Halyard Consulting

Author: Jonathan Goodman

  • The Stars and Strategy: What Astrology Can Teach Us About AI Modernization

    The Stars and Strategy: What Astrology Can Teach Us About AI Modernization

    At Halyard Consulting, we spend most of our time talking about AI strategy, public sector modernization, and ethical implementation. But once in a while, it helps to step outside the technical details and look at transformation through a different lens.

    Astrology yes, astrology, offers a surprisingly useful metaphor for how organizations grow, adapt, and modernize. The stars don’t tell us what to do, but they remind us that timing, cycles, and alignment matter. In business transformation and AI adoption, those lessons are invaluable.

    Halyard’s Cosmic DNA

    Every organization has a founding moment. For Halyard, that was December 2, 2010 making us a Sagittarius Sun company. Sagittarius is the sign of vision, exploration, and guidance. True to form, our mission has always been to help organizations navigate uncharted territory, whether that’s digital transformation, AI-powered automation, or responsible governance frameworks.

    Our Aquarius Moon reflects the emotional core of Halyard: innovation, inclusion, and community impact. This aligns directly with our focus on multilingual AI for equitable public engagement and supplier diversity commitments.

    And with Mars and Pluto in Capricorn, Halyard thrives on discipline, structure, and governance. It’s no coincidence that our consulting methodology emphasizes Discovery → Prototype → Pilot → Scale, and that we embed compliance and ethics into every modernization project.

    The Power of Timing

    Astrology teaches us that timing is everything. The same is true in business.

    • In 2023, Halyard pivoted to become an AI strategy-first consulting firm — a moment that aligned perfectly with rising market demand for ethical, compliance-ready AI.
    • Looking ahead, 2025–2028 brings Pluto in Aquarius, a once-in-a-generation cycle of deep transformation in technology and governance. For Halyard, this lines up with our business plan to expand public sector contracts, scale AI automation tools, and deliver inclusive modernization at scale.

    Just as in astrology, in consulting the question isn’t only what to do — but when.

    Lessons from the Stars

    Astrology’s archetypes mirror the realities of digital transformation and organizational strategy:

    • Balance Vision with Detail (Sagittarius vs. Virgo): Bold ideas need structured delivery. Halyard delivers big visions, but grounds them in compliance audits, cybersecurity frameworks, and milestone-based execution.
    • Growth in Cycles (Jupiter): Expansion happens in phases. For clients, this means piloting AI tools, proving ROI, and then scaling sustainably.
    • Resilience through Governance (Capricorn): Long-term transformation requires structure. Our Agile governance model ensures ethical AI adoption, inclusive design, and measurable outcomes.

    Astrology as a Metaphor for Modernization

    Astrology doesn’t predict the future, it helps us think about alignment. The same is true for AI modernization. Success doesn’t come from rushing to deploy every new tool; it comes from aligning technology with mission, values, and community impact.

    Like the planets, organizations move in cycles:

    • Discovery → clarify needs, risks, and compliance requirements.
    • Prototype → test solutions like chatbots, voicebots, or automation agents.
    • Pilot → validate results with staff and stakeholders.
    • Scale → embed sustainable systems into daily operations.

    Both astrology and consulting remind us that transformation is about timing, alignment, and intention; not speed alone.

    Closing Reflection

    Astrology may never appear in a government RFP, but it highlights something critical: transformation is about more than technology. It’s about vision, timing, and resilience.

    At Halyard Consulting, we guide organizations through their own cycles of change with strategy-first consulting, ethical AI, and milestone-based delivery. Whether you’re a municipality modernizing public engagement, a nonprofit improving accessibility, or a business scaling through automation, the lesson is the same: align your timing, stay true to your values, and build with intention.

    The stars don’t determine success but they remind us that cycles are real, and that modernization is most powerful when aligned with the bigger picture.

    ✨ Ready to explore your own cycle of transformation?
    Let’s begin with a Discovery session — no astrology required, just structured strategy, inclusive design, and results that last.

