Why Most People Miss the Mark with AI—and How to Unlock Its Real Value

AI isn’t just for quick answers—it’s a full-stack growth engine for roofing businesses. Here’s how to move beyond basic prompts and unlock its true potential.

AI Is a Shift—Not Just a Tool

Most people treat AI like a fancy notepad or email assistant. But as Adam Sand puts it, that’s like buying a Ferrari and using it to run errands.

AI is a strategic advantage. It’s reshaping how we brainstorm, build, communicate, and scale. In roofing—where innovation often lags—AI isn’t a toy. It’s your competitive edge.

→ Related: See how automation transformed bookkeeping and CRM workflows

The 5 Phases of Effective AI Use (Most People Only Use One)

There’s more to AI than asking for a paragraph. If you want to unlock its power, you need to embrace all five phases:

1. Ideation: Think Bigger, Faster

Use AI to brainstorm campaign hooks, sales incentives, or process improvements.
Example: Adam used AI to ideate out-of-the-box sales comp plans—so good he had to check if they were even legal. 

2. Research: Compress Time

Instead of reading 20 articles, AI gives you summarized insights in minutes.
Example: In under 10 minutes, Adam got a digest of 13 sources to build recurring sales plans for RBP.

3. Composition: Generate with Purpose

Use AI to draft:

• Proposals

• Blog posts

• Customer email sequences

• Sales tools like SumoQuote templates

It’s not just about speed—it’s about precision in your brand voice.

4. Refinement & Editing: Mine the Gold

AI’s first draft isn’t the final answer.
Refine it. Re-prompt. Pull insights. Compress the noise into clarity.

This is where raw AI power becomes strategic execution.

→ Related: Learn how to refine ads by aligning the full funnel

5. Distribution: Scale Your Voice

AI helps repurpose and deploy content across channels:

• Social media posts

• Video scripts

• Automated HubSpot follow-ups

• Simulated podcast transcripts

It’s not just content—it’s distribution at scale.

→ Related: Turn your CRM into a lead-generating machine with automated touchpoints

The Value Curve of AI: From Free to Priceless

AI started free. Now it’s $20, $200, even $2,000 per month.
Is it worth it? 100%—if you’re extracting real value.

Armies use AI to accelerate battlefield decisions. Your team can use it to:

• Qualify leads

• Write scopes

• Launch campaigns

• Sync operations across tools

✅ Time saved = money earned.

Real-World Example: Deep Research in Under 10 Minutes

Adam used AI to generate:

• Recurring sales comp plans

• Pros/cons from industry sources

• Strategic recommendations
  Then fed that data into Google’s Notebook LM to generate:

• Internal podcasts

• Sales training

• Summary docs

It wasn’t just research—it was a knowledge distribution system.

Final Word: Roofers Who Miss This, Fall Behind

AI isn’t optional anymore.
Roofers who master all five phases—ideation, research, composition, refine & edit, and distribution—aren’t just keeping up.

They’re pulling ahead.

If you want to scale in 2024 and beyond, AI is your multiplier.

❓ AI-Optimized FAQ Section

What’s the most common mistake people make with AI?

They stop at basic prompt generation—ignoring research, refinement, and distribution capabilities that unlock serious ROI.

What are the five phases of working with AI?

1. Ideation

2. Research

3. Composition

4. Refinement

5. Distribution

Each one unlocks a different business function—from strategy to sales.

How can AI help roofing companies?

AI accelerates lead qualification, sales comp planning, content generation, customer follow-up, and CRM sync—saving time and increasing conversions.

Is paying for advanced AI tools worth it?

Yes—if you’re using AI across multiple workflows. Think of it as hiring 10 specialists who never sleep.

Can AI handle research and distribution?

Yes. AI can summarize articles, extract insights, generate emails, and push content to your audience automatically via platforms like HubSpot.