How to Buy Back 20+ Hours Per Week Using AI (w/ Aarti Anand)
Welcome to the Habit Chess newsletter where I talk about training the strength & conditioning of skills. So you can learn new things, faster.
read time: 2 minutes
I recently sat down with Aarti Anand on my podcast, a software engineer turned founder of Kodenyx AI who's been building AI automations for companies ranging from SMBs to enterprise clients. She helped one client transform their existing six-figure SaaS offer into $2M ARR contracts by showing them how to solve bigger problems with AI automation.
The conversation revealed something I've been thinking about. We're stuck in this weird middle ground where AI is either too advanced or barely utilized at all.
Most people are still using ChatGPT to write emails. Meanwhile, Aarti's clients are running completely automated lead generation systems that book qualified appointments with minimal human intervention.
The gap isn't very technical as much as it is strategic.
Start With Problems, Not Tools
Here's what caught my attention: Aarti doesn't lead with the tech. She starts with a simple question - "If you sold your business today, what's the first thing the new owner would change?"
Do you have enough leads? Are you capturing the ones you get? Can you nurture the 97% who aren't ready to buy today?
The breakthrough happens when you stop thinking about AI as mystical and start treating it like any other business system. If you have a process that works - an SOP that a human can follow step by step - that's your automation opportunity.
The 80% Rule in Delegation
One framework Aarti shared stuck with me: 80% done by someone else is better than 100% done by you.
Think about the math. If automation saves you 80% of your time on a task, multiply those hours by your hourly rate. That's your ROI before you even factor in what you can do with that reclaimed time.
The key is knowing where to start:
- Internal operations first - Free up your time without customer-facing risk
- Proven processes only - Don't automate something that doesn't already work
- Calculate the error cost - What does a 5% mistake rate actually cost you?
Three Levels of Automation Thinking
For Solo Business Owners: You can move faster than anyone. No approval layers, no committee decisions. Start with lead generation, proposal automation, or lead nurturing. Aarti's clients are saving 20+ hours per week.
For Corporate Employees: Focus on buying back personal time first. Train ChatGPT as your intern for email responses. Automate the repetitive stuff that keeps you at your desk longer than necessary.
For Enterprise: Think bigger. Aarti helped one client go from a six-figure offer to $2M ARR by showing them how to save their customers $25M annually per contract. When you solve problems at that scale, the pricing follows.
The Mindset Shift That Actually Matters
The most valuable insight from our conversation wasn't about tools or tactics. It was about agency.
Aarti left her W-2 at 42 because she realized her family deserved the best of her, not the rest of her. AI and automation became the vehicle to create that life.
The question isn't whether AI will change your industry. We already know that's inevitable. It's whether you'll use it to change your position within that industry.
What to Do Next
Start with one process you repeat daily, weekly, or monthly. Create a ChatGPT or Claude project for it. Train it like an employee who knows your voice and goals.
Don't try to automate everything at once. Pick the thing that, if solved, would give you back the most valuable time in your week.
The early adopters get the advantage because they took the risk while others watched from the sidelines.
Your move.
This conversation is packed with even more tactical insights about enterprise vs. SMB automation strategies, training AI on your voice, and Aarti's approach to building $2M ARR solutions. Listen to the full episode on YouTube or Spotify for the full discussion.
In your corner,
Misbah Haque
Founder & Consultant at Pod Mahal
Writer & Host of Habit Chess
P.S. Grab my book Pod Mahal: Build Your Own Table With Podcasting on Amazon here!
P.P.S. - Aarti created a 3-minute quiz that identifies your next automation opportunity and calculates what inaction is costing you annually. DM her @aartianand82 on Instagram and she'll help you out.