    📅 Schedule a Consultation

  • Jonathan Goodman Interviewed on Bold Encounters: AI, Creativity, and the Future of Work

    Jonathan Goodman Interviewed on Bold Encounters: AI, Creativity, and the Future of Work

    When Mark Cook invited me onto his Bold Encounters podcast, I knew the conversation wouldn’t be surface-level. Mark has a way of pulling out not just the “what” of your work, but the “why”, the life experiences that shape how you lead and the vision you’re trying to create.

    Our discussion moved from childhood to corporate America, through the hardships of COVID, to the cutting edge of AI. It was a conversation about technology, yes, but also about resilience, creativity, and what it means to build responsibly in an era where machines are learning faster than ever.

    From Corporate Foundations to Entrepreneurial Risk

    I shared how my early career included building one of the first large-scale e-commerce systems at Suburban Propane, where I turned a failing online acquisition into a multimillion dollar revenue channel. That experience, and the company’s gracious exit package when they closed the division, gave me both the financial cushion and the confidence to launch Halyard Consulting.

    COVID, Crisis, and Reinvention

    Like many entrepreneurs, COVID nearly ended everything. I battled illness, Bell’s Palsy, and the heartbreaking decision to shut down my company. But that pause forced me to re-imagine what Halyard could be. It was during this period that I immersed myself in AI, recognizing its potential not just to change industries, but to redefine the future of work.

    AI in Action

    On the podcast, we walked through real examples:

    • A voicebot for law firms that handles intake calls with empathy, books consultations, and ensures no urgent lead slips through the cracks.
    • A workflow automation for a bookkeeper that eliminated her most dreaded four hours of manual monthly work.
    • A quarter-million-dollar project for a grants consultancy where AI is streamlining week-long processes into hours.

    Fear, Security, and AGI

    Mark pressed me on the fears surrounding AI: security risks, job loss, even the specter of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI). My perspective? Fear is natural, but misplaced. These are tools, not terminators. Creativity is the antidote. Humans will always be needed in the loop, ensuring accuracy, ethics, and context. And yes, AGI is likely just 4–5 years away. That makes today the time to prepare.

    Redefining Success

    Perhaps the most personal part of the conversation was when we turned to success. For me, it’s not just revenue or growth. Success is paying off my mortgage, choosing clients I enjoy, saying “no” when timelines or expectations are impossible, and maintaining the health practices that COVID taught me I could no longer ignore.

    👉 If you want to hear the full conversation, including a live demo of our AI voicebot, you can watch it now on our Press Page.

  • 💡 Halyard Consulting to Speak at “AI for Small Business” Conference on August 8th

    💡 Halyard Consulting to Speak at “AI for Small Business” Conference on August 8th

    We’re excited to share that Jonathan Goodman, Founder and CEO of Halyard Consulting, will be speaking at the upcoming AI for Small Business: Innovation to Implementation event hosted by Brookdale Community College on Friday, August 8th in Lincroft, NJ.

    This full-day event is designed to empower small businesses with practical strategies and hands-on tools for integrating artificial intelligence into everyday operations. Whether you’re exploring automation for the first time or looking to optimize existing systems, this is the place to be.

    🎤 Our Role at the Event

    Jonathan will be featured on the 10:00 AM panel, titled:

    “AI on the Ground: Real-World Use Cases by Industry”

    This session will focus on how AI is already transforming local businesses in industries like legal services, home contracting, healthcare, and education.

    Jonathan will share real-world examples of how Halyard Consulting clients have used:

    • AI chatbots to turn website visitors into booked appointments
    • Voicebots to answer after-hours calls and improve client intake
    • Automated workflows to reduce overhead and streamline operations
    • Multilingual tools to better serve diverse communities

    We believe these use cases prove that AI is not a far-off dream—it’s a present-day advantage that small businesses can adopt affordably and ethically.

    🧠 Why This Conference Matters

    The Brookdale event brings together entrepreneurs, small business leaders, and technology experts for a one-day immersive experience. With sessions on prompt engineering, customer engagement tools, marketing automation, and AI ethics, attendees will leave with real, actionable insights they can implement immediately.

    For Halyard Consulting, this event is part of our mission to demystify AI and help small businesses unlock their potential through smart, scalable, and human-centered technology.

