Stop Lying to Yourself: How AI Reveals Your Real Time Investment
How many times have you told yourself that podcast will only take an hour to record? Or that client proposal? Just thirty minutes, right? Here's the uncomfortable truth every solopreneur needs to face: you're lying to yourself about how long things actually take. And that lie is keeping you trapped in operator mode instead of scaling to owner mode.
The problem isn't that you're bad at time management; it's that you've never truly measured what your workflows actually require. That's where today's guest comes in with a revelation that changed everything about how he runs his business.
Rich Brooks discovered that his "one-hour" podcast actually consumed three full hours of his time. But instead of throwing in the towel, he used AI to map every minute of that process and create systems that handle the heavy lifting. As the founder of Flyte New Media and host of The Agents of Change Digital Marketing Podcast with over 600 episodes, Rich has mastered the art of turning time-intensive processes into AI-powered efficiency machines. He's the perfect guide to help you stop underestimating your workflows and start building systems that actually scale.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Rich Brooks about:
✨ Time Truth-Telling: Discover how to accurately track where your hours really go and why most solopreneurs underestimate by 200%.
✨ AI Workflow Mapping: Learn Rich's proven process for identifying time drains and building custom AI assistants to handle repetitive tasks.
✨ Scale Without Staff: See exactly how one conversation becomes ten pieces of content through systematic AI integration.
Learn more about Rich Brooks
Connect with Rich Brooks on LinkedIn
Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode
Flyte New Media
Agents of Change
Scalability Audit
Fathom
Descript
AI Solopreneur OS Community
Notion
AI-Powered Blueprint for Solopreneurs
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Winning with Quality Over Quantity
00:19 AI-Powered Proposal Writing
02:17 Introducing The AI Hat Podcast
02:40 The Reality of Time Management for Solopreneurs
03:09 Guest Introduction: Rich Brooks
04:31 Revelation: The True Time Cost of Podcasting
07:39 Time Tracking and Workflow Optimization
10:12 Automating Podcast Production with AI
10:42 Using Text Expander for Efficiency
12:34 Integrating AI in Podcast Production
16:38 SEO and AI: Enhancing Podcast Visibility
25:28 Evaluating AI-Generated Content
26:42 Comparing Major LLMs: Chat GPT, Gemini, and Claude
27:05 Customizing AI for Your Needs
27:34 SEO and Content Repurposing Strategies
30:09 AI in Proposal Writing
33:24 Recording and Utilizing Client Calls
34:14 LinkedIn Newsletters and AI Integration
36:19 Creating Accurate AI Voice Docs
3:56 Final Thoughts and Recommendations
45:55 Conclusion and Resources
SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/stop-lying-to-yourself-how-ai-reveals-your-real-time-investment/
Feeling stuck on the solopreneur hamster wheel? Diagnose your biggest bottleneck in just 15 minutes with my free Scalability Audit. Download it now at: https://theaihat.com/download/scalability/
Produced and Hosted by Mike Allton, founder of The AI Hat. He's a Business Systems Strategist who helps overworked solopreneurs and creators stop being employees in their own businesses. After building his own successful solo ventures for over a decade, Mike now teaches entrepreneurs how to build AI-powered operational systems that reclaim their time and allow them to finally scale.
Interested in being a guest? We're looking for experts who help solopreneurs build better, more scalable businesses. Reach out to Mike to learn more.
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48:16
Solopreneur's Guide to AI-Powered Social Media Automation
Are you spending hours manually responding to social media comments while your potential customers slip away because they never clicked that bio link? What if every comment could instantly become a direct message with your personalized link - automatically turning engagement into revenue while you focus on creating?
Here's the thing: most solopreneurs are trapped in manual social media management, responding to comments one by one and hoping someone will take action. Meanwhile, AI can analyze every interaction, craft authentic responses, and convert casual commenters into paying customers - all without you touching your phone. Imagine your social media working like a 24/7 sales assistant that never sleeps and never misses an opportunity.
Today I'm excited to introduce Jeff Dwoskin, founder of Stampede Social and a fascinating example of how unconventional backgrounds create breakthrough solutions. Jeff spent years as a comedian understanding what makes audiences tick, and he's channeled that insight into building AI tools that don't just automate responses - they amplify authentic connections. He's helping creators transform their social engagement into consistent revenue streams, and he's here to show you exactly how AI can become your most valuable business partner.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Jeff Dwoskin about:
✨ AI Revenue Conversion: Transform every social media comment into a direct sales opportunity through intelligent automation that sends personalized links straight to interested prospects' DMs.
