On this new episode of Chronically Automated, Meghan and Anthony unpack a conversation that hits home for founders who are done building businesses around unrealistic expectations. Broadcasting from a literal closet in Long Beach Island, Anthony shares how he’s managing to blend vacation and work, thanks to systems and automation that actually support real life, not some productivity fantasy.

The big idea in this episode is battery-based business planning. That means designing your operations, systems, and calendars around the version of yourself who isn’t operating at 100%. Most entrepreneurs build their workflows for their peak performance days, the days when everything is aligned, energy is high, focus is sharp, and motivation is overflowing. But those days are rare. And when you’re neurodivergent, chronically ill, or just a human running a business, building for your best-case scenario is a recipe for failure.

Meghan calls out what she describes as sabotage in disguise. Every time you fail to meet your perfectly structured plan, you chip away at your confidence. And then you blame yourself for not showing up, instead of questioning why the system didn’t support you on an off day. The problem isn’t your lack of discipline, it’s the rigidity of your systems. That’s why she pushes hard for building in a margin of error. Your operations should catch you when you fall, not punish you for being human.

The episode also calls out a major pitfall in small business automation: duct-taping your tech stack with tools like Zapier and Make, without a real strategy. That Frankenstein approach eventually becomes unmanageable, especially when your energy dips and you don’t have the bandwidth to fix it. If your systems only work when you’re at full capacity, they don’t actually work.

Anthony shares his journey of being skeptical at first, even with an IT background, because he simply didn’t realize what was possible. Once he saw that everything from lead gen to follow-ups to landing pages could run from a single platform with built-in automations, it was game-changing. He went from disbelief to full buy-in, and it’s clear he’s not looking back.

This episode doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of being a business owner with inconsistent energy. It’s not about pushing harder, it’s about building smarter. Megan and Anthony give listeners permission to build systems that don’t rely on their best selves, and instead, support them through the messy, real-world ups and downs of entrepreneurship.

Chronically Automated continues to serve as the go-to resource for business owners who want to blend smart tech, sustainable growth, and real-life rhythms, without pretending it’s always perfect. This one’s a must-listen.

This episode was a bit different from the usual tech-deep-dives I love, but in the best possible way. I brought on someone who, in my opinion, embodies one of the most overlooked systems in business today: real, human networking. Not the transactional kind. Not the mass-DM spam kind. I'm talking about the kind that actually builds relationships and drives opportunity over time.

Marc Lawrence joined me for this episode, and if you don’t know him yet, you should. He’s a former litigator, real estate exec, and now a key player in land development and private equity. He’s also one of the earliest members of the BrandBilt community, and, honestly, one of the best natural connectors I’ve ever met.

What I loved about this conversation is that it reminded me of something most entrepreneurs forget: not all systems are tech stacks. Some of the most valuable systems in our business are the human-powered ones, the way we show up consistently, the way we follow up, the way we build trust in real time and in person.

Marc talked about growing a title insurance company from 15 to 150 people before selling it, working directly with Barbara Corcoran (yes, that Barbara), and how he’s using LinkedIn to take conversations from online to IRL, without ever losing his voice or his authenticity. The guy shows up fully as himself, and it’s why people naturally want to do business with him.

He’s also in his 50s, still learning, still evolving, and still out there showing up on LinkedIn better than people half his age. That kind of consistency, curiosity, and humility is something I’ll always respect, and it’s a big part of what this podcast is really about: creating systems that work because they’re human, not in spite of it.

This episode isn’t about software, CRMs, or AI, but it’s absolutely about systems. If you’ve been sleeping on the power of your network, your personal brand, or the opportunities that come from simply showing up consistently and building relationships with intention, this one’s for you.

Connect with Marc Lawrence on LinkedIn to see what real relationship-building looks like in action.

In the latest episode of The Queen of Automation, I sat down with Bill Fanter, a live trading educator who makes the stock market feel a whole lot less intimidating. Bill is based in Las Vegas, ironically, he doesn’t gamble, and instead focuses on helping people “be the house” in the market by trading with discipline and strategy.

We dove into the psychology behind trading, why 80% of success comes from mindset and only 20% from technical skills, and how greed and fear move the markets. Bill shared why chasing “hot tips” on TikTok is a recipe for disaster, the importance of risk management, and why you should never trade more than 10% of your account balance. He also walked me through how he built a thriving online community where members can watch him trade live alongside other professional analysts, get a free weekly watch list, and take part in his masterclass, all powered by automation that keeps his business running like clockwork.

One of my favorite moments was hearing how Bill’s students are now bringing their kids into the program, teaching high schoolers and young adults not just how to trade, but how to understand market technicals for long-term wealth building. We also got into the nitty-gritty of trading technology, the quirks of platforms like Think or Swim, and why even the best systems can still be at the mercy of internet service providers.

If you’ve ever been curious about live trading, automation in financial education, or building an engaged membership community, you’ll get a ton of insight from this conversation.

Connect with Bill on LinkedIn or visit billfanter.com to access his Discord community, masterclass, free weekly watch list, and webinars.