How to Use AI in Your Business Without Losing Its Soul (with Jon Harmeling)

Send us Fan Mail Jon Harmeling is a West Point graduate, former West Point instructor in the Department of Systems Engineering, Army veteran, and the Chick-fil-A Operator in Miami Shores, Florida, where he leads a team of about 100. He runs ten AI systems inside his own restaurant and speaks to leaders about using AI without losing the soul of the business. In this conversation with Dr. William Attaway, Jon shares how a two-week Army assignment, a cancer diagnosis, and the loss of his father moved him from chasing success toward a life of significance. He explains how he uses AI in your business the practical way, to take admin work off his plate so he has more time for people, including the schedule analysis across 89 team members that led him to take a hit on profit rather than cut anyone's hours. He also talks about busyness as a distraction, leading side by side with his wife Carrie, and the eulogy question that keeps his priorities clear. Get your copy of Jon's new book here. Connect with Jon Harmeling: Website: jonharmeling.com Free operator notes: jonharmeling.com/notes LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonharmeling Chapters 00:00 Introducing Jon Harmeling 01:30 From West Point to Chick-fil-A 03:42 A cancer diagnosis and a clear calling 05:14 Moving from success to significance 08:22 Losing his dad and the busyness trap 10:09 Leading at a sustainable pace 11:36 Intentionality and the 15-minute welcome conversation 13:48 Using AI to free up time for people 16:26 The 89-person schedule analysis 18:49 Faith, family, and leading alongside his wife 21:38 The eulogy question: relationships over metrics 22:48 How Jon keeps leveling up 28:03 Book recommendations: the Bible and Buy Back Your Time 30:28 How to connect with Jon Apply now to be a part of the High Capacity Leaders mastermind in West Palm Beach, Florida on November 9-10, 2026. Go to https://westpalm.highcapacityleaders.org/ for more information. Check out Dr. William Attaway's new show, The Appreciation at Work Podcast!   Join Dr. William Attaway on the Catalytic Leadership podcast as he shares transformative insights to help high-performance entrepreneurs and agency owners achieve Clear-Minded Focus, Calm Control, and Confidence. Free 30-Minute Discovery Call: Ready to elevate your business? Book a free 30-minute discovery call with Dr. William Attaway and start your journey to success. Connect with Dr. William Attaway: Website LinkedIn Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube