Yesterday, Scott Gerrard and I jumped on a call, and what unfolded was a masterclass in how AI can supercharge creativity and productivity. For me, this was business as usual. But for Scott, who’s not exactly fluent in the ways of AI, it was a jaw-dropping, “holy shit” experience from start to finish—and honestly, it was hilarious to watch.
I don’t know if Scott normally says “holy shit” this often, but I’ll take it. Watching someone experience this tech for the first time is like introducing a kid to ice cream: it’s pure joy, disbelief, and a bit of chaos.
Who’s Scott, and What’s His Mission?
Scott Gerrard is a veteran with a passion for the water and a heart for helping others. His vision? A nonprofit organization called Veterans Sailing & Wellness (VS&W), where veterans can heal, connect, and rediscover their sense of purpose through boating and water-based activities.
The concept is as powerful as it is simple: take veterans out on the water. The peace of the waves, the camaraderie of the group, and the sense of purpose these activities foster can work wonders for mental health and well-being.
Scott’s mission is deeply personal and profoundly important, but like many people with big ideas, he wasn’t sure where to start. That’s where I came in—with a little AI magic to turn his vision into something tangible, and fast.
How We Got It Done in Just One Hour
This wasn’t even a planned session. It was one of those spur-of-the-moment, “let’s just see what we can do” kind of calls. But once we got started, it became clear just how much ground we could cover. In an hour, we accomplished the kind of progress that usually takes weeks (or months) to achieve. Here’s what went down:
1. A Complete Business Plan
In about 15 minutes, we had a fully realized business plan for VS&W. We mapped out:
The mission and vision statements.
Target markets.
Services offered.
Funding strategies (including some Scott hadn’t considered before).
Normally, this would take a ton of time and effort. With AI? Done before Scott could even finish his coffee.
2. Website Content from Scratch
We crafted polished content for every major page Scott’s nonprofit will need:
A homepage that captures the heart of VS&W’s mission.
An "About Us" page telling Scott’s story and laying out his goals.
A detailed programs page explaining activities like sailing excursions and the Spartan Sword Pledge.
A donation page to inspire support.
Even a logo concept.
All of it was SEO-friendly, professional, and ready to publish.
3. Podcast and Marketing Materials
We brainstormed podcast scripts, marketing copy, and articles that Scott can use to promote VS&W. Every piece was high-quality and ready to help him spread the word.
4. Fundraising and Outreach Tools
Scott now has polished materials for grant applications, email campaigns, and event promotions. Everything he needs to secure funding and connect with supporters is locked, loaded, and ready to go.
Scott’s “Holy Shit” Moments
Now, here’s where things got entertaining (for me). As someone who works with AI daily, I tend to forget how absolutely wild this tech can seem to the uninitiated. While I was casually firing off mission statements and marketing plans, Scott was going through what I can only describe as a mental fireworks display.
Every time AI churned out a perfect mission statement, an event description, or a polished website page, Scott would pause and say, “Holy shit! That’s amazing.” And honestly? It was a blast to watch. There’s something uniquely satisfying about seeing someone discover how much potential they’ve got at their fingertips.
Why This Matters (and Why It’s Just Another Tuesday for Me)
For Scott, this was groundbreaking. For me? This is what I do every day. But Scott’s reaction was a reminder of something important: there are so many people with amazing ideas who still don’t know how accessible and useful AI can be.
Here’s why AI is a game-changer for people like Scott:
Save Time: Tasks like writing mission statements, creating marketing content, or drafting grant applications take minutes, not days.
Professionalize Output: You don’t need to be a designer or writer. AI makes everything look polished and credible.
Lower Barriers: No big budget? No problem. AI gets the job done without breaking the bank.
Scale Impact: With admin work streamlined, you can focus on your mission—and dream bigger.
But for me, the real magic is in the collaboration. There’s this moment where the AI stops feeling like a tool and starts feeling like a creative partner. It’s like dancing—granted, I can’t dance to save my life (seriously, think injured animal)—but when you’re in sync with your AI, cool things happen. Holy shit they happen. (Now I’m doing it—thanks, Scott.)
Scott’s Takeaway
By the end of our call, Scott was sold. While he doesn’t see a use for AI in his day job fixing yachts (yet), he now knows how it can transform the nonprofit side of his life. Whether it’s crafting fundraising narratives, promoting events like beach cleanups, or building his website, Scott realized he could plug in an idea and get back polished results in seconds.
In his words: “It’s like having a whole team in your pocket.”
What’s Next for VS&W
Thanks to AI, Scott’s nonprofit is ready to launch with:
Streamlined Operations: Admin work like scheduling and donation tracking is no longer a time sink.
Engaged Supporters: Compelling, polished content will make it easy to connect with donors and veterans.
Expanded Impact: With more time to focus on the mission, Scott can scale up and reach more veterans.
Final Thoughts
For Scott, yesterday was an eye-opening (and hilariously foul-mouthed) experience. For me, it was just another day showing people what’s possible when you pair big ideas with the right tools. Watching Scott’s reactions was both funny and heartening—it’s not every day you get to witness someone realize how much potential they’ve got right in their pocket. (But for me? It kind of is every day, and I love it.)
Scott, thanks for letting me tag along on this journey. I can’t wait to see Veterans Sailing & Wellness launch—don’t forget to invite me for the first sail. And for anyone else out there with a big idea but no clue where to start, hit me up. I promise, AI can make the impossible feel effortless—even if it’s just another Tuesday.
#AIForGood, #VeteransSupport, #SailingTherapy, #MentalHealthMatters, #AIInAction, #HealingOnTheWater, #NonprofitTools, #TechForChange, #VeteransWellness, #AITransformation
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