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I understand the temptation of using AI to write your own apps. I’m sick of the endless subscriptions, feature bloat, and raising the subscription price to accommodate the feature bloat. But it may not be all it’s cracked up to be.It can definitely be a huge timesaver (I've used it to build WordPress plugins and write Obsidian Dataview code), but it can also be a huge time suck.It can be hard to know if it’s worth trying. That’s why in this episode, I give you a simple 5-question framework to help you decide when building your own software makes sense — and when it's just a shiny distraction.If you've ever thought about vibe coding your way to the perfect tool, this one's for you.Have you tried vibe coding something for your business? I want to hear about it — head over to Streamlined Feedback and leave me a voice note.And if you want to try the iOS app I built, join the beta at streamlined.fm/app. In this episode, I cover:Why the death of single-purpose software is making us all want to build our own toolsThe 3 things you still need to understand even when AI is writing the codeQuick wins: where AI-assisted coding actually saves timeMy cautionary tale of building an iOS app with AIA 5-question decision framework for solopreneurs considering building software3 pieces of advice if you do decide to go for itHow to use your app as "sawdust" — and turn it into a lead magnet

I'm trying a new format this week called the Friday Wrap-up, where I tell you what's on my mind, and recommend some articles and videos. The hope here is to curate some more timely resources to help you think about your solopreneur systems, and how to work better so you can take more time off! Here's the Wrap-Up for April 10, 2026. On my mindUsing AI to do all of the writing for you.Using Claude MAXRecommended ReadingRethinking RSS, newsletters, and how I read every morningThe 3 Question Test for Using AI EffectivelyRecommended MediaI Made a Network of Every Home Run in MLB HistorySend feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

I can’t imagine something more overwhelming than sitting down on Monday and having no idea what to work on, despite knowing you have a bunch of work to do. But that’s how many solopreneurs start their week.Even worse, when you don’t know what to do, it’s easier for other people to hijack your time, you waste time by deciding in the moment, and it’s hard to measure success.I’ve spent years refining a system that takes just 20 to 25 minutes every Sunday, but saves me hours of "buffer time" and decision fatigue during the week. By the time I walk into my office on Monday morning, I already know exactly which three tasks I need to accomplish.Today I’m going to share that system with you.Want to try my new Daily Three app for iOS? Join my mailing list to here: https://streamlined.fm/appShow NotesThe Sidekick NotepadThe Plus/Minus/Next ApproachSend feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Most task managers only tell you half the story. They show you what you checked off, but they have no idea that you moved that one task four days in a row, or that you cleared three things on Tuesday because you felt guilty, not because they were actually done.I've used pretty much every task manager out there; Todoist is my favorite and I still use it every day. But a while back I realized it couldn't tell me how I was actually working. That's where task journaling came in.The system I use is simple: pick three tasks (and only three) for the day, check in with yourself at midday, and do a quick honest assessment at the end. What worked, what didn't, and — more importantly — why. Do that for two weeks and you'll start to see real patterns in your solopreneur productivity. Not what you wish were true, but what's actually true.That kind of self-knowledge is what makes solopreneur systems actually stick. Because you can't automate your business or protect your time if you don't understand how you spend it in the first place.Need some help? Try the Daily Three Task Journal app (currently in beta on TestFlight) or grab the free Notion template at streamlined.fm/app. And if you already use some form of task journaling, I'd love to hear about it — head over to streamlinedfeedback.com and let me know.Show NotesTodoistAt Your Best by Carey Nieuwhof

I loved watching the Olympics this year — more than usual. Part of it was the great stories and incredible performances. But a big part of it was that it was a celebration of human accomplishment.I believe firmly that AI can’t replace the actual good, worthwhile work we do…and the Olympics is a shining example of that. So for this episode, I wanted to share 3 lessons I think every solopreneur should learn from the Olympics.You need your own “taper day”: Why working harder actually makes you worse at running your business.Lasting gratification is better than instant gratification: Using technology and AI to polish your work, not replace your unique human contribution.Friction Management: How to "sweep" your business like a curler—removing obstacles to your goals while adding healthy barriers to distractions.Want to reduce the friction in your business? Take the free tools audit: https://streamlined.fm/toolsShow NotesWhy “Working Harder” Is Making You a Worse SolopreneurBeyond Box-Ticking: How to Build an Olympic-Caliber BusinessWhy Curling, and Your Business, Relies on Friction ManagementHave thoughts? Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

