I've been running my company for a while now, and honestly? I used to think success meant working harder, landing bigger clients, making more revenue. But here's the thing that clicked for me recently: I was still stuck in the hustle cycle. More work = more money. Stop working = money stops. That's not freedom. That's just a fancier version of being stuck. So I'm shifting how I think about this. Instead of just chasing the next deal or project, I'm asking myself: "What can I build that keeps working even when I'm not?" Systems. Processes. Investments. Things that generate value without me being glued to my laptop at 11 PM. Don't get me wrong I love what I do. But I'm learning there's a difference between building a business and building wealth. One keeps you busy. The other gives you options. Still learning, still growing. But this shift in mindset? Game changer. What's your take, are you working for your money, or is your money working for you?

Merry Christmas to my Christian friends and everyone celebrating.

This is a great time to reflect on the past year, set a few intentions for the year ahead, and most importantly rest, recharge, and spend time with family. I know I will be. The AI space will still be here when we get back! Cheers, Nate

Just hit $1,000/month recurring from automation clients. 2 local businesses at $400/month each for maintenance. 1 appointment system at $200/month. Took me 4 months to understand and figure out stuff. Not impressive, but it's steady. 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 $10k/month in the next 6 months. Realistic? Maybe. Aggressive? Probably. But if I got 3 clients, I can find 10 more doing the same thing. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐈'𝐦 𝐀𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 I want to know where people actually are, not what sounds good. Because when I see someone at $3k/month, I know it's possible. When I see someone stuck at $0 for months, I know I'm not alone. 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 1. Current monthly recurring: (mine: $1k) 2. Next target: (mine: $10k in 6 months) 3. Long-term goal: (mine: $25k/month, then hire help) Drop real numbers below. 👇 No judgment. Just trying to see where everyone stands and who's a few steps ahead worth learning from.

I used to think any client was a good client. Took on projects that dragged for months. Built complex workflows for people who ghosted after delivery. Spent hours explaining automation basics to folks who "just wanted to see what's possible." Then I noticed something The clients who paid the most asked the clearest questions. Not "can you build me an AI thing?" More like "I'm losing 15 leads per week because my sales team can't follow up in under 2 hours. Can you fix that?" So I started pre-qualifying everyone before even hopping on a call. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝟑 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐈 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐀𝐬𝐤 (𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐌 𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐥) 1. "What specific task are you doing manually right now that you wish would just... happen?" This reveals if they understand their own problem. If they can't name ONE specific task, they're not ready. They want magic, not automation. 2. "How much time per week does this take you or your team?" Numbers = real pain. If they say "not sure" or "whenever we remember," there's no urgency. No urgency = no budget = painful project. 3. "What happens if this doesn't get solved in the next 30 days?" This is the killer question. If they say "nothing really" or hesitate, they're not a buyer. They're a researcher. And researchers don't pay they collect quotes. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 - My close rate increased 2x - Average project value nearly doubled - Zero scope creep drama (clear problem = clear solution) - Clients actually implement what I build The weird part? I started having fewer calls & discovery meetings but more signed contracts. Because the people who make it through these 3 questions are already halfway sold. They know their pain. They know the cost. They just need someone to build the solution. 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐰𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 You're not trying to convince everyone you're great. You're trying to find the people who already know they need what you do. Pre-qualifying isn't gatekeeping. It's respecting your time AND theirs. 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 What's the #1 red flag you've learned to spot in potential clients?