Can you relate?
One of the biggest mistakes I made when I started my business was spending the day on the soul-sucking, repetitive stuff. I was invoicing clients, scheduling social media posts, answering the same questions, and sending emails for hours before I could dive into my big, audacious goals..
That’s not the work of a visionary. That’s the work of a machine.
And that machine might just be you.
You became an entrepreneur to have an impact. To implement the creative, strategic ideas that are unique to you. When you’re stuck doing what feels like robot work, you’re not just wasting time; you’re blocking your genius. You’re using your unique human elements to do a job a machine could handle. It’s like asking a superhero to mop the floor. It’s a waste of your most valuable resource: You. (And let’s face it, you could have a lot more time freedom in the long run if you could offload some of those blah tasks.)
What’s the secret to getting more time?
Thanks to AI, you don’t have to do what can be automated anymore. AI is your new employee. It works 24/7, doesn’t need a salary, and it’s happy to do all the crap you hate. This isn’t about replacing you. It’s about liberating you so you can do the work that actually matters.
Your assignment this week:
Let’s make a deal. Right now, I want you to identify just one single repetitive task you do daily or weekly. Just one. Don’t overthink it. Is it creating content calendars? Drafting client proposals? Managing customer support tickets? Whatever it is, that task is your target.
Now, I want you to ask AI to fix it. Just start the conversation. This simple act of delegating one tiny task to a machine can be the domino that frees up hours, days, even weeks of your life.
Do This: Pick one repetitive task. Then, ask AI to fix it.
Not That: Don’t keep doing the repetitive stuff that’s blocking you from your best stuff.
Go AI: Your personal automation consultant
To get started, I’ve created a prompt that you can copy and paste directly into your favorite AI tool, like ChatGPT or Gemini. This isn’t just a generic command; it’s a way to start a guided conversation that will help you uncover automation opportunities and then actually implement them.
Copy and paste this prompt:
As your personal business automation consultant, I will ask you one question at a time to uncover opportunities for automation in your business. Based on your answers, I will then guide you through the process of automating these tasks or, where possible, automate them for you. To begin, please tell me about your business. What industry are you in? What is your primary product or service? And what is the biggest pain point you currently face?
The bigger picture: Your blueprint for freedom
This isn’t just about a new tech tool. It’s about a new mindset. It’s about designing a business that supports your genius instead of burying it under a mountain of mundane tasks. It’s a core concept I’ve been shouting from the rooftops for years.
In The Pumpkin Plan, I hammered on the importance of saying no to the low-value stuff. In Chapter 6, pages 90-95, you’ll learn how to identify the “weeds”; the clients and tasks that suck your time and energy, and get rid of them. Automating is the ultimate “no” to that kind of work.
Clockwork, is all about making your business run itself. The key is identifying your Queen Bee Role: the one vital function that makes your business fly. In Chapter 11, pages 150-155, I explain how you can document and automate everything else so you can protect that vital function.
And if you don’t know where to start, Fix This Next is your roadmap. The whole book is a framework for identifying the single most important thing to fix in your business right now. In Chapter 8, pages 120-125, we talk about moving from stability to true efficiency. Automation is the engine that drives that shift.
The Final Thought: Be wise, overlook the mundane
Look, you’re already a superhero. Don’t waste your powers mopping the floor. As William James said, “The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.” It’s time to overlook the junk that’s holding you back.
Now, go get out there and do your best stuff. The world needs it.
-Mike
Links to the books:
The Money Habit: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781774586433
Get Different: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593330630
Fix This Next: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593084410
Profit First: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780735214149
Pumpkin Plan: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9781591844884
All In: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593544501
Clockwork: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780593538173
Money Bunnies: https://bookshop.org/a/4474/9780578929989