Building with AI as a Solopreneur: What I’ve Learned So Far
Building something solo is never actually solo. Whether it’s the invisible support of a community, a tool that automates your chaos, or a late-night voice memo that sparks clarity—you're always co-creating with something.
In my case, that something increasingly looks like AI.
This is a reflection on what it’s really like to build with AI as a solopreneur: the wins, the weirdness, the workarounds. It’s not a hype piece. It’s what I’ve learned—honestly, and with heart.
Starting Simple: Using AI to Create Breathing Room
When I first started bringing AI into my work, it wasn’t about optimization or scale. It was survival. There were too many tabs open in my brain and not enough hours in the day. My to-do list had a to-do list.
I started with tiny experiments:
- Having ChatGPT rewrite a messy paragraph
- Using Notion AI to summarize long notes
- Automating a few repetitive DMs with Make
And suddenly, space opened up. Not just in my calendar—but in my mind. It felt like a mental exhale.
Lesson: You don’t need to overhaul your business. Start small. Let AI take the edge off first.
Creating Content with AI (But Keeping It Human)
Content is the lifeblood of most solo businesses. It’s how we teach, connect, and show what we believe. It’s also exhausting.
AI tools like Claude, Jasper, and GPT have helped me brainstorm headlines, write draft outlines, and repurpose blog posts into tweet threads. But I don’t let them write for me.
The magic happens when I collaborate with them. I treat the AI like a creative partner—not a ghostwriter.
I still:
- Write intros from scratch
- Infuse personal stories
- Edit heavily for tone, warmth, and clarity
Lesson: AI can speed things up, but your voice is the reason people stay. Protect it.
Automating the Boring Stuff (With Guardrails)
Scheduling posts. Sending follow-ups. Formatting newsletters. Tagging contacts.
All of it used to eat up hours every week. Now? AI + automation flows handle 80% of it. Make (formerly Integromat), Notion AI, and Zapier are my go-tos.
But here’s the thing: I still check in on everything.
I’ve learned to audit automations like I’d check my mirror before a Zoom call—quickly but intentionally. Because while AI can help scale your systems, it still needs your intuition to steer the ship.
Lesson: Automate your energy drains, but don’t disappear from the dashboard.
Using AI for Reflection and Clarity
This one surprised me. I started using ChatGPT as a journaling buddy—someone to ask me curious questions and help organize my thoughts.
It wasn’t about productivity. It was about clarity.
I’d write:
“I’m stuck. I’m not sure if this idea is worth pursuing.”
And the AI would gently ask:
“What would pursuing it look like if it felt easy?”
It felt like I was finally having a non-judgmental conversation—with myself.
Lesson: AI can be a mirror. Use it for thinking, not just doing.
Where AI Has Failed Me (And What I Changed)
Not every experiment worked. Here are some real flops:
- Letting AI fully write a newsletter = bland, soulless content
- Over-automating onboarding = confusion and unsubscriptions
- Trying to train a bot to replace emotional support = lol, no
The common thread? Anywhere nuance, care, or human insight was required—AI fell short.
So I made a rule:
If it affects trust, I keep my hands on the wheel.
Lesson: Don’t outsource the magic. Use AI to free you up so you can focus on the parts only you can do.
What This Looks Like Today
Right now, here’s how I build with AI:
- I use GPT to brainstorm and refine ideas—but not write final drafts
- I automate lead capture and nurturing flows with Make
- I use Notion AI to summarize content and surface patterns
- I lean on Claude when I want a second brain for strategy or synthesis
And I still journal. I still question. I still reflect.
AI is my co-pilot—not my compass.
What I’d Tell Any Solo Builder Starting Out
- Start with one workflow. Automate one thing that drains you.
- Use AI to expand your creativity, not replace it.
- Remember that being small is your advantage—you can connect. Scale your care, not just your content.
- Don’t chase what’s “hot.” Build what feels aligned.
- And when in doubt, ask: “What could this look like if it felt easy?”
Because ease matters. So does intention. And both are amplified when you build with heart.
If this resonated, you might love what I’m building inside the paid tier of BuildingTheFuture.ai. It’s where I go deeper—sharing behind-the-scenes experiments, playbooks, prompt libraries, and real-time learnings.
This isn’t just about using AI.
It’s about co-creating with it.
With more clarity, creativity, and care.
