The Solopreneur’s Dilemma: The Double-Edged Sword of Meetings and Actions from Meetings
Introduction
Being a solopreneur is often romanticized. The freedom to work on your terms, the thrill of building something from scratch, and the pride of owning every success are undeniable perks. But there’s a less glamorous side that rarely makes it to social media posts and inspirational talks: the never-ending struggle of managing meetings, getting feedback and categorizing what to do next.
I recently joined that boat, with the added effort of continuing with my current 8–5 job, so I have limited time. I am trying to follow the advice of those who are more successful than me by interviewing potential customers before building. With the small window of time I can act on this a day, it is tough to have the meeting and drive out actions related to it. The most daunting of these is being present in meetings and documenting every crucial point. It seemed straightforward at first — how hard could it be to write down what was said? But reality hit hard and fast.
The Challenge
Picture this: You’re sitting in a virtual meeting with a potential client, the stakes are high, and you’re trying to impress while simultaneously jotting down key points. The client is talking about their needs and vision, and you’re nodding along, trying to listen actively while scribbling notes. It’s a delicate balancing act, and every solopreneur knows that one slip could mean missing out on a golden opportunity.
I remember one particular meeting that changed everything for me. It was with a high-profile client, the kind that could kick my business off and drive out future business. The meeting started smoothly, but I got overwhelmed as it progressed. I was trying to capture every word, every nuance, but in the process, I was losing the essence of the conversation. I wasn’t fully present, and it showed. By the end of the meeting, I had pages of notes but felt disconnected from the discussion. The client sensed it, too. They went with someone else.
That experience was a wake-up call. I realized that managing meetings and minutes wasn’t just a task but a skill that required strategy and finesse. The stakes were high; a single meeting could make or break a deal. I needed a better approach.
Surely AI can Help?
The recent advances in AI are incredible. In today’s tech-driven world, it’s tempting to think that AI and automation can solve all our problems.
As such, I looked for some magical AI tool to handle the intricacies of meetings and minutes. I explored various software solutions promising to transcribe, analyze, and summarize meetings. While these tools offered some relief, they also came with a hefty price tag for something that is not yet bringing in revenue and would not allow me to work with it for the number of meetings in a month that would add the value I need it to.
Being a software developer and reflecting on the advice of more successful people, I remember some of it saying: “Solve your own problems first! Make it better, then sell it.”
What am I looking for
So many of the tools that I reviewed didn’t quite fit my needs. Here are some of the key elements I am looking for in a tool:
- Most of the tools used a post/recording transcription. I want this to happen in real-time (or as close to real-time as I can)
- If they provided a summary (like copilot), they had a few limitations:
- For example, the tools were limited to a single interaction, e.g., meeting minutes. I want a few different interactions at the same time, sometimes dependent interactions, such as creating tasks and then prioritizing these tasks (something a single prompt is not good at with ChatGPT)
- Direct email of the meeting minutes from a structured template.
- I want to use the context of who I am and what I want, the context of the project/company, etc.
- Searching projects and meeting notes titles (still cannot believe this is not on ChatGPT)
- Searching the meeting notes contents (RAG comes to mind here)
I began to see meetings differently. Instead of viewing them as interruptions, I treated them as integral parts of my business strategy. I invested in tools that could help me manage these sessions more effectively. Automated transcription services, dedicated meeting software, and even hiring a virtual assistant for note-taking were game-changers. These tools allowed me to focus on the conversation, fully engage with my clients, and trust that the details were captured accurately.
What Next
I am already creating a small tool that will assist me in processing meetings more effectively, as I cannot find what I need.
What do you think about the idea? Are there any features your current process lacks that would be a game changer for you?
Please share any feedback here: https://forms.gle/3yszPZ8Ayp6rdeyz6.
