The Ross Simmonds Show

In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross dives deep into the ways AI is reshaping how entrepreneurs, marketers, and content creators work and how you can use tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and Distribution.AI to get an edge instead of being left behind. Ross shares strategic frameworks, prompting techniques, and real-life use cases that show how AI isn't here to replace you, it's here to elevate what you do best. This episode is a masterclass in using generative AI as your co-pilot for ideation, execution, and growth.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. AI is Not a Threat

- High-performing marketers treat AI as a strategic partner, not a shortcut or replacement.

- The real differentiator is how you work with AI—systems, iteration, and judgment matter more than tools.

- Winners focus on long-term leverage, not short-term panic.

2. Why Claude Stands Out for Marketers- Claude consistently delivers stronger brand-aligned writing for positioning, messaging, and copy.

- Less “robotic” output makes it useful for customer-facing content.

- Tool choice matters less than mindset

3. Repurposing Content at Scale

- AI can extract quotes, threads, newsletters, and posts from long-form content.

- Tools like Distribution.ai automate cross-channel repurposing and scheduling.

- Claude remains a strong budget-friendly alternative for manual workflows.

4. The Four-Phase AI Workflow: Discover → Framework → Build → Polish

- Break complex projects into structured phases instead of one-shot prompts.

- Improves quality, alignment, and creative control.

- Applicable to blogs, ebooks, GTM plans, and proposals.

5. AI Amplifies Strategy, It Doesn’t Replace It

- AI handles speed and execution; humans provide judgment, taste, and insight.

Marketers who avoid AI risk falling behind peers who use it strategically.

Resources & Tools:

🔗Distribution.ai

🔗Claude

🔗ChatGPT

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In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross dives deep into the underrated strength behind the word “no.” He unpacks why saying yes too often can lead to dilution of focus, scattered priorities, and slower growth—both for individuals and companies. Drawing from personal experiences building Foundation Marketing and working with world-class SaaS brands, Ross lays out how intentional decision-making drives scalable results. He shares a practical framework for evaluating opportunities, a unique way of using AI to filter distractions, and actionable tips for saying “no” without burning bridges. 

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Saying yes to everything pulls you away from what matters

- Every yes is also a no to something else: focus, deep work, or rest.

- The more scattered your “yes” is, the harder it becomes to scale.

2. Focus beats doing more

- The most successful companies don’t win by doing more — they win by doing less with intention.

- Real growth comes from allocating time to the highest-value work.

3. Clarity makes saying no easier

- Filter decisions with three questions: Is this aligned with my priorities right now? Does this scale or compound? Would I still do this if no one ever knew about it?

- If it doesn’t help hit current goals, the answer is no.

4. Not every opportunity is worth your time

- A full calendar doesn’t mean progress — it can mean distraction.

- One-off wins that don’t compound cost more than they give back.

5. You can say no without burning bridges

- Thank people for the opportunity and be clear about your priorities.

- Saying no isn’t selfish — it’s being intentional and protecting what matters.

Resources & Tools:

🔗 Vivid Vision Concept (by Cameron Herold)

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In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show,  Ross sits down with Wil Reynolds—founder of Seer Interactive and an icon in the world of search—to explore how to play the long game in marketing, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Will doesn't hold back as he shares tactical insights into how AI is reshaping content creation, search, and discovery. From real-world applications of tools like PhantomBuster and Claude Code to personal philosophies about content, agency building, and mindset, this episode is loaded with actionable wisdom and candid perspective. Wil also opens up about what he’d do if he had to start over from scratch, the dangers of imposter syndrome, and how to use AI to interview subject matter experts in a scalable way.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Respect the Audience’s Attention

- Share only what you genuinely believe will teach someone something.

- Use a simple gut-check: “Would I want to see this in my feed?”

- Don’t post to post—post to educate and create real value.

2. “Real Stuff” Builds Trust

- The most resonant content is often the painful, honest, behind-the-scenes truth.

- Being raw and human builds long-term sentiment—and turns strangers into future clients.

- The posts that work are raw: mistakes, broken processes, real lessons.

3. Distribution Beats “Perfect Content Process”

- Over-engineered content processes don’t matter if nobody distributes the output.

- Optimize for conversation + sharing, then adapt it for search after you know it hits.

