Your sales team is brilliant. But they're spending 70% of their week doing work a robot could do in 10 minutes. And you're paying them six figures to do it.

Welcome to the "Year of Reckoning." Your board is demanding AI automation. They want results. But recent research shows that 95% of enterprise AI pilots represent zero P&L impact.

In this episode, Mike Allton breaks down exactly why those pilots are failing - and it's not the technology. It's something he calls "Admin Drag" - the invisible productivity killer that turns your thoroughbred sales talent into data entry clerks.

You'll discover:

This isn't theory. Mike is the Director of Partner-led Growth at Agorapulse and has been architecting AI workflows for revenue teams since 2024. He's a practitioner who carries quota pressure - not a futurist selling science fiction.

If you're a VP of Sales, CRO, or Agency Owner tired of AI tools that promise magic but deliver busywork, this is your operational playbook.

Featured Framework: The Admin Audit - identify the "robot work" killing your team's capacity

Next Episode: We tackle Shadow AI - the unsanctioned tools your team is already using, and how to govern them before they become a data leak.

Chapters:

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Your revenue team is brilliant, but they are drowning.

Research shows that high-performing sales and marketing professionals waste nearly 70% of their time on "Admin Drag"—non-revenue generating tasks like data entry, meeting prep, and internal reporting. You are paying top-tier talent for low-value work.

In this special trailer episode, Revenue Architect Mike Allton unveils the new mission for The AI Hat Podcast: AI for Revenue Leaders.

We are moving beyond the hype of chatbots and prompt engineering to focus on the operational reality of the "Year of Reckoning." This new season is dedicated to helping VPs, Directors, and Agency Owners build the "Digital Crews" that work alongside their humans.

In this new chapter, we explore:

Whether you lead a team of fifty or a team of one, this is your operational playbook for the Agentic Era.

Next Step:

Connect with Mike:

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You've got seventeen AI tools scattered across your browser tabs right now, don't you? Yet somehow you're still manually doing the same repetitive tasks that drove you to purchase those licenses in the first place. Whether you're a solopreneur building your empire or leading a team trying to eliminate admin drag, here's the brutal truth - most entrepreneurs are picking AI tools like they're shopping for shiny objects at a tech bazaar, grabbing whatever looks innovative without any strategic thinking behind it.

Kevin Williams, CEO and Co-Founder of an AI enablement company, has cracked the code that most of us struggle with: building a daily workflow using tools like n8n, Gamma, and Whisper Flow that actually simplifies operations instead of complicating them. This guy has taken his company philosophy of "adventure, education, automation" and applied it to create a personal tech stack that's so effective, he literally can't imagine working without these specific applications.

In this episode, Kevin pulls back the curtain on exactly which tools made the cut and why - plus the strategic thinking that separates useful AI from expensive digital clutter. You'll discover his decision-making framework for evaluating new tools, how his essential stack works together to create seamless automation, and why fewer, better-integrated tools beat sprawling collections of disconnected AI applications.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about having more AI tools - it's about having the right tools working together like a well-oiled machine to reclaim your time and focus on what actually drives results.

The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Kevin Williams about:

✨ Strategic Tool Selection Framework - Learn the decision-making process Kevin uses to separate genuinely useful AI tools from shiny object syndrome purchases.

✨ Essential Daily Workflow Stack - Discover the specific tools Kevin can't live without and how they work together to create seamless automation.

✨ Quality Over Quantity Approach - Understand why fewer, better-integrated tools beat a sprawling collection of disconnected AI applications.

Learn more about Kevin Williams

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Illusion of Productivity

01:44 Introducing The AI Hat Podcast

02:06 The AI Tool Dilemma

02:41 Meet Kevin Williams: AI Expert

03:31 Strategic Thinking in AI Tool Selection

05:25 Exploring n8n: The Workflow Game-Changer

10:23 The Power of Community and Shareability in n8n

18:07 Gamma: Revolutionizing Presentations

24:25 Discovering Wispr Flow: A Game-Changer in Dictation

24:54 The Power of LLM Layered Dictation Tools

26:00 Maximizing Output with Dictation

29:38 Integrating AI Tools in Daily Workflow

29:50 Magai: Simplifying AI for Businesses

30:48 Choosing and Integrating AI Tools

32:37 Philosophy of Adventure, Education, and Automation

34:00 Building Effective AI Workflows

34:37 Avoiding Common AI Tool Mistakes

36:47 Chaining Tasks with AI Tools

39:03 Auditing and Streamlining Your Tech Stack

44:06 Final Thoughts and Recommendations

48:00 Conclusion and Contact Information

Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/why-most-entrepreneurs-pick-the-wrong-ai-tools-an-ai-ceos-essential-daily-stack-that-actually-works/

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Here's the reality check nobody wants to hear - while 90% of marketers believe AI will fundamentally change their industry, 70% see it as an opportunity instead of a threat. That gap? It's the Hero Complex whispering in your ear that you can figure this out on your own, that you don't need to adapt your systems now. But here's what the latest industry report reveals: 2026 isn't just another year of gradual change - it's the year that will separate the marketers and business owners who scale from those who get left behind in the digital dust.