    📍 Event Details

    • Event: AI for Small Business: Innovation to Implementation
    • Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
    • Time: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM (Panel at 10:00 AM)
    • Location: Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ
    • 🎟️ Register here – Free admission

    🤝 Let’s Connect

    If you’re planning to attend, we’d love to meet you! Stop by before or after the panel to chat with Jonathan and learn more about the AI solutions we offer, from voice automation and chatbots to custom AI training tools.

    This is a great opportunity to see how Halyard Consulting is helping real businesses thrive in the AI era and how we can help yours.

    See you there!

    —
    The Halyard Consulting Team
    Empowering Small Business Innovation with Ethical AI
    https://halyard.consulting

  • 🧠 The Myth of AI Overload: Why Small Businesses Actually Need More AI, Not Less

    🧠 The Myth of AI Overload: Why Small Businesses Actually Need More AI, Not Less

    Over the past year, headlines have painted AI as a disruptive force threatening to replace jobs, upend industries, and overwhelm the unprepared. For small businesses, this kind of talk often triggers a different emotion: avoidance. The perception that AI is too complicated, too expensive, or too “big business” leads many entrepreneurs to steer clear.

    But here’s the truth. The right kind of AI, thoughtfully implemented, ethically designed, and tailored to a business’s size and goals, doesn’t create chaos. It relieves it.

    What AI Is (and Isn’t) for Small Businesses

    AI, at its best, is not a giant robot taking over your operations. It is a silent, reliable assistant working behind the scenes. Whether it’s sorting emails, suggesting personalized content for a newsletter, or routing customer support inquiries to the right person, modern AI tools can handle repetitive, rules-based tasks with ease.

    Yet many business owners resist AI because they’ve only seen the extremes. They see viral demos of superintelligent bots or enterprise-level automation systems that cost six figures. They rarely see examples of what AI looks like when it’s small, quiet, and deeply useful.

    At Halyard Consulting, we believe the future of AI for small businesses is incremental, not intimidating. Our work centers around helping companies take the first useful step, not the final leap.

    Signs You Might Be Underusing AI

    Sometimes, business owners think they’ve already “tried AI” because they asked ChatGPT to write a blog post or installed a chatbot plugin on their website. But real operational impact comes from identifying where the pain points live — and matching the right tool to the job.

    If any of the following feel familiar, your business might be underutilizing AI:

    • You spend more than 30 minutes a day sorting through routine emails.
    • Your team answers the same 5 questions over and over on the phone.
    • You’re collecting data but don’t have time to turn it into insight.
    • Your content strategy relies on bursts of inspiration, not consistency.
    • Your software tools don’t talk to each other, and someone manually moves data between them.

    Each of these problems has an AI-driven solution that is affordable, accessible, and doesn’t require a computer science degree to manage.

    The Case for More AI — Not Less

    The irony is that small businesses often need AI more than large corporations. Without big teams or deep reserves of time, owners and staff have to wear multiple hats. AI can take a few of those hats off.

    Here’s what more AI (done right) can mean:

    • More time for strategy because admin is automated.
    • More consistent communication with customers and leads.
    • More data-informed decisions from tools that interpret patterns.
    • More room to grow without adding headcount.

    These gains are not theoretical. They are happening now for businesses that choose to adopt AI as a partner in their workflows rather than as a replacement for their team.

    Getting Started Without Getting Overwhelmed

    The key to smart AI adoption is to start with problems, not platforms. Ask yourself:

    • Where am I losing time every day?
    • Which tasks feel important but don’t require my expertise?
    • What would be easier if I had a reliable assistant?

    From there, finding or designing the right tool becomes much simpler. Whether it’s through low-code automations, AI-powered content assistants, or internal dashboards that surface relevant insights, the technology should meet you where you are — not pull you into complexity.

    At Halyard Consulting, we specialize in helping small and mid-sized businesses identify those opportunities and build simple, effective AI solutions that grow with them. If that sounds like something your business could benefit from, we’d love to have a conversation.

    Because when used wisely, more AI doesn’t mean more stress. It means more freedom.