4. Use Data + AI to Run Experiments (and Get Leverage)

- Tools like PhantomBuster + Claude/Claude Code can turn LinkedIn into a research + lead engine.

- Track who engages (titles, industries), then use that insight for outreach and pipeline planning.

- Blend paid + organic data to spot waste/opportunity (e.g., language intent mismatches, “people also ask” signals).

- The goal isn’t replacing people — it’s pulling real knowledge out of them faster.

5. Future-Proofing Means Adaptability

- The real edge is staying unsatisfied with the status quo and constantly testing new approaches.

- Leaders should make it safe to “break things” while learning—innovation is messy by nature.

- Wil’s focus isn’t predicting 10 years out—it’s preparing people now for automation shifts through skills, reps, and experimentation.

Resources & Tools:

🔗 PhantomBuster

🔗 Claude

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In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross dives into one of the most common yet damaging habits of leaders: micromanagement. While founders and leaders often express the desire for team members who “act like owners,” their own behavior can stifle that very ownership. Ross explores the concept of the "Ownership Window," offering a strategic framework for when leaders should be hands-on and when to step back. He breaks down the fine line between leadership and control, examines the stages of team empowerment, and provides actionable insights for creating a company culture rooted in autonomy, accountability, and trust.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. The Ownership Paradox

- Leaders say they want ownership but often undermine it with controlling behaviors.

- A lack of delegation leads to decision bottlenecks and ruins team morale.

2. The Downside of Micromanagement

- Suck energy out of teams.

- Kill trust, decision-making, and momentum.

- Be mistaken for productivity from the leader’s perspective.

3. The “Ownership Window” Framework

- New Hire or New System (High Support Needed): Provide clarity, oversight, and a tight feedback loop. Avoid guesswork by implementing SOPs, training, and checkpoints.

- New Initiative (Strategic Oversight Needed): Leaders act more as advisors than operators. Maintain checkpoints without hovering.

- Proven Leader (High Trust & Autonomy): Align on outcomes, then step back. Focus on results, not the method of execution.

4. Coaching vs. Controlling

- Coaching is intentional and supportive.

- Controlling is reactive and born out of ego or fear.

- Leadership requires adjusting engagement based on team maturity and context.

5. Redefining Ownership in Leadership

- Clear expectations of what great looks like.

- Accountability for outcomes, not just tasks.

- Autonomy to decide how work gets done.

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In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross gets real about what culture truly is inside an organization. Spoiler alert: it’s not your values deck, your company retreats, or the catchphrases painted on your office walls. Culture is what your team experiences—and that starts with leadership.

Ross unpacks how the most problematic leadership habits quietly become the blueprint of a company’s culture. Through personal insights and actionable advice, this episode challenges leaders to reflect on their behaviors, confront their blind spots, and align their habits with the culture they aspire to create.

Key Takeaways and Insights:

1. Culture Is Practiced, Not Preached

- Culture isn’t your onboarding slide deck or a nicely printed poster—it's what your company does every single day.

- If you claim a value (e.g. empathy, growth, candor), but your actions contradict it, then it’s not part of your real culture.

2. Leadership Habits Define Team Norms

- “Your culture is a reflection of your worst leadership habits.”

- Leaders unintentionally shape culture through the behaviors and patterns they tolerate or exhibit.

3. The Toxic Impact of Avoidance

- Avoiding hard conversations or decision-making can silently simmer into dysfunction.

- Leaders need to have the courage to confront their personal weaknesses to positively affect culture.

4. Build Muscle Memory for Better Leadership

- If giving feedback or staying focused is hard, start building systems and routines that reinforce those behaviors.

- Example: “Pursue the awkward” moments to grow stronger in them.

5. Self-Awareness Is Crucial

- Ask critical questions as a leader: Am I consistent? Do I finish what I start? Am I a source of clarity or chaos?

- Teams watch leaders’ actions more than they listen to their words. Walk matters more than talk.

6. Cultivate Culture by Fixing Yourself First

- Introspective leadership is the foundation of thriving workplace culture.

- Practical step: Make a list of personal habits that are out of alignment with your company’s stated values and strategize ways to improve.

7. Leadership Isn’t About Titles

- You don’t need to be a CEO or founder to lead with intentionality.

- Cultural influence can come from any level within an organization—or your life.

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