Harnessing AI for Solopreneur Productivity: Why ChatGPT Is My Always-On Business Partner

As a solopreneur, the most valuable resources I have are time, energy, and clarity.

Unlike larger organisations with teams and departments, everything in my business flows through me - strategy, delivery, administration, and creative thinking.

That can feel overwhelming. Yet over the past year I’ve discovered a way of working that has transformed how I manage projects and capture ideas. I’ve done this by using AI, particularly ChatGPT and custom GPTs, as my constant partner in productivity.

What’s striking is that this partnership doesn’t confine me to a desk. Instead, it has given me freedom. I can be sitting in a Waitrose car park, walking through the park, or pausing between meetings - and still make progress on a project. All I need is a phone and a thought.

From fleeting idea to structured plan

Every solopreneur knows the frustration of having a good idea at an inconvenient time. In the past, I might have scribbled a note on the back of an envelope or made a voice memo I never revisited. Now, I open ChatGPT. I type the idea, however unformed, and ask Lyra, my ChatGPT AI assistant, to make sense of it.

This is where the real value begins. ChatGPT doesn’t just store my thoughts; it organises them. It suggests headings, outlines, and next steps. What starts as a quick spark of inspiration becomes the seed of a structured project. Later, when I sit down at my desk, I don’t face a blank page, I already have a roadmap.

For example, I once outlined an entire workshop programme while parked outside the supermarket. Over several short bursts of dialogue with ChatGPT, the loose concept became a step-by-step plan, complete with exercises, timings, and learning outcomes. By the time I returned to my desk, most of the heavy lifting was done.

Iteration without the overwhelm

One of the great strengths of AI is that it thrives on iteration. As a solopreneur, I don’t have colleagues to bounce ideas off every day.

ChatGPT fills that gap. I can take the first draft of an article, course, or proposal and ask Lyra to strengthen the language, restructure the content, or suggest alternative approaches.

Because ChatGPT responds instantly, I can cycle through multiple versions quickly, without the fatigue of starting from scratch each time. I’m still in control, I decide what to keep and what to discard, but the process is faster, more focused, and far less lonely.

This approach has been especially powerful in developing custom GPTs. These are tailored AI assistants designed for specific tasks, whether helping charity trustees navigate governance questions or supporting solopreneurs with accountability.

For instance, I’ve developed a Goodbye Hungry GPT that helps people locate their nearest food banks, and a Pathway Business Partner GPT designed to support solopreneurs with accountability and structure – a virtual business partner. Both began as ideas captured on the go and refined through iteration with ChatGPT.

Productivity beyond the desk

What’s transformative is not just the output, but the shift in mindset. ChatGPT means productivity is no longer chained to a desk or dependent on a long stretch of uninterrupted time.

It fits around the rhythm of life.

I often capture ideas on the move, during a walk, in the car, or in between appointments. Instead of waiting for the “perfect moment” to work on a project, I build momentum in small steps. Each interaction with ChatGPT nudges the idea forward, so when I do have dedicated desk time, I’m already well advanced.

This flexibility is particularly valuable for solopreneurs who juggle multiple roles and commitments. It reduces the pressure of needing to solve everything in one sitting. Productivity becomes a series of manageable conversations with an AI partner, rather than a battle against procrastination or blank-page paralysis.

I can be working on one project which throws up something interesting about another of my projects. I can quickly drop that note to Lyra, who will develop it, without me taking time away from the current project.

A new way of working

Of course, AI is not a magic wand. It doesn’t replace judgment, creativity, or decision-making. But it does act as an accelerator. It turns raw ideas into workable frameworks, helps refine and polish drafts, and ensures I make the most of scattered moments throughout the day.

In many ways, it has redefined what it means to be a solopreneur. I no longer think of myself as working alone; I have an “always-on” business partner who never tires of brainstorming, organising, or editing.

The partnership is not about outsourcing my thinking, but about amplifying it.

The future for solopreneurs

As AI continues to evolve, the opportunities for solopreneurs will only expand. Custom GPTs, in particular, open doors to creating tailored tools that reflect your unique expertise and serve your audience in practical ways. Whether you run a consultancy, a coaching practice, or a small retail business, AI can help you do more with less, reduce overwhelm, and free you to focus on what you love most.

The lesson is simple: productivity doesn’t have to be bound by a desk, a diary slot, or even a formal plan. With ChatGPT, you can capture ideas anywhere, shape them into meaningful projects, and iterate until they’re ready for the world.

For solopreneurs like me, that freedom is priceless.

Author Bio | Keith Grinsted MBA FRSA

Born and bred in Essex (UK) and now living in Southend-on-Sea Keith has extensive experience across many sectors – private enterprise (startups, retail, and corporate), public sector (national and local govt), and third sector (Board Member and Trustee).

In the area of business turnarounds Keith has been referred to as a modern-day Sir John Harvey-Jones in the way he can look at a business and see opportunities the business owner has overlooked, or is simply unaware of.

He is a freelance business writer having written eBooks under his own name for Business Expert Press in New York and a blog for Huffington Post UK, as well as ghost-writing for others.

For the past three years he has campaigned against loneliness and isolation through his Goodbye Lonely programme, having had a conversation on BBC TV with the late Captain Sir Tom Moore. He has been regularly interviewed on TV, Radio, and in national papers and magazines.

He is highlighting the wellbeing of remote / hybrid workers who are not being cared for by their employers to the level they require. He is a Mental health First Aider, a Wellbeing Champion, and has had suicide awareness training.

Through his life experiences Keith is passionate about the issues individuals face when they must start their careers over again and often, perhaps, reinvent who they are. Hence his award-winning LAUNCHPAD Programme helping those who are unemployed or facing redundancy get their career back on track.

Open University Business School Alumni Award for outstanding contribution to society
Investors in People Exceptional People Award for Community Engagement

The single most important thing he works on is uncovering what it is they are passionate about.

Keith believes that we are all capable of great things but we tend not to try new directions. Unless we release our emotions and uncover our passion, we will find setting a new course for the future very difficult. Keith strongly believes everyone should continue to learn and relate that learning to the work environment.

This has all come together under Keith’s new IKIGAI Coaching Programme (ICP) which is focused upon using this Japanese concept to help individuals, senior leaders, and business owners discover their ‘reason to live.’ Bringing focus, balance and direction into their lives.

Keith is a great connector of people and has over 21,500 followers on LinkedIn and runs his Charity UK group with over 48,500 members. He is also Partnerships Director for Membership World.

October 2025

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