In this episode of Chronically Automated, I pull back the curtain on what I call “parallel universe planning.” If you’re neurodivergent like me, you’ll get this immediately. I’ve got one brain that’s a high-functioning, strategic, growth-hacking machine, the part of me that people love to hire, that solves massive problems in minutes and builds systems that scale. And then there’s the other one. The impulsive, emotionally reactive, chaotic version that shows up uninvited and wrecks all the carefully laid plans.

That push-pull between two mental realities creates more than confusion. It leads to real burnout. I’ll hyperfocus, go 500 percent on a project, build it out at lightning speed, and then crash so hard I can barely get out of bed. It’s a cycle I’ve lived over and over, and I’m finally learning how to design around it instead of trying to fight it.

Anthony joins me in this conversation, and while he doesn’t have an ADHD diagnosis, his experience in high-pressure sales mirrors a lot of the same patterns. We talk about the constant pressure, the crash, and what happens when your systems aren’t strong enough to carry you through those dips.

For me, automation and a small, trusted team have become non-negotiable. Without a CRM and processes in place, I’d be drowning in distractions. Systems aren’t just helpful, they’re survival. I need tools and workflows that can catch what my brain drops and protect the time and energy I do have.

This episode isn’t about “fixing” anything. It’s about honoring how we work, building support around it, and making smarter decisions that allow us to keep showing up without burning out. If you’ve ever felt like your brain is the CEO one day and the saboteur the next, this one’s for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

Brand Built

Digital Magic CRM

In this episode of The Queen of Automation, I had the pleasure of talking with Alexandra, a fractional Chief Wellness Officer who is all about bringing the human element back into business. What I loved most about our conversation was her unapologetic focus on people over productivity. She’s out here reminding all of us that businesses don’t run without humans, and humans don’t run well when they’re burned out.

Alexandra and I got real about what it means to run a company in a world that’s obsessed with systems, scaling, and AI. Yes, we both love automation (obviously), but she hit on something I talk about a lot: if the founder is burned out, the business is already broken. Her take? We don’t need “work-life balance.” We need integration—a way of living and working where we stop pretending we’re two different people clocking in and out of each life.

She spoke about the evolution of society and how we’ve chased tech, productivity, and money, often at the expense of our mental and physical health. And it hit me hard because it’s exactly what I see in so many of the founders and small business owners I work with. The moment you believe that rest is weakness or slowing down means failure, you’re building something on a very shaky foundation.

This episode is a must-listen if you're feeling like your business is running you instead of the other way around, or if you just need the reminder that scaling doesn’t require suffering.

Connect with Alexandra on LinkedIn to dig deeper into how she helps founders and entrepreneurs prioritize sustainable success without sacrificing themselves in the process. She’s the strategist you want in your corner if you’re serious about scaling with intention, clarity, and well-being at the core.

Mentioned in this episode:

Digital Magic CRM

Brand Built

This episode was a really raw one for me. I opened up about something I see over and over again with my clients, and if I’m being honest, with myself too. It’s that feeling that our systems are broken, when in reality, what’s actually off is how we see ourselves.

Anthony and I talked through how chronically ill and neurodiverse entrepreneurs (hi, that’s us) often build schedules and systems for the version of ourselves we wish we were instead of the version we are right now. So then what happens? Burnout, abandoned workflows, guilt, and a whole lot of self-blame. And it sucks.

We shared a really honest moment from a few weeks ago where Anthony hit a wall with his system. He thought everything was broken, but it turned out he just needed a reset, to look at it from the lens of who he is now, not who he was three months ago. We talked through how to build systems that actually pivot with you, in real-time, without making you feel like a failure every time your day doesn’t go to plan.

I also talked about the importance of what I call “daily capacity checks.” Not the nonsense productivity hacks. I'm talking about real, practical strategies for navigating the chaos that is ADHD, chronic illness, or just running a business while being a whole-ass human. We’re not robots. We need systems that are flexible enough to meet us where we are.

