The Biggest Goal Podcast

In this episode of Automate Your Agency, Micah and Alane break down the five hidden roadblocks that stop companies from scaling — even when they’re investing in AI. From leadership confusion and tool overload to the danger of siloed systems and bottlenecked knowledge, they reveal the patterns they’ve seen across hundreds of businesses (and lived through themselves).

You’ll learn why solving small problems first beats chasing big, complex AI projects — and how to design systems that scale without adding chaos. Whether you’re a founder, operator, or department lead, this episode will help you identify where your company is stuck and what to fix first.

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Most leaders want to harness AI—but few understand what it really takes to make it work across an organization. In this episode, Micah and Alane break down what they call the Upside-Down Pyramid, a simple framework for transforming your business with AI-driven systems that actually scale.

They walk through the five stages of transformation:

1. Align leadership – get everyone speaking the same language about AI and automation.
2. Build internal champions – develop in-house experts who can move fast.
3. Establish your foundation – why ClickUp, Asana, or Monday are essential before automation can stick.
4. Design and deploy – how to map real processes (not assumptions) before automating.
5. Keep learning – staying ahead in a world where tools change every week.

If you’ve been wondering where to start—or why your early automations aren’t delivering—this episode gives you the roadmap to build systems your team will actually use.

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

In this episode, Alane shares how joining the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program completely reshaped the way she approaches business growth—and why no founder should try to build alone.

What started as a 12-week crash course on scaling a company became something far more powerful: a network of entrepreneurs who understand the highs, lows, and relentless pressure of running a business. From presenting on stage in front of thousands to finding real friendships that extend beyond business, Alane and Micah discuss how community isn’t just “nice to have”—it’s essential.

You’ll hear:

• Why joining the right peer group can accelerate growth faster than any marketing strategy
• How to find communities that genuinely support founders (and not just sell to them)
• The long-term impact of relationships built through programs like Goldman Sachs 10KSB and EO
• What isolation costs leaders—and how connection restores purpose and perspective
• Why investing time in people creates exponential returns for both your business and your wellbeing

For founders used to doing it all themselves, this episode is a powerful reminder: your network is the one system that can’t be automated—but it will scale everything else you do.

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

In this solo episode, Micah breaks down the ten most practical and high-impact ways companies are using AI and automation to save time, reduce bottlenecks, and scale faster. From writing project estimates to improving onboarding and automating client handoffs, he walks through real-world examples that any growing business can apply today.

You’ll hear:

• How to use AI to write accurate project scopes and proposals in minutes
• Smarter ways to automate onboarding, training, and internal support
• How AI can improve project management, reporting, and team allocation
• Why organized files and knowledge capture make or break automation success
• How to build seamless workflows between sales, operations, and service teams

Whether you’re just getting started with automation or refining your current setup, this episode will help you spot immediate opportunities to streamline your business and free your team to focus on what really matters.

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

In this episode, Alane and Micah tackle one of the biggest misconceptions about AI agents — the idea that they can magically fix broken workflows. They unpack why automation only works when the underlying process is solid, clear, and well-defined.

They share real stories from their own experience, including how strategy and design make up 80% of the work in building automated systems, and why slowing down to document and standardize your processes can actually make you move faster later.

You’ll hear:

• Why AI agents can’t save a poorly structured workflow
• How to identify when you’re ready to automate (and when you’re not)
• Why the design phase is the most valuable part of any automation project
• How to document, diagram, and break large systems into smaller, achievable workflows
• The importance of starting small and improving over time

If you’ve ever been tempted to “throw AI at a problem,” this episode will show you how to rethink automation so it actually works — and how to build a process your agents, and your team, can rely on.

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

In this episode, Micah and Beau share the behind-the-scenes changes that reshaped how their team manages client work. After years of juggling multiple projects, they decided to shift their entire production and implementation process into one-week sprints using ClickUp.

They walk through how their system works. From organizing client folders, using parent and sub-tasks to keep ownership clear, and relying on sprint reports to plan, forecast, and manage workload in real time. The result has been smoother communication, stronger accountability, and a noticeable jump in team performance.

You’ll learn:

• How moving from workload views to sprints simplified scheduling and reduced chaos
• Why separating parent tasks from sub-tasks creates clarity for both project managers and developers
• How ClickUp’s sprint reporting helps forecast team capacity and track progress
• Simple ways to monitor task types, priorities, and workload balance
• The benefits of giving your team structure and flexibility at the same time

If you manage ongoing client projects or lead a production team that’s drowning in deadlines, this conversation shows how one practical change can bring organization, momentum, and focus back to your operations.