In 1998, I got genuinely frustrated with my mom for not knowing how to right-click. I thought technology was just… obvious. It took me an embarrassingly long time to realize it was only obvious to me because I'd grown up with it. Not everyone has that background — and assuming they should is how a lot of solopreneurs end up feeling like their tools are working against them.That's exactly what tech confidence coach Avital Spivak and I get into in this episode. She works with people who feel chronically behind on technology, and her perspective reframed something I think about a lot: "I have a need" doesn't automatically mean "I need a new tool." More often, it means there's a gap in how you're using what you already have.We talk about the mental blocks that keep solopreneurs from getting the most out of their tech stack — and how to start thinking about your software and hardware as a team rather than a to-do list of things you're failing at. If your one-person business runs on tools that feel more like chaos than clarity, this one's worth your time.Getting your tech stack right is one of the fastest ways to work less and still keep everything moving — and it starts with knowing what you actually need.Show NotesAvital SpivakConnect with Avital on LinkedInHow I helped Laura Brazan save money on toolsWhat do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

What will really happen if you don't respond to that email right away? I used to think "dedication" meant being reachable around the clock — skipping concerts, missing date nights, even taking a work call on Christmas Day. Then a pair of Hamilton tickets on my anniversary changed everything. My project manager told me I had to work through the weekend just to get paid on time. I said no, logged off, and came back Monday. Nothing fell apart.If you're afraid to leave your laptop behind on vacation or can't put your phone away at the movies, you've got what I call Strong Main Character Energy — the belief that everyone is waiting on you specifically. Spoiler: they're not.In this episode, I walk through the three-step framework that helped me go from burnt-out employee to streamlined solopreneur: Managing Expectations, setting Physical Boundaries, and shifting your Mindset. These aren't just feel-good ideas — they're the actual solopreneur systems I built to stop letting my inbox run my life.I also talk about The Brick (yes, a physical thing), why the "work from anywhere" promise of a one-person business so easily turns into "work from everywhere," and how the right tech can either protect your boundaries or quietly destroy them.Show NotesThe Intentional Vacation: How My Systems Delivered True Family TimeHow I’m Staying Checked Out for a Week’s VacationHow Solopreneurs Can Take More Time Off in 2026Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

I had Strep Throat this week, and when I got sick of being cooped up in bed, I decided to do something interesting: use AI to code an iOS app.I have a lot of thoughts that probably require a part two to this note, but for now, I walk through the requirements, how the process was, and why this could be worth my time. Screenshots from the appSend feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com. Join my mailing list to get first dibs on a beta: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/hello-there/ 

Not all repetition is bad. Practicing a speech, drilling a recipe, building a training habit — that kind of repetition compounds over time. But there's another kind of repetition that doesn't build anything. It just eats your day, week after week, while your most important work sits untouched.I recently caught myself stuck in exactly that cycle. The kind where you're busy, you feel productive, but nothing is actually moving forward. Sound familiar?In this episode, I break down how to tell the difference between repetitive work that serves you and repetitive work that's quietly holding you back — and more importantly, how to get out of it. For solopreneurs, this is where business automation stops being a nice-to-have and becomes essential. If you're doing the same task more than twice, there's a good chance it's stealing time you could be spending on higher-leverage work.I'll walk you through what I spotted in my own workflow, what I changed, and how you can run the same kind of audit on your one-person business to find where you're spinning your wheels.Show NotesThe First Draft is Where the Magic HappensThe Automation QuizHave thoughts? Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

I bought a modern iPod — not because I needed one, but because I realized I didn’t actually own most of the music I thought I did.It began with my daughter’s intense love of music. I’m committed to keeping smartphones out of my kids’ lives until they’re teens, and that meant finding a way for her to enjoy music without an internet-connected deviceRead more over at https://paperandsmoke.com

