All Episodes

Are single-purpose apps going to replace SaaS? I've been building small, focused tools with AI to replace subscriptions that solve my problem, just not quite my way, and I'm not the only one.  Also: a well-researched piece on why AI isn't actually coming for your job, and some very good news for Ted Lasso fans. On My Mind: Single purpose apps/the age of personalized software. Recommended Reading: The task is not the job Recommended Media: Ted Lasso Season 4 Trailer Want to get these wrap-ups delivered straight to your inbox, along with a bonus Automation of the Week? Sign up here: https://streamlined.fm/wrap Listener feedback: https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Using AI to write your book is like using a car to run your marathon. Sure, you covered the distance — but nobody's impressed. Here's what I'm seeing with solopreneur automation right now: people are handing off their most important work to AI without thinking about what that signals. When you let a language model write your first draft, come up with your ideas, or do your thinking for you, you're telling your audience that a lesser version of you is good enough. And if you can't be bothered to think through the problem you solve, why should anyone hire you to solve it? The reason most of us reach for AI isn't laziness. It's that running a one-person business leaves you feeling too busy to do the creative work. So I break down how to speed up your creative process without removing yourself from it: building an idea capture system so you never start from a blank screen, using AI for editing and feedback instead of drafting, and delegating the publishing busywork to a VA or tool like Claude Cowork. I also talk about how to automate your business in a way that frees up time for the work that actually matters — the writing, the thinking, the stuff that keeps your solopreneur systems running on your ideas, not some average of an LLM’s training. Want a better understanding of how you spend your time? Start with the free Solopreneur Sweep — a step-by-step method for finding where your business is losing time: https://streamlined.fm/sweep Show Notes 3 Lessons Solopreneurs Should Take From the Olympics The First Draft is Where The Magic Happens Is AI Making Your Podcast Easier to Skip? (Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast) The 3 Question Test for Using AI Effectively

This week I've been deep in my SEO and content strategy, and it got me thinking: am I just trading one algorithm for another? I left social media to stop chasing feeds, but now I'm optimizing for Google, YouTube, and even AI search. Here's where I landed. Also: Cal Newport's take on Claude Mythos (spoiler: no, it's not terrifying), Ryan Holiday's Discipline is Destiny and what it has to say to solopreneurs, and a behind-the-scenes Architectural Digest video about the Scrubs revival that made me think hard about where it's actually worth spending your time. On My Mind Are we beholden to algorithms no matter what we do? Recommended Reading Is Claude Mythos Terrifying? | AI Reality Check Discipline is Destiny Recommended Media How the Scrubs team rebuilt Sacred Heart

What if the best business advice you ever got came from a book about ancient philosophy? I've been on a bit of a reading bender this year — physical books, old ideas, things written long before the age of notifications and hustle culture. And when I picked up Ryan Holiday's Discipline Is Destiny, I wasn't expecting it to hit so close to home as a solopreneur. But it did. Here are 3 lessons I took away from the book — specifically things solopreneurs need to hear. If you're not sure what you actually do each day — and most of us aren't — start there. Head to streamlined.fm/app to grab my free task journaling system. It's the first step to building the kind of order that actually frees you. Show Notes Discipline Is Destiny by Ryan Holiday Streamlined Solopreneur Task Journal App

AI brain is when you've come to rely on AI for even the most basic things -- and after a week deep in Claude Max, I felt it creep back in. I'm sharing the three warning signs I've identified so you can catch it early, plus how bad sleep and brain fog made it worse. I've also got recommended reading from Mike Schmitz on using Claude to script YouTube videos (not my approach, but a thoughtful one), and a More Perfect Union video that exposes Polymarket's prediction markets for what they really are. On my mind AI Brian Good Sleep How much are we really on our phones? Recommended Reading How Claude Helped Me Make the Videos I Want to Make Recommended Media Polymarket Asked To Work With Us. We Exposed Their Scam Instead. Scrubs Revival

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 tools The 3 things you still need to understand even when AI is writing the code Quick wins: where AI-assisted coding actually saves time My cautionary tale of building an iOS app with AI A 5-question decision framework for solopreneurs considering building software 3 pieces of advice if you do decide to go for it How 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 mind Using AI to do all of the writing for you. Using Claude MAX Recommended Reading Rethinking RSS, newsletters, and how I read every morning The 3 Question Test for Using AI Effectively Recommended Media I Made a Network of Every Home Run in MLB History Send 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/app Show Notes The Sidekick Notepad The Plus/Minus/Next Approach Send 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 Notes Todoist At 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/tools Show Notes Why “Working Harder” Is Making You a Worse Solopreneur Beyond Box-Ticking: How to Build an Olympic-Caliber Business Why Curling, and Your Business, Relies on Friction Management Have 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 Notes Avital Spivak Connect with Avital on LinkedIn How I helped Laura Brazan save money on tools What 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 Notes The Intentional Vacation: How My Systems Delivered True Family Time How I’m Staying Checked Out for a Week’s Vacation How Solopreneurs Can Take More Time Off in 2026 Send 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 app Send 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 Notes The First Draft is Where the Magic Happens The Automation Quiz Have 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 device Read 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 Notes Whisper 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/ Links Becky Pierson Davidson Build with Becky How to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson Davidson What 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.com 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