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

What if you could describe a process and have a working Monday.com system appear—complete with connected boards, forms, sample data, and dashboards? 

In this episode, Micah and Beau dive into Monday Magic (monday.com/magic), a free tool that turns prompts into fully built Monday structures. You’ll hear a live walkthrough—from first prompt to preview video—plus candid pros/cons on where it shines and where you’ll still want an implementation specialist. They cover limitations (no native automations yet, light sub-item support), why its agent-style “planning then building” is so useful for prototyping, and smart ways teams can use it to align on structure before investing in a full build. 

If you’re choosing a work management platform or want faster ways to get from idea to system, this is a must-listen.

You’ll learn:

• How Monday Magic converts a plain-English prompt into connected boards, forms, and starter dashboards
• Where it stops (automations, sub-items) and how to bridge the gap
• A practical workflow: prototype with Magic → push to Monday → refine structure and add automations
• When to keep it simple vs. when to design a multi-board system
• How managers and implementers can collaborate using the AI-generated preview video

Give it a go for yourself: https://monday.com/magic

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

Many founders approach automation with a single idea in mind: “If I just automate this one thing, everything will get better.” But the truth is, businesses aren’t built on one system—they run on dozens of interconnected ones.

In this episode of Automate Your Agency, Alane and Micah challenge the “one workflow” mindset and show why real freedom comes from systemizing the entire business, not just automating a single task. They share stories from their own experiences—mergers, exits, and client work—on how building layered systems can reduce employee overhead, eliminate bottlenecks, and even increase a company’s valuation.

You’ll learn:

• Why no business truly has “just one process”
• How to shift from transactional fixes to long-term systemization
• The risks of relying on institutional knowledge trapped in people’s heads
• How systemization supports different founder goals (taking time off, changing roles, exiting, or building a legacy)
• Practical ways to prioritize what to automate first—based on impact, not just feelings

If you’ve ever felt stuck in the day-to-day of your business or wondered how to prioritize what to systemize next, this episode will give you the roadmap—and the mindset shift—to get started.

🔗 Mentioned in this episode:

• Priority Impact Report: Stop guessing where you business is broken! 

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

In this episode of Automate Your Agency, Alane and Micah dive into one of Google’s most exciting new AI tools: Nano Banana (yes, that’s its real name). They share how they’ve been using it to create professional-quality images, fix bad speaking photos, merge visuals, and even iron out wrinkles — all in seconds.

But that’s not all. They also reveal how pairing Nano Banana with Hailuo AI Video can bring still images to life, letting you create unique animations for content, presentations, and social media.

You’ll learn:

• How to access Nano Banana in Google AI Studio (and avoid the impostor sites).
• Real examples of editing, enhancing, and merging photos.
• How to generate diagrams, infographics, and illustrations with simple prompts.
• The workflow of combining Nano Banana with Hailuo to create animations you can layer into Canva, Final Cut, or Premiere.
• Why these tools are game-changers for content creators, educators, and agency owners.

📌 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Google AI Studio (Nano Banana)
• Hailuo AI Video
• Kling AI

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!

There could be an AI security risk brewing in your business.

Your team is already using AI—the question isn't whether they should, but whether you have control over how they're using it. This solo episode with Micah tackles the security nightmare that most business owners are completely ignoring: uncontrolled AI usage across their teams.

Employees creating personal ChatGPT and Claude accounts, uploading company proposals and client data, then leaving with all that information still in their personal accounts. Even worse, paid AI accounts are sharing your business data for training purposes by default.

What You'll Learn:

• Why personal AI accounts create data retention nightmares
• Step-by-step instructions to secure ChatGPT and Claude settings
• How to create AI policies that actually work
• The critical difference between chat interfaces and API usage
• Why even paid accounts share your data for training by default

This episode provides the roadmap to get ahead of AI security issues before they become a crisis that could cost you clients, competitive advantage, and legal compliance.

Learn More about our AI Leadership Workshop

Winning businesses aren’t just working harder, they understand how to use AI strategically. Sign up for the AI Leadership Workshop, a 3-hour expert-led mastermind designed to give leadership teams clarity, alignment, and a practical path to stay competitive.

Book a call to customize your workshop today!

This episode is brought to you by Biggest Goal, the company Alane Boyd and Micah Johnson co-founded.

Fifteen years of scaling their own companies taught them that adoption is a people problem long before it's a technology problem, so we train executives and their teams through workshops, cohorts, mastermind groups, and hands-on support.

Want to learn how to scale faster with AI?

Join us on Oct 13 + Oct 15 for our Virtual Live "Scaling with AI" Bootcamp
Click here to reserve your seat!

Thank you for supporting the podcast!