AI and automation
Marblism
AI employees for prospecting, inbox management, SEO content, social media and calls.
Where I use it: Prospecting, Inbox management, SEO content, Social media, Calls.
Business Stack
The software I use across my businesses.
I use a lot of software. Some of it saves us time, some replaces work we used to do manually and some earns its place despite being frustrating. This is where I explain what I use, why I chose it and where I think it falls short.
Why I keep a close eye on the stack
Software has a habit of arriving as a solution and becoming another job to manage. I keep a tool when it removes a meaningful amount of manual work, keeps useful information together or gives somebody a more reliable next step. If it cannot do one of those things, I am happy to question whether we still need it.
I will not turn this into a directory of products I cannot answer questions about. A review belongs here only when I can explain the job it does, the frustrations that come with it and who I would be cautious about recommending it to.
Reviews
Tools I can speak about with some honesty.
There are no scores or best-of lists here. Each note covers the job I needed done, the trade-offs I have found and the type of business that may get value from it.
13 published notes
CRM and automation
GoHighLevel
The place I use for lead capture, messaging and follow-up when a business needs more than somebody's memory.
Where I use it: Lead capture, Quote follow-up, Review requests.
AI
ChatGPT
The general AI tool I use to turn a blank page, long document or repeat task into a useful starting point.
Where I use it: First drafts, Document summaries, Data clean-up, Repeatable prompts.
Automation
Make
The automation tool I use when a workflow has enough branches that I need to see the logic.
Where I use it: Enquiry routing, Multi-step automation, Data processing.
Software buying
AppSumo
A marketplace where I have found early-release software that has remained useful in my day-to-day work for years.
Where I use it: Software research, Finding specialist software.
Finance
Monzo
Business banking used as part of the financial administration around the businesses.
Where I use it: Business banking.
Finance
Tide
Business banking and money-management platform for smaller businesses.
Where I use it: Business banking.
Growth
SendPilot
Outbound-growth software for structured outreach and follow-up.
Where I use it: Outbound research, Follow-up.
Operations
Google Workspace
Email, files, calendars and collaboration for operating teams.
Where I use it: Email, Files, Calendars.
Relationship-led outreach
Gain Momentum
A relationship-led LinkedIn outreach, inbox and CRM platform I have built and operate.
Where I use it: LinkedIn outreach, Inbox management, Follow-up.
Infrastructure
Hostinger
Hosting and domain infrastructure used around website work.
Where I use it: Website hosting, Domains.
Finance
Wise
A money-movement service used where international payments need a clear route.
Where I use it: International payments.
Growth
Apollo
A sales-intelligence and outreach tool I use with caution around targeting and message quality.
Where I use it: Prospecting, Research.
Notes from using the stack
The software is only useful when the work around it makes sense.
These pieces look at the decisions, hand-offs and habits that sit behind the tools.
Tools · Business stack roundup
The Tools I Use to Build and Run My Businesses
A growing software stack can quietly become another business problem. This is the test I use before a tool keeps its place.
Tools · How I use
How I Use GoHighLevel Across My Businesses
I use GoHighLevel where a lead needs a visible next step. It helps, but it will not fix an unclear sales process for you.
Technology · How I use
How I Use ChatGPT as a Business Owner
ChatGPT is useful to me when it gets a piece of work moving. The judgement, facts and final decision still stay with me.
What happens next
Read the decisions behind the tools.
The notes explain where a tool helps and where a process, conversation or clearer responsibility would be the wiser place to start.