Phase 1: Early Detection (24+ months out)
Exploration Activities: - Read 3-5 foundational papers - Join 1-2 online communities - Follow 10-20 thought leaders - Experiment with early tools - Attend one specialty event
Jessica's Early AI Exploration: - Read "Attention Is All You Need" paper - Joined Marketing AI Professionals Slack - Followed top AI researchers on Twitter - Experimented with GPT-2 for content - Attended small AI marketing meetup
Investment: 5 hours/month Risk: Low (exploring only) Potential Return: Infinite if trend materializes
Phase 2: Skill Building (12-24 months out)
Capability Development: - Complete foundational course - Build 2-3 proof-of-concept projects - Connect with other early adopters - Start writing about the topic - Develop unique point of view
Jessica's Skill Development: - Coursera Machine Learning course - Built AI content optimization tool - Connected with AI startup founders - Started "AI Marketing Weekly" newsletter - Developed "Human + AI" framework
Investment: 10 hours/month Risk: Medium (time investment) Potential Return: 50-100% salary premium
Phase 3: Authority Building (6-12 months out)
Thought Leadership: - Publish comprehensive guides - Speak at industry events - Consult for early adopters - Build case studies - Train others
Jessica's Authority Campaign: - Published "CMO's Guide to Marketing AI" - Keynoted at MarTech Conference - Consulted for 3 Fortune 500 companies - Documented 40% efficiency gains - Led workshops for marketing teams
Investment: 20 hours/month Risk: Low (demand validated) Return: Authority premium + opportunities
Phase 4: Value Capture (Market Maturity)
Monetization Options: - Premium employment offers - High-rate consulting - Speaking fees - Course creation - Equity opportunities
Jessica's Value Capture: - Base salary: $180,000 - Consulting: $50,000/year - Speaking: $20,000/year - Course sales: $30,000/year - Total: $280,000