  • 📰 Why I Sold My Tesla Stock — and What It Says About Business Ethics

    📰 Why I Sold My Tesla Stock — and What It Says About Business Ethics

    By Jonathan Goodman, Founder of Halyard Consulting
    March 25, 2025

    Earlier this week, I was honored to be featured in a Business Insider article titled “3 retail investors share what led them to cash out of Tesla on its way to a 50% drop,” written by journalist Christine Ji. The piece explored the motivations behind individual investors exiting their Tesla positions—and for me, the reason wasn’t about market timing or financial performance.

    It was about values.

    Let me explain.

    ⚖️ Investing Is Never Just About Money

    Tesla is an impressive company, no doubt. Its innovation in the electric vehicle space, energy storage, and AI-driven autonomy have pushed entire industries forward. I held Tesla stock because I believed in that vision—and in Elon Musk’s ability to lead transformational change.

    But leadership, in business and beyond, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It matters not just what a company builds, but how its leaders behave. In late 2024, I made the decision to sell my Tesla shares in response to Elon Musk’s increasingly public alignment with political movements and ideologies I could not support—culminating in a controversial public gesture that crossed a line for me.

    As I told Christine Ji during our interview:

    “If Elon Musk were to resign from Tesla tomorrow, I would buy the stock again.”

    That wasn’t hyperbole—it was a statement of principle. The fundamentals of the company remain strong, but I could no longer separate the brand from the actions of its most visible leader.

    💡 What This Has to Do With Halyard Consulting

    At Halyard Consulting, we specialize in building intelligent, AI-powered automation systems for small and medium-sized businesses. But our focus isn’t just on speed, scale, or efficiency. It’s on integrity. We’re committed to ethical AI—transparent systems, data privacy, and tools that empower people, not manipulate them.

    The values that led me to walk away from Tesla stock are the same values that guide how we build our products, serve our clients, and show up as a company.

    Technology should solve problems—but it must also reflect our highest standards of behavior, inclusivity, and accountability.

    🔍 Values Are Good Business

    There’s a misconception that walking away from opportunity based on ethics is bad business. I disagree.

    Taking a stand reinforces your brand. It builds trust with your team, your partners, and your clients. It also filters in the right kind of relationships—the ones based on shared vision and mutual respect.

    In today’s AI-driven, socially connected world, leadership isn’t just about vision. It’s about values. And when the two don’t align, I believe it’s our responsibility to act.

    📣 Read the Full Article

    You can read the full Business Insider article by Christine Ji here:
    👉 3 Retail Investors Share What Led Them to Cash Out of Tesla

    💬 Let’s Talk About Leadership

    If you’re a business owner, leader, or investor grappling with the intersection of profit and principle—let’s talk. At Halyard, we believe in building systems that are not just intelligent, but ethical. And we’re always open to working with others who feel the same.

    📩 Schedule a conversation

  • Staying Resilient: Planning for the Unexpected with BoardmateAI

    Staying Resilient: Planning for the Unexpected with BoardmateAI

    In the world of business, one thing is certain—uncertainty. From market fluctuations to unexpected disruptions, the landscape can change at any moment. The most resilient businesses aren’t those that never face challenges, but rather those that are prepared to handle whatever comes their way.

    At Halyard Consulting, we believe in the power of proactive planning to transform uncertainty into opportunity. That’s why we built the Scenario Planning Tool into BoardmateAI Basic—a solution designed to help businesses create contingency plans, model different risk scenarios, and adapt with confidence. Built using the innovative capabilities of MindStudio, this tool empowers business owners to stay ready and keep their businesses secure, no matter what challenges they face.

    Today, let’s explore how BoardmateAI’s Scenario Planning Tool can help your business plan for the unexpected and thrive in the face of adversity.

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    The Challenge of Uncertainty in Business

    Every business faces uncertainty, and unexpected challenges can arise in many forms:

  • Economic downturns that affect customer spending and sales.
  • Operational disruptions like supply chain interruptions, equipment failure, or staffing shortages.
  • Market shifts where consumer behavior changes or new competitors emerge.

    • These events can significantly impact your business, and without a proper plan, they may lead to losses, setbacks, or even force a business to close. Planning for such challenges requires foresight, risk assessment, and the ability to model various outcomes—all of which can be incredibly time-consuming if done manually.

