How to Build a 6-Figure Business Working Just 25 Hours a Week with AI
What if everything you believe about building a successful business is actually keeping you trapped? Most solopreneurs think more hours equals more money, but they're stuck in what I call the "hamster wheel of hustle" – running faster and faster while getting nowhere because they're doing everything manually. You become the bottleneck in your own business, and no matter how talented you are, there are still only 24 hours in a day.
But what if you could flip the script entirely and build a thriving 6-figure business working just 25 hours a week? Today marks our 100th episode milestone, and I've brought you someone who's living proof this isn't just possible – it's proven.
Meet Tim Cortinovis – a man who's been working with AI for 35 years and has cracked the code on anti-hustle entrepreneurship. Tim is a bestselling author of six books, including "Agentic Sales: AI and the Future of Sales," and he's recognized as a Top 10 Thought Leader in Agentic AI. But here's what makes Tim remarkable: he's built a 6-figure consulting business that runs almost entirely on autopilot, requiring just 25 hours of his time per week. His newsletter runs completely hands-free with 40% open rates, and he's created an AI assistant named "Rick" who handles all customer communications. Tim isn't just talking about the future of AI in business – he's living it every single day.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Tim Cortinovis about:
✨ AI-First Mindset: Shifting from viewing AI as a tool to seeing it as your business partner and primary operating system.
✨ Automation Architecture: Creating interconnected systems that handle research, content creation, customer communications, and lead nurturing without constant oversight.
✨ Strategic Time Investment: Understanding that working fewer hours requires more upfront planning and system design, but pays exponential dividends in freedom and scalability.
Grab the free Scalability Audit and find your leaky buckets
Follow Mike Allton on Threads and get more AI tips
Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast
Show Notes & Full Transcript: https://theaihat.com/how-to-build-a-6-figure-business-working-just-25-hours-a-week-with-ai/
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction: The AI Debate
02:16 Podcast Introduction and Guest Welcome
02:38 The Anti-Hustle Business Model
03:14 Meet Tim Cortinovis: AI Pioneer
04:13 Tim's Journey with AI
06:26 Automating Business Operations
10:21 AI Tools and Techniques
21:15 Maintaining Human Connection in an AI-Driven World
35:55 Challenges and Overcoming Them
40:42 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
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Are you training your AI, or is your AI training you?
Ever feel like you're spending more time teaching your AI tools how to work than actually getting work done? You're not alone.
In this week's AI Hat Dispatch, I share the brutal moment I realized I'd become an unpaid trainer for yet another "revolutionary" AI video tool - and the eye-opening lesson that changed everything about how I approach AI in my business.
If you've ever found yourself jumping between a dozen different AI platforms, each demanding you learn their language and work around their limitations, this episode is for you. We'll explore why the most successful solopreneurs don't actually use more AI tools - they use fewer, better, and smarter ones.
More importantly, I'll show you the difference between being your AI's assistant versus being its boss, and why that shift is the key to finally building systems that work FOR you instead of against you.
This isn't about adding another tool to your stack. It's about becoming the architect of your own AI-powered business.
Join the AI Solopreneur OS community at https://theaihat.com/aisos
CHAPTERS
00:00 The Harsh Reality for Solopreneurs
03:08 The AI Paradox: Tools or Chains?
03:23 The Early Railroad Analogy
03:31 Designing Systems Around Human Expertise
03:38 The Secret to Successful Solopreneurship
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6:34
AI for Introverts: Your Unfair Advantage
As a solopreneur, have you ever felt like your energy is your most limited resource? You can handle the client work, the creative thinking... but it's the constant pressure to be "on"—the networking, the social media, the self-promotion—that leaves you completely drained.
It's a frustrating trap. You know you need to be visible to grow, but the very act of putting yourself out there feels like a performance that goes against your nature. You end up thinking that to succeed, you have to become someone you're not: a loud, extroverted marketer. So you hit a wall, convinced that your quiet nature is a business liability.