✨ Smart Engagement Scaling: Use AI analysis to identify your most valuable interactions and automate responses that maintain authenticity while freeing up hours of manual work daily.
✨ Data-Driven Growth Strategy: Leverage AI-powered competitive analysis and reporting to make informed decisions about content, timing, and audience targeting that actually move the revenue needle.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Engagement Strategies
01:14 The AI Hat Podcast Introduction
02:44 Challenges of Manual Social Media Management
03:29 Guest Introduction: Jeff Dwoskin of Stampede Social
04:18 From Comedy to AI: Jeff's Journey
04:35 The Art of Audience Engagement
09:57 Automating Social Media Interactions
11:13 The Problem with Link in Bio
15:01 Benefits of AI-Driven Engagement
16:15 Introducing Stampede Social
19:16 Balancing Automation with Authenticity
24:47 Leveraging AI for Content Creation
25:13 Using AI for Podcast Show Notes
27:47 Competitive Analysis with AI
31:14 Automated DM Systems and Engagement
34:33 AI-Powered Data Reporting
35:41 Effective Social Media Strategies
42:56 Future of AI in the Creator Economy
45:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Learn more about Jeff Dwoskin
Connect with Jeff Dwoskin on LinkedIn
Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode
Stampede Social
Jenn Herman
Agorapulse
Notion
Otter.ai
Magai
Grab the free Scalability Audit and find your leaky buckets
Follow Mike Allton on Instagram and get more AI tips
Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast
Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/solopreneurs-guide-to-ai-powered-social-media-automation/
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47:02
How to Build a 6-Figure Business Working Just 25 Hours a Week with AI
What if everything you believe about building a successful business is actually keeping you trapped? Most solopreneurs think more hours equals more money, but they're stuck in what I call the "hamster wheel of hustle" – running faster and faster while getting nowhere because they're doing everything manually. You become the bottleneck in your own business, and no matter how talented you are, there are still only 24 hours in a day.
But what if you could flip the script entirely and build a thriving 6-figure business working just 25 hours a week? Today marks our 100th episode milestone, and I've brought you someone who's living proof this isn't just possible – it's proven.
Meet Tim Cortinovis – a man who's been working with AI for 35 years and has cracked the code on anti-hustle entrepreneurship. Tim is a bestselling author of six books, including "Agentic Sales: AI and the Future of Sales," and he's recognized as a Top 10 Thought Leader in Agentic AI. But here's what makes Tim remarkable: he's built a 6-figure consulting business that runs almost entirely on autopilot, requiring just 25 hours of his time per week. His newsletter runs completely hands-free with 40% open rates, and he's created an AI assistant named "Rick" who handles all customer communications. Tim isn't just talking about the future of AI in business – he's living it every single day.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Tim Cortinovis about:
✨ AI-First Mindset: Shifting from viewing AI as a tool to seeing it as your business partner and primary operating system.
✨ Automation Architecture: Creating interconnected systems that handle research, content creation, customer communications, and lead nurturing without constant oversight.
✨ Strategic Time Investment: Understanding that working fewer hours requires more upfront planning and system design, but pays exponential dividends in freedom and scalability.
Grab the free Scalability Audit and find your leaky buckets
Follow Mike Allton on Threads and get more AI tips
Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast
Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/how-to-build-a-6-figure-business-working-just-25-hours-a-week-with-ai/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The AI Debate
02:16 Podcast Introduction and Guest Welcome
02:38 The Anti-Hustle Business Model
03:14 Meet Tim Cortinovis: AI Pioneer
04:13 Tim's Journey with AI
06:26 Automating Business Operations
10:21 AI Tools and Techniques
21:15 Maintaining Human Connection in an AI-Driven World
35:55 Challenges and Overcoming Them
40:42 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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43:00
Are you training your AI, or is your AI training you?
Ever feel like you're spending more time teaching your AI tools how to work than actually getting work done? You're not alone.
In this week's AI Hat Dispatch, I share the brutal moment I realized I'd become an unpaid trainer for yet another "revolutionary" AI video tool - and the eye-opening lesson that changed everything about how I approach AI in my business.
If you've ever found yourself jumping between a dozen different AI platforms, each demanding you learn their language and work around their limitations, this episode is for you. We'll explore why the most successful solopreneurs don't actually use more AI tools - they use fewer, better, and smarter ones.