I grew up watching people yell into their Nextel phones at the mall in the late 90s, and it put me off talking to my phone for years. There was something deeply embarrassing about it — like you were performing for everyone around you just to send a message.I've completely changed my tune.As someone who does a lot of thinking away from my desk — on walks, in the car, between school pickups — I've found that talking to my phone is one of the most underrated solopreneur productivity moves out there. Not because it feels futuristic, but because it actually works.In this episode, I break down two specific apps that have made it practical: Whisper Memos for capturing longer thoughts with full context, and Todoist's Ramble feature for turning a brain dump into an actual task list. Together, they've changed how I handle my shutdown routine and make sure nothing slips through the cracks when I'm away from my desk.If you've ever lost a great idea because you couldn't write it down fast enough, this one's for you.Show NotesWhisper Memos: The iOS app I use for high-quality transcription and custom summaries.Todoist: My go-to task manager, specifically using the new "Ramble" feature for voice-to-task entry.Video: Todoist Killed My Favorite Automation (and I'm Happy About It)Streamlined Feedback: Share how you use voice notes at streamlinedfeedback.com

I tested the reMarkable 2 with the Type Folio keyboard hoping for a distraction‑free, E‑ink writing experience. It’s a great device but I found it wasn't great for my workflow. Here’s why. Plus, a new experiment. Let me know your thoughts at https://streamlinedfeedback.com.  Visit https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/ for more insights.  Is your tech stack helping you or just adding to the noise? Take my free tech stack assessment to see if your tools are actually worth it at https://streamlined.fm/tools

I got home at 3 a.m. after a week of back-to-back conference days and Disney park days with my brother. I was exhausted. And my flight had just been delayed six hours. But somewhere around hour three in that airport, I realized something: this was the most downtime I'd had in weeks. No kids. No client work. No next thing to rush toward. Just me, a restaurant, a book, and two other stranded strangers I ended up making friends with.That forced chaos buffer reminded me why I built my business the way I did — and why so many solopreneurs never get to experience it at all.When I tested the idea that I took four full weeks off last year — my best fiscal year to date — the reactions I got were almost uniformly "I could never do that." And I get it. I felt that way too, right after I left my job. But that belief is costing you more than you think.In this episode, I walk through the exact approach I use to step away without things falling apart: auditing your time, auditing your tools, automating what you can, delegating what you can't, and communicating early enough that you're actually in control of your schedule instead of the other way around.

Memberships and Communities are a great way to stop selling hours for dollars. But you need to do it right. I recently sat down with my good friend Becky Pierson Davidson to talk about why so many communities fail and how she helps solopreneurs turn "ghost town" memberships into thriving, seven-figure assets It hinges on this: people don’t want a library of 150 hours of video; they want to solve a problem.If you’ve ever felt like your membership is a "traffic circle with no signs," this conversation is the GPS you need to create a clear member journey and build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.Looking to create even more time and space? Check out my free tools audit so you can make sure the apps and gear you use to run your business are actually helping you, not hurting you: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/tools/LinksBecky Pierson DavidsonBuild with BeckyHow to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson DavidsonWhat do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

I picked up reMarkable 2 to see how I liked typing on an eInk device. I share some initial impressions, but am facing a bigger, more interesting problem: how to I make it play nicely within my current writing ecosystem? Get all of the episodes at https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.comIs your tech stack helping you or just adding to the noise? Take my free tech stack assessment to see if your tools are actually worth it at https://streamlined.fm/tools

What do Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Marie Curie, Ben Franklin, and Virginia Woolf all have in common? They all created long-lasting, humanity-impacting work…without the use of AI.See, there are lots of people who will tell you that you need to use AI or get left behind. Those people are wrong.In fact, I think the way to stand out is to not use AI. At least, not in the way everyone else is using it. While most people are using it to create for them…trying to get ChatGPT to “sound just like” them, I think you what you really need to do is create time and space to do good work.AI can help you do that. I talk about how in this episode.Looking to create even more time and space? Check out my free tools audit so you can make sure the apps and gear you use to run your business are actually helping you, not hurting you: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/tools/What do you think? Leave feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.comAnd finally, if you need Girl Scout Cookies and haven’t had someone come to your door, check out the video Teresa made for you at https://teresacasabona.com

