What do Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Marie Curie, Ben Franklin, and Virginia Woolf all have in common? They all created long-lasting, humanity-impacting work…without the use of AI.

See, there are lots of people who will tell you that you need to use AI or get left behind. Those people are wrong.

In fact, I think the way to stand out is to not use AI. At least, not in the way everyone else is using it. While most people are using it to create for them…trying to get ChatGPT to “sound just like” them, I think you what you really need to do is create time and space to do good work.

AI can help you do that. I talk about how in this episode.

Looking to create even more time and space? Check out my free tools audit so you can make sure the apps and gear you use to run your business are actually helping you, not hurting you: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/tools/

What do you think? Leave feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

And finally, if you need Girl Scout Cookies and haven’t had someone come to your door, check out the video Teresa made for you at https://teresacasabona.com

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

It's the end of January and my Year of Digital Detox is in full swing. Here's how I'm doing with it so far.

• Read about The Year of Digital Detox: https://casabona.org/2026/01/2026-yearly-theme-digital-detox/
• Subscribe to Paper & Smoke: https://paperandsmoke.com

Submit feedback: https://streamlinedfeedback.com

I was recently trying to do something that should have been simple: sharing my work calendar with my wife so she knows when I'm actually free for family time. I found myself digging through "secret" settings pages, checking her phone, then mine, and getting increasingly frustrated.

It made me realize how often we settle for "fighting" our tools instead of letting them support us.

You’ve probably heard me say that gear doesn’t matter. If you’re a new podcaster trying to drop $2,000 before you’ve hit "record," I stand by that. But when it comes to the daily operations of your business, the right gear—both hardware and software—matters immensely.

Every minute you spend wrestling with a slow laptop, a glitchy hosting provider, or a manual process is a minute taken away from your family or your core mission.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the "Gear" pillar of my GAPS framework. I'll share the specific tools that save me hours every week and give you a practical framework to audit your own toolbox.

It’s time to stop letting bad systems eat your time so you can finally focus on your important work.

Stop guessing which tools you need and start streamlining. Download my free Tools Audit at streamlined.fm/tools

Show Notes

• When is it Time to Switch Tools?
• Todoist
• My Stream Deck
• RodeCaster Pro 2
• Ecamm Live
• Tella.tv

Have a question or a favorite tool? Share it with me at streamlinedfeedback.com.

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools