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 NotesGift Guide for Small Business OwnersA Fantastic EpisodeKindle ColorsoftTRMNLSoundcore Sleep A20 EarbudsI Bought, and Returned, the Ozlo SleepbudsFull Review – Soundcore Sleep A20 EarbudsDJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case)Zoom PodTrak P4 Podcast RecorderBose SoundLink Max Bluetooth SpeakerPhilips Hue Indoor/Outdoor Holiday 130-Foot Festavia String LightsAqara Zigbee Motion Sensor P1Eve Aqua Smart Water ControllerGitryin 10-in-1 Desktop Charging StationAnker Nano Charging StationAnker 9-in-1 Charging StationHoverBar DuoSee HoverBar Duo SetupUGREEN NASync DXP4800 4-Bay Desktop NASPost-it Super Sticky Easel PadProfessional Grade Gaffer TapeKeeping Equipment in PlaceAnalog Card Bar by UgmonkCalDigit E5 – Thunderbolt 5 Element 5 HubTwelve South HiRise 3 DeluxeMotorola razrSanDisk 2TB Extreme Portable SSDBellroy Tech Kit (Tech Accessories Organizer Pouch)Tella.tvObsidianGling.aiGoodLinksMasterClassSenja

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 NotesTake the Automation Quiz: streamlined.fm/quizExplore the Zapier Apps Page: zapier.com/appsWatch the Zapier Apps Page Walkthrough VideoLeave feedback: streamlinedfeedback.com

Our inboxes are about to be inundated with sales emails and affiliate-link riddled round-ups. Should I contribute to the noise? I'm thinking yes...but I want it to feel different. What do you think? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.com 

Remember diagramming sentences back in school? I always thought it was pointless, but the real goal wasn't the diagram itself—it was understanding the structure of a good sentence.The same exact logic applies to building automations. It's tempting to just jump into a tool like Zapier or Make and start connecting things, but that's like throwing a bunch of random words on a page and hoping it makes sense. If you want to build automations that actually save you time (and don't break), you need to understand the structure first.I'm breaking down the four essential components every automation has—the two that are required, and the two "optional" ones that make your workflows truly powerful and intelligent. We'll walk through the difference between a Trigger and an Action, how to use Conditions to make your automations smarter (like "only do this if X is true"), and when to use specific Timing to batch your work.Are you unsure what you should even automate first? I built a brand new quiz to help you pinpoint your biggest bottleneck. Answer four simple questions, and I'll send you personalized automation recommendations to solve your most crucial problem.Take the quiz now at: streamlined.fm/quizShow Notes**Watch the Video for visuals**Submit Feedback: streamlinedfeedback.com