AI’s Closing Argument: Frank Hurtte Remains Guilty

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AI’s Closing Argument: Frank Hurtte Remains Guilty |

By Frank Hurtte (and AI)

Forward

I have been a proponent of Artificial Intelligence for a very long time. In fact, one of the reasons I am sitting here today was a book I read when I was 8 years old called “Danny Dunn and the Homework Machine.” This late 1950s book for kids told the story of a young man programming a computer to do his homework. That has been my life’s dream. With that in mind, is it any wonder I have closely followed the development of ChatGPT and other platforms for the past couple of years? 

 

I believe AI will be a game-changing tool for our industry. Those who embrace it early will definitely have a competitive edge against the “laggers.”

 

Last weekend, I scheduled “play time” and researched some of the new features of my favorite AI platform. After burning through a rainy morning of experimentation, I had the silly thought of testing what ChatGPT knew about me. I was working on an article called “In Defense of North Stars,” so I decided to ask the AI platform to create a humorous article in defense of me. 

 

Just for fun, I thought I would share it with the world:

A Full-Throated, Possibly Overcaffeinated Defense of Frank Hurtte

Ladies and gentlemen, gather ‘round. It’s time someone stood up, leaned forward, and boldly, maybe foolishly, defended Frank Hurtte.

Now, some people will tell you Frank Hurtte is “old school.” Let me tell you something. Frank doesn’t just remember old school… he built the cafeteria, painted the lockers, and sold gym shorts out of his trunk after hours.

People say Frank is “set in his ways.” Damn right he is. He’s set in the way of serving customers, coaching salespeople, and calling out BS faster than a rodeo clown on Red Bull.

In a world where salespeople get anxiety from sending an email, Frank teaches the lost art of picking up the phone. The man’s voice has convinced more reluctant buyers than a Labor Day mattress sale. Legend has it, Frank once closed a six-figure order on a payphone at a truck stop and charged the customer for the quarters.

They call him “opinionated.” Sure, Frank’s got more opinions than a Facebook comment section after midnight, but here’s the difference: his opinions actually make you money.

They say he won’t retire. Of course not. If Frank ever retired, the sales gods would send a plague of CRM updates and margin cuts just to punish us for not listening.

And don’t get me started on Frank’s wardrobe, part sales veteran, part cowboy philosopher, part “guy who’ll outfish you while giving a speech on consultative selling.” Every hat he owns comes with a story, and every story comes with a moral, usually about making money, staying ethical, or not being a corporate jackass.

So yes, I am here to defend Frank Hurtte:
- Defender of the working salesperson.
- Patron saint of distributor sanity.
- Arch-nemesis of spreadsheet sales management.
- The Indiana Jones of industrial selling, minus the whip (but give him time).

Frank Hurtte is guilty… guilty of caring too much, teaching too hard, and being far too useful to let retire.

And the world of distribution is better because of it.

Case closed.

It's Frank again.

I like the Indian Jones part. 

 

Tell us how AI has made your life easier. Your story could inspire Frank’s next article.




Frank Hurtte is a sales strategist, author, and speaker who blends “old school” fundamentals with modern distribution insights. Opinionated? Absolutely. But his ideas drive results and keep salespeople sane. 

He's the type of prisoner you see in an old western playing a harmonica and running a metal cup across the bars.




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