Erika Jones, CFO, CCTAProfit First Professionals · Certified Fractional CFO and Profit First Professional

Entrepreneurs' Challenges #mikemichalowicz #entrepreneur #business

22 Nov 2025 · 2 min

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1:50

In this motivational presentation, the speaker reflects on the difficult year entrepreneurs have faced due to economic shifts and the rise of AI. Using a photograph of Pablo Picasso wearing a camera, the speaker traces how the invention of the Kodak camera in 1888 displaced portrait painters and gave rise to abstract artists like Picasso, who leveraged new technology to create unprecedented art forms. The speaker draws a parallel to today’s AI revolution, arguing that while AI can automate many tasks, the uniquely human element remains the most valuable asset for entrepreneurs. Despite the turbulence, the speaker expresses strong optimism, asserting that the current technological upheaval will generate vast new opportunities for entrepreneurs who embrace the human‑centric, creative edge.

Chapters

This last year has been a difficult one for so many entrepreneurs. It's the shifting economy, but it's also the rise of AI and the consternation it brings about. But I want to show a picture to you. I've been carrying this around. Do you know who that is? I'll give you a second to guess. Someone said Jacques Cousteau. It's not Jacques Cousteau. That's Pablo Picasso. And what I want you to look at is what he's got around his neck is a camera. Well, back in 1888 was when Kodak introduced the first camera, which is called the Kodak one. Right. Prior to that, the most popular artists, the ones who were paid the most, were portrait artists. People that could do scenery specifically accurately, were paid the most. But after that became the rise. After that, I'm saying after the camera was invented, came the rise of the abstract artist. Interestingly, or maybe not, Pablo Picasso was born, I think, in 1881, and you want to check that out. He grew up under this new technology, and he was able to become a new form of artist we'd never seen before. But he wasn't the first. There was other abstract artists. It was in the late 1800s, the very early 1900s, these new abstract artists started to come about. The technology sprung them to a whole new level. I think that's what we're experiencing as entrepreneurs, that the human element is going to be the most important element now. And yes, technology, AI will be able to do many things. It can't do all the human things. So I'm very optimistic for the future of entrepreneurs. No question we are in a period of change and turmoil, but if this guy has something to teach us, big opportunities are coming our way. I'm convinced of it.