with 378 million subscribers, recently crashed an interview with Mark Zuckerberg to tell the Meta CEO what he’d change if he were CEO of the company instead — and Zuckerberg promised to make it happen in less than a year.

In an episode of the podcast “Colin and Samir” that aired earlier this week, Zuckerberg, 40, sat down with hosts Colin Rosenblum and Samir Chaudry to discuss topics like Facebook’s decision to bring the Friends tab to the platform, which will only show content from Facebook friends, not recommended posts, for users in North America.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, joined the conversation in the middle of the episode. In response to a question asking what he would change if he were CEO of Meta, Donaldson said his highest priority would be allowing Facebook Video to play audio tracks in different languages to accompany his videos.

“If I was CEO, that’s one of the first things I’d fast-track,” the 26-year-old said.

Related: MrBeast’s Holding Company Could Be Worth $5 Billion After Its Latest Fundraising Round

On YouTube, Donaldson can upload different audio tracks in various languages that automatically play with the video according to the region of the world the user is in. For example, if a viewer clicks on a MrBeast YouTube video from Mexico, the audio is automatically dubbed in Spanish. The same feature isn’t available on Meta platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Zuckerberg accepted the feedback, calling the idea of bringing dubbing to Facebook “a good one.” He stated that “within a year,” Facebook would have the feature.

Zuckerberg also told Donaldson that AI could one day help with auto-dubbing videos in every language.

Donaldson said that he was already experimenting with using AI to dub his voice in other languages and that his retention rate was 1% higher with AI dubs instead of a voice actor because the AI-generated voice sounded more like his.

“Ideally, in a year, I just post a video on Facebook, check a box, then AI dubs it into 20 languages,” Donaldson said.

^{Jimmy Donaldson. Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images}

Donaldson noted that the dubbing feature extends his reach and ability to connect with his audience, especially since the YouTube star estimates that 70% of his audience doesn’t speak English. Donaldson says that he brings in tens of millions of views on YouTube from people watching his videos in Spanish and Portuguese.

Related: YouTuber MrBeast Makes More Money From This ‘Sweet’ Side Hustle Than From His Videos

“What’s brutal is that when I post those same videos on Facebook or any of your platforms, I can’t import the dubs over, so my viewership is just always infinitely lower,” Donaldson told Zuckerberg on the podcast, stating that “if you’re not dubbed, you can’t reach the majority of the world.”

The top three countries with the highest number of people on Facebook are India (378 million), the U.S. (193 million), and Indonesia (119 million).

Because Meta doesn’t allow dubbing, Donaldson’s top-viewed videos with the highest reach on Facebook and Instagram do not show him speaking. His most-watched video on Instagram, he said, with over 250 million views, is him running with progressively more bundles of cash strapped on his body — and he doesn’t say a word.

Still, in the interview, Donaldson also applauded Facebook Video, stating that it had the most users out of any platform and presented the biggest opportunity to connect to a wide audience.

According to Sprout Social, Facebook has more than 3 billion monthly active users, the most of any platform. Instagram and TikTok are next with two billion monthly active users each.

Related: MrBeast Says He Lost ‘Tens of Millions of Dollars’ on His Hit Amazon Reality TV Show ‘Beast Games’