Is automation a friend or foe?

I love sending weekly updates to my clients. It’s a small but powerful way to keep them informed, reassured, and engaged in the progress of their projects.

For the longest time, though, this small gesture was eating up more time than I could afford. I called them Monday Check-ins and Friday Wrap-ups, but the process behind them? A nightmare.

I had to:

✔️ Track project progress manually

✔️ Format each update (yes, I love colors!)

✔️ Review for accuracy and completeness

✔️ Send them out one by one

The more projects I managed, the more overwhelming it became. I was spending hours each week on something that should have taken minutes.

The moment automation changed everything

Finally, it hit me… why am I doing this manually when automation is literally my thing? (Sometimes, the mechanic does forget to fix his own car! 😂)

So, I set up an automated workflow using Teamwork, Zapier, and Gmail:

1️⃣ A simple form collects the week’s progress updates

2️⃣ Zapier formats the content the way I want

3️⃣ Gmail drafts the update so I can review & send with one click

The result? An 80% reduction in time spent on this task.

Same personal touch, same thoughtful updates but without the time drain.

Automation doesn’t have to mean losing control

Believe me, I get it. Tech can feel overwhelming. Even as someone who lives and breathes software, I still hesitate when I need to learn yet another app.

It’s like exercise. Before you start, your brain throws every excuse at you: “I can do this later” or “I’m comfortable the way things are” (even when you know you’re not).

But once you take that first step, the resistance fades, and before you know it, the process becomes easier, and even enjoyable.

What’s one manual task you could automate today?

Whether it’s invoicing, lead follow-ups, or reporting, automation frees up your time so you can focus on what truly matters.

So tell me, what’s one thing you do manually that could be automated? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Shalom, everyone!