Overwhelmed by AI? Here’s How to Start Small (and Actually Save Time)

If you’re feeling behind on AI—or just plain unsure where to begin—you’re not alone. Most small business owners I talk to are curious about AI, even excited by its potential… but also a little intimidated. And understandably so.

The hype is loud. The tools are endless. And who has time to “experiment” while running a business?

So, let’s make this simple.

First, let’s talk about the hesitation.

Adopting AI can feel like learning a new language while trying to land a plane. You’ve heard it can save time, money, and mental bandwidth—but you’re worried it’ll just add to your to-do list. You don’t want to buy the wrong tool. Or worse, invest time and money into something your team doesn’t end up using.

Totally valid. The key is not to go big. It’s to go small and smart.

Start where the friction is.

Forget trying to transform your whole business overnight. Ask this instead:

Where are we losing time doing repetitive tasks right now?

That’s where AI is most immediately helpful. Think:

• Recapping Zoom calls

• Writing follow-up emails

• Assigning action items

• Keeping track of who said what

If any of that sounds familiar, you’re already AI-ready.

Choose one tool, one use case.

Pick a single pain point and a tool that solves it. A great place to start: Fathom.

Fathom is a free AI assistant that integrates directly with Zoom. It records your meetings (with permission), automatically generates a summary, highlights key moments, and even drafts a follow-up email—all within minutes of hanging up. No more scrambling to take notes or forgetting what was agreed upon.

Case Study: A Small Step That Paid Off

One of my clients, a five-person creative agency, started using Fathom for client Zoom calls. Before, they spent 30–45 minutes per call taking notes, drafting recaps, and assigning action items. Now, they wrap the call, and Fathom sends a polished summary and follow-up draft almost instantly.

That’s 10+ hours saved every month, and their clients feel more taken care of than ever.

The Takeaway

You don’t need a tech background or a huge budget to benefit from AI. Just start with one workflow that’s slowing you down and test a tool that removes the drag.

Start simple. Get a win. Build from there.

If you need help identifying your business's first opportunity, please don't hesitate to contact me. I’d love to help you find the low-hanging fruit.