Streamlined Solopreneur: Tips to Help Business Owners Grow Without Burnout

Nine years. 500 episodes. And one big question I've asked since the beginning. Do you have any trade secrets for us?

When I started this show (back when it was How I Built It), I was a newly married web developer with a side hustle and a curiosity for how others built their businesses. Ten years and three kids later, I’ve realized the mission has always been the same — helping solopreneurs build a business that supports the...

We turned productivity into a fantasy draft! 🏆

Four small business owners battle it out, picking the apps and tools we cannot live without — with some surprise steals, hot takes, and even a bonus round for our favorite analog gear.

Looking for new ways to save time, systemize your business, and actually enjoy the tools you use? This draft is packed with ideas you’ll want to steal.

Draft Order: 

1. Mike Schmitz
2. Layla Pompe...

Can you really delegate out when you are your business? Don’t people hire you to work with…well, you? 

That’s the question Justin Moore and I wrestle with. We talk about the challenge of running personality-driven businesses, why it’s so hard to step away, and how to build a company that serves your life instead of consuming it.

Justin shares how he’s built a coaching business with a team he trusts, why impact is his North S...

It seems like every day there’s a new tool designed to help us be more productive. They promise to help us to more, faster, better, with fewer resources. And it’s easy to get shiny object syndrome. So how do you know when it’s time to switch, or when it’s a waste of time and energy?

Luckily, as a chronic tool switcher, I’ve thought a lot about this very problem. And I have a framework to help you decide.

We’ll go thr...

Running a business while raising kids feels impossible some days. Between checking emails at the playground and working after bedtime, it's easy to feel like you're failing at both. But what if there was a better way?

Amanda Goetz has cracked the code on building an authentic business without the hustle culture nonsense. As a single mom of three who's built multiple six-figure income streams, she's learned that success isn'...

Ever go to do something – a task for your business, yard work, cooking – and suddenly realize you’re not sure where to start? 

It’s not that you don’t know what to do…you just need a little help organizing your thoughts. It would be a lot easier if everything is written down, step-by-step. That’s where SOPs come in. 

Most solopreneurs think SOPs are only for big companies with teams of 50+. But the truth? Even if you...

Ever stumble into entrepreneurship by accident? Dylan Redekop did — and he’s built a business that lets him spend time with his family, stay fit, and still grow his newsletter. 

We get into freelancing vs. solopreneurship vs. contracting, why balance matters more than hustle, and the little systems that keep ideas from slipping through the cracks (while still allowing us to be present parents). 

Looking for a way to find...

Ever feel like your business eats up every free moment? The truth is, you don’t need Taylor Swift-level fame or Hormozi-style hype to succeed. What you actually need is space—room to create, promote, and step away without guilt.

That’s why I use the GAPS framework: Gear, Automations, Playbooks, and Support. It’s the system that helped me reclaim 10–12 hours a week, even during one of the busiest summers of my life. In this ...

I've had a few conversations with parents lately about how it feels like our kids are being pushed through, "the machine." When we get that personal touch, it's notable — even unexpected.

I fear AI is killing personal touch in the name of reach. If you want to stand out, keeping the personal touch is quickly becoming the easiest way.

Have thoughts? Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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What happens when you’re a dad of 3, working a full-time job, and still running not one but two side hustles? That’s the question I put to my friend Matt Medeiros — fellow podcaster, WordPress veteran, and all-around content machine.

We talk honestly about what it takes to juggle parenting, work, and multiple projects without burning out (or completely losing your mind). From managing sponsorship revenue to choosing the rig...

I’ve been testing Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude to see which one actually helps me. Claude felt forgetful, so I dropped it. ChatGPT is still great at structured stuff, like rewriting transcripts. But for things I didn’t know how to start—like turning an outline into a flowchart or converting a school calendar into an ICS file—Gemini nailed it.

My takeaway? AI shines when I need guidance and structure. When I’m just being laz...

Sometimes running a business can feel a bit like the curse of Sisyphus — pushing a boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down again. Futile labor…because we dared to find life’s loopholes. But the difference between us and Sisyphus is we’re not cured. And our problems are totally fixable.

Today, I’m going to tell you about my D.A.D. Framework: how to Document, Automate, and Delegate your way out of overwhelm. Then I’...

I'm calling out something that's been bothering me since ChatGPT-5 launched - people are getting upset about AI "changing its voice" and referring to these tools as teammates. This kind of personification is dangerous because it gives AI agency it doesn't actually have. 

Just like you wouldn't call a hammer your teammate, we need to remember AI is simply a tool that gives statistically likely responses.

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Ready for the ultimate tech setup tour? After getting tons of questions about my gear and tools, I'm pulling back the curtain on EVERYTHING I use to run my business - from my $3000+ recording setup to the analog tools that keep me organized.

In this comprehensive walkthrough, I cover my entire recording studio (Sure SM7B, RoadCaster Pro 2, Sony A6400), the software that powers my business (Kit, Notion, Todoist), my Spartan ...