I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome back my longtime colleague and friend, Michael Stelzner - the mastermind behind Social Media Examiner, the empire builder who created Social Media Marketing World (the industry's largest conference), and the visionary founder of the brand new AI Business World conference. With over 16 years of industry research under his belt and millions of podcast downloads, Michael just dropped his second annual AI Marketing Industry Report surveying over 730 marketers. If you want to know where AI marketing is heading in 2026 and how to position yourself ahead of the curve, there's literally no one better to learn from than the guy who's been tracking these trends since before most of us knew what social media marketing even meant!

The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Michael Stelzner about:

✨ The 2026 Separation Strategy - Discover the specific mindset shift that separates AI winners from the 30% who'll be left behind.

✨ Beyond Daily Usage Growth - Learn why jumping from 37% to 60% daily usage isn't enough to guarantee success.

✨ The Opportunity Recognition Framework - Master the difference between seeing AI as threat versus competitive advantage.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Introduction to AI Adoption

01:18 The AI Hat Podcast Overview

02:49 Industry Insights and AI Marketing Report

03:56 Interview with Michael Stelzner

04:49 AI's Impact on Jobs and Marketing

10:13 Strategic Use of AI in Business

19:18 The Creative Renaissance with AI

27:37 The Rapid Pace of AI Innovation

28:00 AI Adoption in Big vs. Small Businesses

29:10 AI's Impact on Job Security

31:41 Leveraging AI for Small Business Growth

36:43 AI Tools and Real-World Applications

40:31 AI Business World Conference

48:03 Getting Started with AI Today

52:49 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Learn more about Michael Stelzner

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

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You can’t build a scalable business on a broken operating system. Yet, that is exactly what most solopreneurs try to do. You journal, you meditate, and you "grind," but you keep hitting the same revenue ceilings and making the same fear-based decisions.

The problem isn't your effort. The problem is the Hero Complex hardwired into your subconscious, convincing you that you have to do it all to be worthy. You are experiencing "bugs" in your decision-making software that no amount of willpower can patch.

Today, I’m joined by Heather Morgan, a former FinTech leader turned Growth Mindset Mentor who has engineered a different approach. She isn't here to just talk about feelings; she’s the creator of "Breaking the Loop," an AI-powered system that acts as an objective, emotional mirror. Because AI lacks human bias and emotional charge, it can reflect your blind spots with brutal, necessary accuracy.

In this episode, we architect a way to bypass your conscious mind’s defenses and finally identify the hidden loops keeping your business small.

The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Heather Morgan about:

✨ The "User Error" Trap: Why traditional self-reflection is biased and actually reinforces the patterns keeping you stuck.

✨ The AI Mirror Protocol: How to use artificial intelligence to bypass your ego and identify the data behind your emotional loops.

✨ Systemizing Your Breakthrough: Heather’s specific methodology for training your nervous system to accept success and stop the self-sabotage cycle.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Unpacking Limiting Beliefs with AI

02:16 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast

04:06 Heather Morgan's Journey to Mindset Mentorship

06:22 Using AI as an Emotional Mirror

16:06 Breaking the Loop: Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

26:47 Overcoming Limiting Beliefs

27:48 The Role of AI in Personal Growth

28:32 Sponsor Message: Magai

29:30 Common Emotional Loops in Solopreneurs

31:38 The Fear of Success and Self-Sabotage

36:23 Holistic Approach to Business and Personal Growth

43:13 Understanding Client Mindsets

44:33 Practical Steps to Uncover Hidden Patterns with AI

51:08 Conclusion and Resources

Learn more about Heather Morgan

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/your-business-isnt-stuck-you-are-here-is-the-ai-fix/

Tired of pouring your energy into a 'leaky bucket?' Pinpoint your biggest business bottleneck in just 2 minutes with my free diagnostic quiz. Get your free diagnosis and start plugging the leaks at: theaihat.com/diagnostic

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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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

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

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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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

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/solopreneurs-guide-to-ai-powered-social-media-automation/

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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.

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

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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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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

Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode

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/

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