Tiny Talk #6: Automation vs. AI? Where the heck to start for Tiny Business Owners & Nonprofits
Welcome back to Tiny Talks!
If you’re new here: Welcome! Tiny Talks is a no-fluff, 45-minute blend of strategy + community for tiny business owners, creatives, neurodivergent folks, and anyone who’s doing marketing on their own terms.
Each Tiny Talks features one tactical talk (like SEO or website structure), one strategy or mindset shift (like time management or content planning) and real folks working in tiny businesses or nonprofits sharing what’s actually working for them.
Guest speaker: Rory Moon of OpsWeaver
Originally recorded November 12, 2025. Edited for clarity, vibes, and side quests.
In this bonus session from November’s event, we handed the mic to Rory Moon, systems thinker and founder of OpsWeaver, to unpack a surprisingly juicy question:
What’s the difference between automation and AI.., and which one is actually useful in a tiny business?
Spoiler alert: it depends. But you don’t need to be a tech nerd to start using both.
📺 Watch the full replay here:
👉 Watch on YouTube
Or, read on for a recap of the event!
You might want to keep an eye on my newsletter…
Rory Moon
Founder of Ops Weaver
The Breakdown: Automation vs. AI
Rory kicked us off with a refreshingly simple metaphor:
Automation is like a recipe. You know the steps. You repeat them. You want them done for you. Automation follows a clear, repeatable set of steps to complete a task. You know the ingredients, you know the process, and it does the same thing every time. Think:
Sending a confirmation email after someone books a call
Moving form data into a spreadsheet
Triggering a Slack message when someone makes a payment
It’s consistent. It’s logic-based. Once you set it, it runs.
AI is like a sous-chef. It can help you decide what to cook, or suggest a garnish. But it needs you to steer. AI supports decision-making, brainstorming, pattern recognition, and creative help. Like a sous-chef, it doesn't run the show. But it can chop, prep, suggest, and speed things up! Think:
Helping write a blog outline
Recommending email subject lines
Summarizing meeting notes
The human is still the head chef, AI can just make your job easier.
So if you’re trying to remove repetitive tasks (like sending reminder emails or updating spreadsheets), automation is your bestie.
If you’re trying to brainstorm content ideas or summarize meeting notes? That’s where AI shines.
What Should You Automate First?
Rory offered a helpful checklist to decide what’s automation-worthy:
✔️ You do it more than once a week
✔️ It has clear rules or logic
✔️ You dread it
✔️ It slows you down
✔️ You’re likely to forget it
✔️ It’s a bottleneck in your client experience
If it ticks at least two or three of those? Automate it.
Bonus: this also reduces decision fatigue (which is a gift for any neurodivergent or overstimulated brain.)
If you’re still not sure (totally fair!) you should check out Lark’s tiny talk from November on Client Journey Mapping - this is an easy breezy way to sketch out your process and start to really see where this stuff might be happening!
Rory’s Real-Life Use Case: Positive Feedback App for ADHD Brains
This part was ✨magic✨:
Rory’s building a tool that combines automation + AI to help ADHD folks when they’re spiraling. Here's how:
AI collects and organizes positive feedback you’ve gotten from clients, emails, and comments.
Automation delivers those gems back to you when you’re in a funk or stuck in perfectionism.
It also nudges you to focus on a task—just one—so you can build momentum.
Honestly? Iconic.
AI = Your Assistant Chef
It can help you decide what to cook, or suggest a garnish. But it needs you to steer.
Automation = Your Recipe
You know the steps. You repeat them. (What you want is for them to be done for you.)
Tiny Business Takeaways
✨ Every business already has systems—whether you’ve named them or not.
✨ Map the flow before you plug in tools. (Journey mapping first!)
✨ Use automation where you want ease.
✨ Use AI where you want ideas.
✨ Combine both for sustainable support that doesn’t rely on your memory or mood.
Try This
Pick one task that drives you bananas. Ask:
Could a robot do this for me?
If yes: start with tools like Zapier, Make.com, or even built-in automation in your email platform.
If no, but it’s fuzzy or creative: try an AI tool to help you outline, draft, or sort through options.
Don’t automate just to be “efficient.” Automate to be kind to your future self.
Wanna Keep This Going?
I’d love to have you in the Awesome Websites Membership. It’s packed with 5–10 minute micro-lessons on websites, marketing, automation, and—coming soon—productivity for tiny biz brains.
Watch. Read. Do.
Use code TINYTALKS for $10 off your first month.
✨ Join the membership ✨
Ready to Level Up?
Whether you’re dreaming up a business, starting fresh, or finally tackling those website updates- I'm here for yah.
Let’s find your next step, together.
💬 Book your free 30-minute Intro Chat—no pressure, just good vibes and clear ideas. I can’t wait to hear what you’re working on!
Keywords: Small business website, Business website design, DIY web design, Small business web design, Website for small business, Online presence for small business, Build trust with clients, Social media vs website, Tell your business story online, Squarespace web design, Website benefits for small business, Website strategy for small businesses
