Meet the Business Guy Who Became the AI Guy.

I'm John Phillippe. I've spent nearly four decades working at the intersection of communication, sales, marketing, media, websites, and business systems.

AI is powerful, but the tools alone are not the answer. Most business owners don't need another app or another course. They need someone who can listen to the problem, understand the business context, determine what is realistic, and help make the solution work.

That is what I do as an on-call AI partner.

My Professional History

For more than four decades, I've worked across media and business environments associated with organizations such as Discovery, MTV, Warner, and Paramount. I've helped Fortune 500 companies and organizations navigating major shifts communicate, sell, operate, and adapt.

Along the way, I've built websites, marketing systems, sales processes, and business tools—long before AI was part of the conversation. That experience matters because AI implementation is ultimately a business problem, not just a technology problem.

A Practical, Business-First Philosophy

I don't start with a platform and look for a use case. I start with the business problem. What's taking too long? What's costing too much? What's falling through the cracks? Then I determine whether AI can genuinely help—and if so, which combination of tools, automation, research, and human judgment makes sense.

Sometimes the right answer is improving an existing process. Sometimes it's configuring a tool you already own. And sometimes it's deciding not to invest in a new AI product at all.

Why I Created the Retainer Model

Most AI consultants hand you a strategy deck and disappear. Or they sell you a one-off automation that breaks the moment something changes. Neither approach works because AI isn't a set-it-and-forget-it tool. It's an ongoing relationship.

I created the retainer model because business owners need someone who understands their company over time—someone they can call when a question comes up, when a tool changes, or when a new opportunity appears. You don't need to become the AI expert. You need one you can call.

Translating Complex Tools Into Understandable Solutions

I've spent my career translating complex technology into things people can actually use. Whether it was explaining media strategy to executives, building websites that non-technical teams could manage, or now helping business owners understand what AI can and can't do—the skill is the same: listen first, then explain in plain English.

Books and Projects

I'm the author of Chosen, Prospecting Hacks, Cold Calling Hacks, and the AI murder mystery Death Scroll.