And yes, we talked about Digital Magic CRM. Again. Because it works. The way we built it for Anthony gives him full control, pause automation, skip steps, move people around, no rigid pipelines, no pressure. It’s built around his life. That’s the goal.

We wrapped the episode diving into how powerful it is when you give yourself permission to stop forcing yourself to fit into a mold that was never designed for how your brain works. This is about building systems that support the actual you, the messy, brilliant, unpredictable you, not the Pinterest version of yourself who sticks to a perfect calendar.

So if you’ve ever felt like your system was failing, maybe give yourself some grace and ask: are you designing it for the real you?

In this episode of The Queen of Automation, I had the chance to sit down with Elijah Szasz, and wow, it was such a ride. Elijah’s energy is palpable, and honestly, we could’ve talked for hours. He’s not just an innovative entrepreneur, he’s got this wildly creative brain that blends tech innovation with storytelling and lifestyle design in a way that makes you want to toss out every business rulebook you’ve ever read.

We dug into his journey from Silicon Valley to Salt Lake City, how he launched his tech agency 14 years ago (with roots in supporting eBay, no less), and how he evolved from just delivering software into building entire brand experiences. But what really makes Elijah’s story stand out is this unconventional CPG venture he co-founded, think energy potions inspired by World of Warcraft, complete with vampire-themed drinks in IV bags. It's as bonkers as it sounds—and it worked. He scaled it to 4,500 shelves. The way he tells the story? Gold.

What struck me the most was how he's always thinking in systems, human-centered design, user journey mapping, and product-market fit all wrapped in creativity. It’s no surprise he’s now helping early-stage founders build from scratch with deep strategy, clickable prototypes, and UI/UX systems that get them funded. It's startup building with soul.

We also hit a nerve that a lot of entrepreneurs will feel: the raw, real tension between building a business that runs you versus building one you actually enjoy running. Elijah’s take on designing a lifestyle alongside your tech stack was so aligned with everything I preach: don’t just build a business, build a life you actually want to live.

If you want to keep up with Elijah or explore more of his unconventional genius, connect with him on LinkedIn. Seriously, if you’re into bold ideas, brand building, or just need some fresh inspiration for how tech and creativity can coexist in a business that actually feels good to run, he’s one to follow.

In this episode, I dive deep into what I call "looping thoughts", that overwhelming feeling of mental load creep where your to-do list seems like a never-ending cycle. Even as tasks move to the “done” column, the list keeps growing, feeding that stressful loop. I share how I manage it with structured task filtering and strategic use of tools like ChatGPT. I open my week by reviewing only the tasks due that week, then daily filter again to focus solely on what's due that day. I even voice-command my custom GPT (yes, shoutout to Nixie!) to prioritize my list based on revenue-generating goals and our company’s big vision.

Anthony joins me to unpack his own experience balancing multiple projects daily, and we compare notes on managing energy, not time. He emphasizes time-blocking and rhythm, particularly in sales. We also discuss the myth of multitasking, why it's a productivity killer, and how doing one task at a time, to completion, is the real game-changer.

We round out the convo by exploring how automation can support these strategies and why prioritizing energy, clarity, and strategic delegation is more effective than any time management hack out there.

Mentioned in this episode:

Brand Built

Digital Magic CRM

On this episode of The Queen of Automation, I sat down with Robert Friedman, founder of Fearless Branding, and someone I think is doing truly important work. We met through BrandBuilt (surprise, surprise) and instantly clicked over our shared belief that your message is everything. I’ve heard Robert say “tell your story fearlessly” so many times, and it stuck with me. That idea is not just a tagline. It’s the core of what makes his approach so effective.

Robert works with consulting and professional services firms who are amazing at what they do, but their messaging sounds like everyone else in their industry. They’re frustrated. They’re doing all the things—SEO, paid ads, even hiring agencies—but the leads are off, the quality’s not there, and the results fall flat. One of Robert’s clients said it best: “You’re marketing me like a frozen dinner, but I’m a five-star meal.” That line alone? GOLD. And so true for so many businesses out there.

