How Entrepreneurs Can Stay Relevant in the Age of AI and Disruption

The biggest risk in business? Standing still.

BY ELIZABETH GORE, CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT @ELIZABETHGOREUS

Illustration: Getty Images

Running a business in a fast-moving industry means accepting a hard truth. What worked yesterday could eventually stop working. When I sat down with Advantage Founder and CEO Adam Witty on The Big Idea podcast from Yahoo Finance, we talked about how entrepreneurs can stay relevant when disruption hits. 

Witty founded Advantage in 2005 to help entrepreneurs and CEOs turn their expertise into books and thought leadership platforms. Unlike traditional publishers that primarily make money from book sales, Advantage operates a hybrid publishing model in which business leaders hire the firm to develop, publish, and promote their books as credibility and growth tools. 

From AI to shifting publishing economics, Witty has spent two decades adapting his model in real time. His advice is direct, practical, and especially useful for founders navigating uncertainty. 

Build the team before you try to scale. 

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One of the earliest lessons Witty learned is that entrepreneurship is never a solo sport, even if it starts that way. 

“Any business, any size—starting something—is a team sport, and it is all about working together,” he explained. “You’re never going to achieve your dream if it’s only you.” 

That mindset matters more than ever. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of small businesses fail within the first year. Founders frequently underestimate how quickly they will need people, systems, and accountability around them. 

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