More importantly, I'll show you the difference between being your AI's assistant versus being its boss, and why that shift is the key to finally building systems that work FOR you instead of against you.
This isn't about adding another tool to your stack. It's about becoming the architect of your own AI-powered business.
Join the AI Solopreneur OS community at https://theaihat.com/aisos
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Harsh Reality for Solopreneurs
03:08 The AI Paradox: Tools or Chains?
03:23 The Early Railroad Analogy
03:31 Designing Systems Around Human Expertise
03:38 The Secret to Successful Solopreneurship
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6:34
AI for Introverts: Your Unfair Advantage
As a solopreneur, have you ever felt like your energy is your most limited resource? You can handle the client work, the creative thinking... but it's the constant pressure to be "on"—the networking, the social media, the self-promotion—that leaves you completely drained.
It's a frustrating trap. You know you need to be visible to grow, but the very act of putting yourself out there feels like a performance that goes against your nature. You end up thinking that to succeed, you have to become someone you're not: a loud, extroverted marketer. So you hit a wall, convinced that your quiet nature is a business liability.
But what if that's completely wrong? What if your introversion is actually your unfair advantage? Today, we're going to flip the script and show you how to use AI to build a business that doesn't just accommodate your introverted strengths, but is actively powered by them.
And there is no one better to guide us through this than Goldie Chan. Goldie is known as the "Oprah of LinkedIn" for a reason - she's a world-renowned keynote speaker, a contributor to Forbes, and the founder of a top-tier social media strategy agency that's worked with major brands. She is a master of building powerful personal brands, and with her new book for introverts, she's the perfect expert to show us how to stop fighting our nature and start using it to win.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Goldie Chan about:
✨ Identify Your Superpowers: Pinpoint the natural strengths of introverts that are critical for business success.
✨ Build Your AI Co-Pilot: Learn how to automate the marketing and networking tasks that drain your energy.
✨ Scale Without Small Talk: Discover a practical framework for growing your business authentically.
Learn more about Goldie Chan
Connect with Goldie Chan on LinkedIn
Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode
Personal Branding for Introverts
H.U.M.A.N. Framework for AI Adoption
Acrobat Studio
AI as Your Co-Host: Unleashing NotebookLM’s Potential in Content Marketing
Notion
Custom GPTs for Marketers: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Build your first AI assistant, an AI Work Buddy
GoldieChan.com
Diagnostic Quiz
Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast
Chapters:
00:00 The Power of Automating the Right Tasks
01:16 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast
02:45 The Struggles of Solopreneurs and Introverts
03:27 Meet Goldie Chan: The Oprah of LinkedIn
04:13 Goldie's New Book and the Writing Process
06:12 Introvert Superpowers in Business
14:03 AI Tools for Introverts
22:24 Content Creation Strategies for Introverts
30:34 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
35:14 Conclusion and Resources
Show Notes & Transcript: https://theaihat.com/ai-for-introverts-your-unfair-advantage/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are you an established solopreneur, creator, or micro-business owner who's hit a ceiling? You're successful, but you're trapped—drowning in administrative tasks, struggling to keep up with marketing, and realizing that your income is directly tied to the hours you work. You know AI is the answer, but you're overwhelmed by the hype and don't know where to start.
"The AI Hat Podcast" is your practical guide to escaping the grind.
This isn't another show about abstract AI theory. This is a workshop for building your AI-powered operational engine, piece by piece. Join your host, Mike Allton—a fellow solopreneur and AI architect—as he provides step-by-step "AI Workflow Teardowns" designed to solve your biggest bottlenecks.
You’ll learn how to:
Reclaim 15+ hours a week by identifying and automating the repetitive tasks that consume your day.
Build custom "AI Agents" that act as your social media manager, content assistant, and operations coordinator.
Achieve true scalability by designing systems that grow your business without requiring you to hire more staff.
Apply the H.U.M.A.N. Framework to ensure AI augments your unique creativity and expertise, rather than replacing it.
This show is for the ambitious Growth Architect who is ready to move from operator to owner.
Start your journey to scalability now by downloading our free Scalability Audit at TheAIHat.com/download/scalability/.
And join the conversation with Mike on Instagram @mike.allton at https://www.instagram.com/mike.allton/, where he shares daily tips and behind-the-scenes looks at building an AI-powered business.
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