What we really got into was how branding and automation aren't just separate pillars. They’re completely interconnected. If your brand is weak, no amount of automation will save you. It’ll just amplify the broken stuff. This is something I see all the time. People blame their systems when it’s really their message that’s falling short. I can't tell you how many times I've been paid to audit tech stacks, only to find out the system’s working perfectly fine. It’s just amplifying a brand that doesn’t convert.

We also talked about “work-life balance” (aka the myth). I’m always saying, you're one person. There’s no separation between work and life if you’re an entrepreneur. The whole point of building your business should be to create freedom. Time freedom. But you don’t get there by adding more tech. You get there by starting with a brand that lands, resonates, and attracts the right people. Only then do you layer in automation to scale what’s already working.

Robert brought up this amazing visual. You can either pedal your business forward on a beach cruiser or a finely tuned racing bike. Both take effort, but one gets you a lot further with the same energy. Your brand is that bike. I loved that framing because it’s exactly what I help people do after their brand is solid. Build systems that actually give you back your time and move the needle.

We wrapped by agreeing that it doesn’t matter how beautiful your website is or how fancy your CRM is. If the message doesn’t work, nothing else will. And vice versa. If the systems aren’t there to support it, you’ll be stuck in manual mode forever. Both sides need to work together.

Want to connect with Robert?

Find him at fearlessbranding.com and take his Brand Strength Assessment. It’s a super quick quiz but gives you huge insight into whether your brand is actually working for you. And of course, we’ll link his LinkedIn in the show notes.

If you’re serious about building a business that supports the lifestyle you actually want to live, this is an episode you’ll want to replay.

In this latest episode of Chronically Automated, Megan and Anthony peel back the shiny layer of automation to get real about something nobody’s talking about enough: hiding behind your systems. Megan dives into the uncomfortable truth of over-automation, when tech becomes a shield instead of a solution. Whether it’s dodging customer confrontations, masking mistakes with cold autoresponders, or letting bots take over the emotional core of your brand, they expose how automation can go from asset to liability fast.

Anthony jumps in from a sales lens, venting about the emotionally disconnected experience so many brands are delivering. He and Megan both challenge the myth that automation is the answer to everything. The real magic? Balance, knowing when to lean on systems and when to bring in the human touch.

The episode also dives into raw, real-life examples, including Anthony’s own frustration moment that Megan helped unravel. Not with a workflow, but with a phone call. They unpack how authenticity is becoming the new currency in a world dominated by AI, and how simple, unscripted actions like personal voice notes or live DMs can build real relationships that bots just can't replicate.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone building a personal brand, navigating high-ticket sales, or trying to automate without losing their soul. It's not about killing automation. It’s about knowing when to take your face out of the funnel and show up.

Episode 50. That’s right, fifty. And what better way to mark the moment than to bring in the two people I’ve probably name-dropped more than anyone else on this show, Nat and Darren from Brandbilt. This episode isn’t just a celebration. It’s a full-circle, behind-the-scenes look at what the last year has meant, what we’ve built, what broke, and why we kept going anyway.

From DMs that started with “Hey, remember me?” to building a platform that actually supports our community instead of boxing it in, we’re breaking down how Brandbilt went from an idea to a thriving space filled with real conversation, real collaboration, and real growth. And yeah, we talk about School. We talk about the billing nightmares. We talk about the churn. We talk about what happens when you stop listening to the wrong people and start building what actually works for you.

This one is raw, honest, and full of the stuff most people try to hide behind polished funnels and templated BS. It’s a reflection on transformation. Mine, theirs, and the community’s. And it’s also a reminder that the best systems aren’t perfect. They’re intentional. So if you’re building something, breaking something, or trying to figure out what the hell is next, this one’s for you. Welcome to episode 50. Let’s go.