the plumber should be worried (maybe you too).

hey there,

I recently had a conversation with a plumber and a physical therapist… about AI.

I thought people understood what was coming.
they both had no clue.

and they both need to be worried.
not about AI.

about the guy AI just replaced.

that’s the misunderstanding right now. people think their job is safe…

plumbers are safe.
electricians are safe.
coaches are safe.
physical therapists are safe.
chiropractors are safe.

and sure, in one sense, that is true.

ChatGPT is not coming to your house to fix a pipe.
Claude is not adjusting a patient.
Gemini is not running your sessions.

but that does not mean your job is safe.
it means the threat is coming from a different direction.

the plumber should not be worried about AI becoming a plumber.

the plumber should be worried about the operator, marketer, salesperson, or manager who just got displaced by AI and now needs a new game.

because that person is not coming in empty-handed.

they are coming with experience.

they know how to sell.
they know how to follow up.
they know how to build systems.
they know how to run ads.
they know how to answer leads fast.
they know how to hire.
they know how to manage people.
they know how to create a customer journey that feels sharp, fast, and premium.

all those boring ops you hate. they love.

and you think a few years of school protects you?

it doesn’t.

the people coming for your job love school.
they have perfect test scores.
they know how to study.
they know how to pass tests.
they picked the high-income job.
now that job is getting eaten by robots.

so what do you think happens next?

they pivot.

they will finish whatever degree or certification they need in record time.
they will pass with flying colors.
they will do it simply to get into a career safe from AI.

that’s if they even waste their time with school. some of these people will show up with a war chest of cash. buy your competitor down the street, and start hiring A players. Because they mastered a hiring process 10 years ago.

so now the old-school plumber is not just competing with another plumber. he is competing with a guy who is damn good at business. and that changes everything.

same goes for health professionals.

the physical therapist who thinks, “I’m safe, I do real work,” is missing the point.

you might be safe from AI doing manual therapy.

you are not safe from the person entering your market tomorrow. sure, they may be worse clinically, for now… but they are much better at building a business.

there’s a reason the “better coffee” often loses when Starbucks opens a mile away. and the human version of Starbucks is on its way to you.

that person will answer faster.
market better.
close better.
retain better.
lead better.
track numbers better.
build a team better.
create a better client experience.

in 2026, being good at the craft may cut it.
in 2027, not as much.
by 2030 not at all.

that used to be enough.
or at least close.

for a long time, a health professional could win just by being legit.
know your stuff.
help people.
get referrals.
work hard.
stay busy.

that world is fading.
the better operator wins this battle.

real operations.
real systems.
real leadership.
real margins.
real standards.
real follow-up.
real planning.
real process.

that is what makes a business hard to beat. not talent alone.

this is the shift a lot of physical therapists, chiropractors, coaches, and service business owners still do not see.

they think their edge is being the expert. it is not.

not anymore.

your edge is being the expert AND knowing how to run the machine.

because the next wave of competition is not dumb.
it is not lazy.
it does not struggle with imposter syndrome. it does not have limiting beliefs about what they can charge. it doesn’t whine about not being taught business. and it is not confused. they will be there to win.

it is experienced people, forced into adaptation.

they are the warriors walking into the garden.
you don’t want to be the gardener walking into war.

they are going to enter service businesses.
they are going to buy small businesses.
they are going to start practices.
they are going to roll into local markets with more operational awareness than the average owner has ever had.

and the people who only know the craft are going to feel it first.

that is why now is the time to get better.

not louder.
better.

better at what you do (always, but not only).
better at selling it.
better at delivering it.
better at leading people.
better at making decisions.
better at building a business that works even when you are not in the room.

if you didn’t get into the game to be a professional entrepreneur… it may be time for you to get off the ride.

the winners will be the ones who can do the work and build the system.
everyone else will get out-operated.

it is the future.

and it is coming for the plumber.
it is coming for the PT.
it is coming for the clinic owner.
it is coming for anyone who thought skill alone would protect them.

it won’t.

if you want to sharpen your business skills and step up your game…
download my playbook (if you haven’t already).

try harder,

JM