The One Task Every Business Owner Should Automate First

There’s a lot of hype around AI right now — and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the tools and possibilities.

But the smartest way to start isn’t by chasing trends.
It’s by solving one real problem inside your business.

This post is the first in a new series called Quick Wins with AI.

In this series, we'll cover:

• The One Task Every Business Owner Should Automate First (you’re here)

• How to Choose the Right AI Tools for Your Stage of Business (coming next)

• How to Train AI Agents to Work for You (Without Being a Tech Expert)

• Common AI Mistakes Small Businesses Make (and How to Avoid Them)

I'll link each post as it goes live, so you always have a clear map to follow.

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Why Start with Just One Task?

When I built my first company, I tried to wear every hat at once: CEO, marketer, salesperson, customer support... it was exhausting.

AI is supposed to take some of those hats off your head.

But if you automate too much too fast, you create more chaos, not less.

The key is focus.

Pick one task you already do manually, over and over again.

Automate that first. Then expand once you have a win under your belt.

What Task Should You Start With?

Here’s the simple test: Pick the task that drains the most time without growing your business directly.

For most business owners, that’s one of these:

• Scheduling meetings

• Responding to customer questions

• Following up with leads

• Posting routine marketing content

• Managing invoices and basic admin

You want a task that:

• Happens often

• Follows a clear, repeatable pattern

• Doesn’t require deep human judgment to complete

Example: If you’re answering the same five customer questions by email every day, you could use an AI-powered chatbot to handle 80% of those automatically — saving you hours each week.

Starter Tasks: Pick One to Start Today

If you’re not sure where to begin, here’s a simple starter list.

Pick one task you already handle manually — and start there.

Starter Tasks Checklist:

• Automate meeting scheduling with a tool like Calendly or Motion

• Set up a basic AI chatbot to handle FAQs with Intercom Fin or Tidio

• Create auto-response email templates for common customer questions

• Use Jasper AI to draft three marketing emails this week

• Automate invoice reminders using QuickBooks or FreshBooks

Starting with just one quick win can give you back hours a week — and the confidence to keep building smarter systems.

Why Picking the Right First Task Matters

Your first automation is more than just saving a few hours.

It proves something important:

• That AI can actually help you

• That you don’t have to do it all yourself

• That your business can scale smarter, not just harder

It builds momentum — and momentum compounds.

When you see your first AI agent succeed, you’ll be ready to tackle bigger wins.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a team of engineers to start using AI.

You just need a plan — and the right first move.

Find your highest-drain, repeatable task.

Automate it simply.

Learn from it.

Then grow from there.

In the next post, I’ll show you how to choose the right AI tools for your business stage — so you don’t get stuck buying shiny objects that don’t actually move you forward.

Your business deserves tools that make your life easier, not harder.

Let’s build that together.

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