      This is where BoardmateAI’s Scenario Planning Tool comes into play.

    How BoardmateAI’s Scenario Planning Tool Helps You Plan for the Unexpected

    BoardmateAI’s Scenario Planning Tool offers a structured approach to risk management and contingency planning. Here’s how it helps small businesses stay resilient:

    Model Multiple Risk Scenarios 📊The Scenario Planning Tool enables you to create and model different risk scenarios that your business may face:

    • Use BoardmateAI to create backup strategies for each modeled scenario. If sales drop due to a market downturn, what actions will you take to stabilize cash flow?
    • Plan for resource allocation—whether it’s adjusting staffing, managing inventory, or shifting marketing focus.
    • Test different responses to the same risk to determine the most effective approach for each possible outcome.

    By having well-thought-out contingency plans in place, you’re not left scrambling when the unexpected happens. Instead, you have a clear path forward, reducing downtime and minimizing potential losses.

    Understand Financial Implications 💸Risks often have significant financial impacts, and making decisions without understanding these can put your business at greater risk. With the Scenario Planning Tool, you can:

    • Model financial outcomes for different risk scenarios. For example, if you need to cut costs, you can see how various budget adjustments affect your business.
    • Assess cash flow requirements during disruptions, helping ensure you have enough reserves or a plan for managing shortfalls.
    • Compare the costs and benefits of different contingency actions to make sure your response is both effective and sustainable.

    This financial foresight is crucial for keeping your business stable during tough times and allows you to take proactive measures to avoid financial strain.

    Real-Life Example: Planning for Resilience

    Imagine a boutique fitness studio called “FitLife Studio.” They rely heavily on in-person classes and have a steady group of loyal clients. However, during a sudden local outbreak, attendance drops significantly, threatening revenue and cash flow. With BoardmateAI’s Scenario Planning Tool, FitLife Studio is able to:

    • Model different scenarios based on low attendance, including the effects of reducing in-person classes or moving to an online model.
    • Develop a contingency plan that involves shifting classes to a virtual format and creating an online membership option to maintain engagement and income.
    • Assess the financial impact of this transition, comparing potential online revenue with the costs involved in setting up a virtual infrastructure.

    As a result, FitLife Studio is able to quickly implement their contingency plan, reducing losses and continuing to serve their loyal clients despite the disruption.

    Built with MindStudio: Powering Intelligent Scenario Planning

    The Scenario Planning Tool within BoardmateAI Basic is made possible through MindStudio. By leveraging the advanced capabilities of MindStudio, we’ve created a tool that offers:

    • Data-driven insights to help businesses model risks effectively and prepare appropriate responses.
    • A user-friendly interface that makes scenario planning accessible to all business owners, regardless of their background in data analysis.
    • The ability to visualize complex scenarios in a simple, easy-to-understand manner, empowering you to make informed decisions quickly.

    MindStudio allows us to provide small businesses with sophisticated AI tools that help them stay resilient and proactive, even in the face of unpredictable challenges.

    Transforming Risk into Opportunity with BoardmateAI

    Resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges—it’s about having the tools and plans to handle them effectively. With BoardmateAI Basic’s Scenario Planning Tool, your business can:

    • Anticipate potential risks before they become realities.
    • Develop and refine contingency plans that provide a clear path forward during difficult times.
    • Minimize negative impacts and stay agile, adapting to whatever changes come your way.

    Planning for the unexpected doesn’t eliminate uncertainty, but it ensures that you are prepared—turning risks into manageable challenges and maintaining stability.

    Ready to Plan for the Unexpected?

    At Halyard Consulting, we believe that the key to long-term success is not avoiding challenges, but being prepared for them. With BoardmateAI Basic, you have the power to model risks, develop contingency plans, and ensure your business remains resilient in the face of uncertainty.

    If you’re ready to take your business’s resilience to the next level, stay tuned for more information on our upcoming launch and see how BoardmateAI can help you prepare for a successful future.

    Stay Connected for Early Access

    Prepare for what’s next with BoardmateAI Basic. Early access is coming soon—let’s turn uncertainty into opportunity together.