Every year, I put together a massive gift guide for small business owners — but this year, I wanted to do things differently. Instead of rattling off every gadget and tool I’ve ever tried, I’m sharing the handful of products that actually made my life easier in 2025.

From sleep earbuds that help me get more rest (even with kids and a dog) to the smart home lights that let me skip climbing into bushes every December, these are the gifts that save time, reduce friction, and make running a solo business just a little more fun.

If you’re shopping for yourself or a small business owner in your life, you’ll find something here that genuinely improves work and home life — without adding clutter or complexity.

Want to check out a written version of the gift guide? Head here: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/2025-gift-guide/

Show Notes

• Gift Guide for Small Business Owners
• A Fantastic Episode
• Kindle Colorsoft
• TRMNL
• Soundcore Sleep A20 Earbuds
• I Bought, and Returned, the Ozlo Sleepbuds
• Full Review – Soundcore Sleep A20 Earbuds
• DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case)
• Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast Recorder
• Bose SoundLink Max Bluetooth Speaker
• Philips Hue Indoor/Outdoor Holiday 130-Foot Festavia String Lights
• Aqara Zigbee Motion Sensor P1
• Eve Aqua Smart Water Controller
• Gitryin 10-in-1 Desktop Charging Station
• Anker Nano Charging Station
• Anker 9-in-1 Charging Station
• HoverBar Duo
• See HoverBar Duo Setup
• UGREEN NASync DXP4800 4-Bay Desktop NAS
• Post-it Super Sticky Easel Pad
• Professional Grade Gaffer Tape
• Keeping Equipment in Place
• Analog Card Bar by Ugmonk
• CalDigit E5 – Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 Hub
• Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe
• Motorola razr
• SanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSD
• Bellroy Tech Kit (Tech Accessories Organizer Pouch)
• Tella.tv
• Obsidian
• Gling.ai
• GoodLinks
• MasterClass
• Senja

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Well, we're in the holiday gauntlet now. I've gotten several emails from small, service-based business promoting Black Friday sales, and I'm not sure that's a very good approach. I share my experience with successful, and less successful BF/CM deals I've run.

I also talk about my approach to affiliates, and what I'm thinking about for that strategy in 2026.

Check out the 3 tools I'm actually promoting for Cyber Week: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/3-black-friday-deals-on-tools-i-cant-live-without/

Here's my 2025 Gift Guide: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/2025-gift-guide/

My oldest daughter loves asking me to tell her a funny story about my wife from when we were dating... and I almost always freeze. It's not because there aren't any funny stories. It's because there are too many to pick from.

This is exactly what happens when you open Zapier without a plan. You're faced with a "blank canvas" and endless possibilities, so you freeze and do nothing.

You've heard about "triggers" and "actions," but you're not sure what your triggers or actions should be. Zapier isn’t a sandbox for people starting out. The secret is to look at the work you're already doing.

I'll walk you through my simple, three-step process to get started. It starts with documenting your tasks, listing your apps, and then using one specific (and often overlooked) page on Zapier's website that will show you exactly what's possible for you.

Stop staring at the screen, wondering where to begin. Let's get your first automation built.

Want to see some real-world examples tailored to your biggest struggles? Take my free quiz at https://streamlined.fm/quiz and I'll email you four automation ideas you can use today.

Show Notes

• Take the Automation Quiz: streamlined.fm/quiz
• Explore the Zapier Apps Page: zapier.com/apps
• Watch the Zapier Apps Page Walkthrough Video
• Leave feedback: streamlinedfeedback.com

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