But what if that's completely wrong? What if your introversion is actually your unfair advantage? Today, we're going to flip the script and show you how to use AI to build a business that doesn't just accommodate your introverted strengths, but is actively powered by them.
And there is no one better to guide us through this than Goldie Chan. Goldie is known as the "Oprah of LinkedIn" for a reason - she's a world-renowned keynote speaker, a contributor to Forbes, and the founder of a top-tier social media strategy agency that's worked with major brands. She is a master of building powerful personal brands, and with her new book for introverts, she's the perfect expert to show us how to stop fighting our nature and start using it to win.
The AI Hat Podcast host Mike Allton asked Goldie Chan about:
✨ Identify Your Superpowers: Pinpoint the natural strengths of introverts that are critical for business success.
✨ Build Your AI Co-Pilot: Learn how to automate the marketing and networking tasks that drain your energy.
✨ Scale Without Small Talk: Discover a practical framework for growing your business authentically.
Learn more about Goldie Chan
Connect with Goldie Chan on LinkedIn
Resources & Brands mentioned in this episode
Personal Branding for Introverts
H.U.M.A.N. Framework for AI Adoption
Acrobat Studio
AI as Your Co-Host: Unleashing NotebookLM’s Potential in Content Marketing
Notion
Custom GPTs for Marketers: Work Smarter, Not Harder
Build your first AI assistant, an AI Work Buddy
GoldieChan.com
Diagnostic Quiz
Explore past episodes of the The AI Hat Podcast podcast
Chapters:
00:00 The Power of Automating the Right Tasks
01:16 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast
02:45 The Struggles of Solopreneurs and Introverts
03:27 Meet Goldie Chan: The Oprah of LinkedIn
04:13 Goldie's New Book and the Writing Process
06:12 Introvert Superpowers in Business
14:03 AI Tools for Introverts
22:24 Content Creation Strategies for Introverts
30:34 Final Thoughts and Key Takeaways
35:14 Conclusion and Resources
Show Notes & Transcript: https://theaihat.com/ai-for-introverts-your-unfair-advantage/
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The Single AI Tool You Need (and the 5 That Are Stealing Your Time) - A Saturday Short
Paying for eight different AI tools but only using two of them? Feeling guilty every time you see those subscription charges hit your credit card?
You're not alone - and you're not broken. You're experiencing what I call "AI ADHD": Tech Overwhelm masquerading as opportunity.
In this Saturday Short, I walk you through the exact 4-step audit I use with my clients to eliminate the subscriptions stealing their time, money, and mental energy. You'll learn how to identify the one AI tool that actually matters for your business, and more importantly, how to transform it from a generic assistant into a strategic digital teammate who knows your business inside and out.
In This Episode:
Why "AI ADHD" is costing you more than money (and how to break the cycle)
The 4-step tool audit that reveals exactly which subscriptions to kill
How to identify your single anchor tool - and why depth beats breadth every time
The critical difference between having AI tools and having an AI teammate
A real case study: How one consultant eliminated overwhelm and built a streamlined system
This episode is for you if:
You have more than 5 AI subscriptions but can't remember the last time you used half of them
You feel guilty about "wasting money" on tools you meant to explore
You're constantly switching between platforms and losing focus
You want a clear, actionable plan to simplify your tech stack TODAY
Resources Mentioned
🔧 AI Work Buddy
Turn your existing LLM into a strategic business partner with custom training
→ theaihat.com/aiworkbuddy
💬 Join the Conversation
If you could cancel just ONE subscription right now, which would it be?
Reply to my next email or message me on Threads @Mike.Allton
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: The AI Overload
02:13 The Real Cost of Too Many Tools
03:39 The Four-Step Process to Simplify Your AI Stack
05:45 Transforming Your AI Tool into a Teammate
08:31 Action Steps and Resources
09:43 Conclusion and Next Steps
Show Notes & Transcript: https://theaihat.com/the-single-ai-tool-you-need-and-the-5-that-are-stealing-your-time/
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Stop Burning Money on AI Tools That Don't Generate Revenue
Stop burning money on AI subscriptions that aren't generating revenue. While Fortune 500 companies waste millions on AI implementations that never pay off, savvy solopreneurs are quietly building AI-powered revenue engines that work 24/7. Discover the enterprise framework that turns your $20 AI tools into profit machines.
