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.

On this episode of Chronically Automated, Anthony and I dive deep into something that hits way too close to home for so many of us: automation shame. That feeling like you’re cheating or being lazy for wanting help, for not wanting to do everything manually, for leaning on systems, tools, AI, or people to lighten the load. Spoiler alert: it’s bullshit.

I’m here to say it loud: you are not broken for needing help. You’re not weak. You’re not lazy. You’re just human. And if you’re neurodiverse like us, even more reason to build smart systems around your messy reality. Waiting until you're burned out or in the middle of a fog spiral is not the move. Automation isn't cheating. It’s survival. It’s strategy. It’s leadership.

We unpack where this guilt comes from: internalized ableism, perfectionism, ego, and how to reframe the whole damn thing. We also talk about how automation isn’t some cold, impersonal tech monster. Done right, it gives you your life back. And yeah, there is such a thing as over-automating, but let’s be real. Most of you aren’t even close to that line. You’re still doing everything manually.

Anthony also shares how he didn’t even know what was possible until we started working together. And that’s the truth for a lot of people. Even tech-savvy folks get stuck in old workflows because they just haven’t had someone come in with a fresh perspective and say, “Wait, what if we did it this way?”

We get into time recovery metrics, SOPs that require automation (not as an afterthought), gamifying progress, and creating celebration triggers that reinforce wins. Because this isn’t just about productivity. It’s about wellness, identity, and getting back to the parts of your business and life you actually like.

This episode is for every founder who’s ever felt guilty for not doing it all themselves. For every builder who bought a shiny template that didn’t work. For everyone who’s scared to ask for help or let go of control. Stop trying to fit your business into someone else’s blueprint. Get a custom fit. Ask for help. Use the damn tech.

Everything is figureoutable. You just don’t have to figure it out alone.

In this episode, I sat down with Sarah Blesi from Simple Clear Payments to talk about one of the most ignored, boring-but-critical pieces of the operations puzzle: payment processing. And before you roll your eyes, hang on. If you’re still using Stripe or PayPal just because it was easy to set up, and you’ve never looked at what it’s actually costing you, you need to hear this.

Sarah is one of those people who makes “unsexy” operations feel powerful. She’s not just cutting people’s fees. She’s giving business owners their time, their freedom, and their control back. And the kicker? It’s not complicated. She’s not waving a magic wand. She’s just paying attention to things most people have ignored for way too long.

We got into the mindset shift around cost versus value. How operational decisions like switching merchant services aren’t just about saving a few bucks. They’re about designing a better lifestyle. One of my favorite parts of this episode is when Sarah tells the story of a caterer she helped. Someone who used to spend an hour every night manually keying in payments, and how switching systems gave him 45 minutes a day back with his kids. That’s what it’s really about. Not percentages. Not spreadsheets. Time.

We also went deep on what I always talk about. That whole “work-life balance” thing is a lie. You’re one human being. You can’t separate your life into neat little compartments. So instead of chasing balance, start building a business that actually supports the life you want. Sarah gets that. Her whole approach is about cutting costs without cutting corners, reclaiming time without adding tech overwhelm, and making smarter choices that serve you now, not just when you hit seven figures.

If you're tired of busywork, buried in Stripe fees, or just sick of the idea that "this is the way it’s always been done," this episode is for you.

Connect with Sarah Blesi on LinkedIn to learn how to cut your processing costs, get your time back, and build a business that doesn’t burn you out.

In the latest episode of The Queen of Automation, I sit down with the incredible Paulina Tillman for a raw and real conversation that hits close to home for so many of us who’ve walked away from corporate life to build something on our own terms. Paulina is a mindset strategist who’s all about helping ex-corporate junkies rewire their thinking and start fresh, not just with what they do, but with who they are.

In this episode, Paulina shares the exact transformation process she guides her clients through, starting with who you’re being, not just what you’re doing. We break down how leaving corporate means unlearning decades of conditioning, things like "success equals a paycheck" and "you must always be productive to have worth." If you've ever been told what to do your entire life, from school to bosses, and then suddenly you're the one in charge, it can be paralyzing. This conversation is for you.

We also dive into why simply taking action doesn’t work if your identity is still stuck in fear or lack, and why the corporate mindset just doesn’t translate when you’re trying to build a personal brand or run a business. Paulina’s philosophy: don’t just take action, rebuild your thoughts, emotions, and beliefs first so the action actually works. And if you’re wondering about her community? It’s small, intimate, and filled with people who are ready to be brutally honest, show up messy, and do the work. No fluff. No hiding. Just true transformation.

This episode isn’t just a pep talk, it’s a recalibration for anyone feeling like they’re in the in-between. It’s about learning to trust yourself again, questioning the rules you were handed, and doing it all in a way that feels true to you.

Connect with Paulina on LinkedIn to learn more about the Mindset Mastery Tribe and how she’s helping high-achievers start over without losing themselves in the process.

In this episode of Chronically Automated, I got real with Anthony about something a lot of founders and fast-moving entrepreneurs don’t talk about enough: using crisis mode as a business strategy, and why that mindset will quietly burn you out.

We dove into the reality of feeling calm only when everything’s on fire. I opened up about how my ADHD brain thrives in urgency, how that clarity under pressure is addicting, and how for years I unintentionally created chaos just so I could jump in and fix it. Spoiler alert: that’s not sustainable, and it’s definitely not a growth strategy.

Anthony brought his own perspective to the table, how his sales-driven brain seeks momentum, but not necessarily the chaos that comes with it. And that contrast sparked an honest conversation about how we each handle structure, stress, and strategy.

This episode isn’t about glorifying high-stress performance. It’s about recognizing it, unpacking it, and retraining your brain to operate from stability instead of survival. I shared how I’ve shifted out of that crisis cycle, what I do now when everything feels “too calm,” and how I channel that energy into learning new tech, building systems, and scaling operations that don’t rely on adrenaline.

We also talked about how subconscious patterns can sabotage your business, how to spot them, and what it actually looks like to lead from clarity instead of chaos.

If you’re building your business off urgency and wondering why it always feels like you’re one step from burnout, this one’s for you.

In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Mariana Polic from Shift Intelligence. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because I interviewed her husband Ivan last year, and now, we’re bringing things full circle with Mariana. We dug into the evolution of their business from "Jumpstart Your Exit" to "Shift Intelligence," and why that change reflects a much deeper shift in the way they serve high-growth founders and 7- to 8-figure business owners.

We explored how critical it is to remove yourself from the daily weeds of operations if you ever want to sell, scale, or just breathe again. Mariana and I are perfectly aligned in our belief that most business owners wait too long to automate and systematize their business, and by the time they’re ready to exit, it’s a hot mess behind the scenes. We talked candidly about burnout, leadership development, and the very real signs you’re too deep in your business to see clearly (like crappy sleep, cranky kids, and the creeping feeling that you’re running yourself into the ground).

Mariana broke down what the Shift Intelligence framework actually means, why it was born out of their own exit from a legacy manufacturing business, and how it now helps founders future-proof their companies before "shift hits the fan." We touched on how her and Ivan’s roles balance each other out, what it really takes to build a team that can run without you, and why preparing for an exit should be something you're thinking about long before you're ready to walk away.

If you’re a founder who’s stuck in the ops and you’re craving real work-life integration, this episode will hit home. Because spoiler alert: balance is a lie, we all have one life, and the sooner you build systems to support it, the better.

Connect with Mariana on LinkedIn and get inspired to make your next move smarter, not harder. Because when your business is finally running without you, you can actually get back to running your life.