It's the end of January and my Year of Digital Detox is in full swing. Here's how I'm doing with it so far. Read about The Year of Digital Detox: https://casabona.org/2026/01/2026-yearly-theme-digital-detox/Subscribe to Paper & Smoke: https://paperandsmoke.comSubmit feedback: https://streamlinedfeedback.com

I was recently trying to do something that should have been simple: sharing my work calendar with my wife so she knows when I'm actually free for family time. I found myself digging through "secret" settings pages, checking her phone, then mine, and getting increasingly frustrated.It made me realize how often we settle for "fighting" our tools instead of letting them support us.You’ve probably heard me say that gear doesn’t matter. If you’re a new podcaster trying to drop $2,000 before you’ve hit "record," I stand by that. But when it comes to the daily operations of your business, the right gear—both hardware and software—matters immensely.Every minute you spend wrestling with a slow laptop, a glitchy hosting provider, or a manual process is a minute taken away from your family or your core mission.In this episode, I’m breaking down the "Gear" pillar of my GAPS framework. I'll share the specific tools that save me hours every week and give you a practical framework to audit your own toolbox.It’s time to stop letting bad systems eat your time so you can finally focus on your important work.Stop guessing which tools you need and start streamlining. Download my free Tools Audit at streamlined.fm/toolsShow NotesWhen is it Time to Switch Tools?TodoistMy Stream DeckRodeCaster Pro 2Ecamm LiveTella.tvHave a question or a favorite tool? Share it with me at streamlinedfeedback.com.

I’m deeply worried about humanity losing our critical thinking skills. We’ve seen it degrade in the social media era, and now we’re seeing people wholesale outsource it in the AI era. But what if we can actually enhance our critical thinking with AI? I’m too much of a skeptic to tackle this topic on my own, which is why I brought in Christian Ulstrup, who’s doing some truly interesting things in the AI space. We talk about how AI is changing the education space, how we work, and why we should look to classic philosophers, like Aristotle, for the answers to how we should approach AI.The Walk and Talk FrameworkWant a great way to use AI? Use Christian’s Walk and Talk Framework: Gather Your "Digital Exhaust": First, collect the raw data you've already produced. The AI Prompt: Copy and paste your text into a large-context model (like Google AI Studio) and use this specific prompt:"I want you to pose to me three extremely precise, very hard-hitting questions, all of which are independent and have different coverage, that if sufficiently answered, would yield some kind of transformative, genuinely novel, impactful insight. Please make reference to the primary source material where appropriate in the context of the question."The "Thinking" PhaseDon't look at the questions yet.Copy them into a mobile notes app and go for a wayRead only the first question. Open a Voice Memo and monologue your answer. Don't worry about being polished—mumble, ask yourself follow-up questions, and grapple with the idea until you feel you've reached a breakthrough. Repeat for the remaining questions. Distill the InsightLinksChristian Ulstrup on LinkedInThe First Draft is Where the Magic HappensHow Much is AI Harming Our Ability to Connect?Deep Questions Ep. 380: ChatGPT is Not AliveAristotle's Four CausesGSD at WorkRadiant Meeting RecorderGoogle AI StudioMailmeteorWhat do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

“What’s your exit strategy?” Someone actually asked me this when I was starting my business. I didn’t have one. I’m not in it for the exit. But the question went to something deeper: how are you going to make actual money? Because the problem is most solo business owners charge hourly. Or they need to hire to scale. OR they need to sell the business. But there’s a better way: Value-Based Pricing. And Jonathan Stark is here today to tell us about it. Want to see how you’re spending your time so you can do more value-based pricing? Download my solopreneur self-assessment: https://streamlined.fm/impact LinksJonathan StarkValue Pricing BootcampHourly Billing is NutsWhat do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com