Most solopreneurs are drowning in AI subscription costs without seeing real returns. You're paying for ChatGPT Plus, Gemini Advanced, and multiple AI tools, yet you're still trapped in the same administrative quicksand that's killing your growth.
Eva Dong, Lead of AI Value Realization at Google Cloud, reveals why this happens and how to fix it. With over a decade helping Fortune 500 companies unlock millions in AI value at McKinsey & Company and Visa, Eva knows the enterprise secrets that actually work. As a former entrepreneur herself, she understands the solopreneur struggle—every dollar must generate a return.
In this mielstone 100th episode of The AI Hat Podcast, recorded live at MAICON 2025 with 1,500 AI leaders from 47 states, this episode exposes the critical mistakes killing your AI ROI and shares the proven framework that transforms AI expenses into profit centers. Learn why your agility as a solopreneur is actually your secret weapon against enterprise bureaucracy.
Ready to stop wasting money on AI and start generating real revenue? Download the free AI Work Buddy template that helps you identify your highest-ROI AI use cases in under 10 minutes. https://theaihat.com/ai-work-buddy-guide/ Get it and start building your AI revenue strategy today.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 Enterprise Bureaucracy vs. Solopreneur Agility
01:47 Introduction to The AI Hat Podcast at MAICON 2025
02:08 The Real Value of AI for Solopreneurs
02:41 Interview with Eva Dong: Enterprise AI Insights
03:55 Adapting Enterprise AI Strategies for Solopreneurs
09:16 Efficiency and Innovation: Two Buckets of AI Use
12:20 Avoiding Common AI Implementation Mistakes
23:29 Exploring Google AI Studio
23:43 Understanding Temperature Parameter
23:57 Creative Applications and Nano Bananas
24:30 Uploading and Synthesizing Data
24:53 Managing Data with Cloud Providers
25:28 Training AI and Measuring ROI
27:16 Adoption, Trust, and Acceleration Metrics
31:18 Solopreneurs vs. Enterprises: Speed and Agility
35:28 Future of AI: Less Human Touch, More Agents
38:38 Conclusion and Contact Information
SHOW TRANSCRIPT & NOTES: https://theaihat.com/stop-burning-money-on-ai-tools-that-dont-generate-revenue/
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Are you an established solopreneur, creator, or micro-business owner who's hit a ceiling? You're successful, but you're trapped—drowning in administrative tasks, struggling to keep up with marketing, and realizing that your income is directly tied to the hours you work. You know AI is the answer, but you're overwhelmed by the hype and don't know where to start.
"The AI Hat Podcast" is your practical guide to escaping the grind.
This isn't another show about abstract AI theory. This is a workshop for building your AI-powered operational engine, piece by piece. Join your host, Mike Allton—a fellow solopreneur and AI architect—as he provides step-by-step "AI Workflow Teardowns" designed to solve your biggest bottlenecks.
You’ll learn how to:
Reclaim 15+ hours a week by identifying and automating the repetitive tasks that consume your day.
Build custom "AI Agents" that act as your social media manager, content assistant, and operations coordinator.
Achieve true scalability by designing systems that grow your business without requiring you to hire more staff.
Apply the H.U.M.A.N. Framework to ensure AI augments your unique creativity and expertise, rather than replacing it.
This show is for the ambitious Growth Architect who is ready to move from operator to owner.
Start your journey to scalability now by downloading our free Scalability Audit at TheAIHat.com/download/scalability/.
And join the conversation with Mike on Instagram @mike.allton at https://www.instagram.com/mike.allton/, where he shares daily tips and behind-the-scenes looks at building an AI-powered business.
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