Mastering the 4-Day Work Week: How Solopreneur Phil McParlane Uses AI and Automation to Run Multiple Businesses [Leanpreneur 1]
Read on to learn about a solopreneur who uses AI and automation to run multiple businesses and aims to work only 4 days per week.
I've been following Phil's journey on X for some time now and his story is fascinating. He currently runs multiple businesses and aims to work just 4 days per week.
He very kindly gave up his time to share his story with me so I hope you enjoy learning about his journey.
Who is Phil?
Phil McParlane is a 25-year-old solopreneur from Leeds who runs 4 businesses:
- 4dayweek - a remote jobs board
- Zero - an all-in-one work OS for remote teams
- Student - helping students get into top tech companies
- Scaleup - a community for scaling startups
All whilst working just 4 days per week!
Why 4 days?
Phil started running his businesses on evenings and weekends whilst working a full time job in Leeds.
He had an ultimatum with his employer: a promotion or Flex. They said no so he left, taking a £15k pay cut.
It gave him the headspace to focus on what was important, which turned out to be working less, but smarter.
The Role of AI and Automation
Phil uses AI and automation extensively in his businesses:
Content Creation
AI writes first drafts of content. Phil edits and publishes. This gives him consistency in output without the time drain.
Customer Support
AI handles first-line support queries, escalating to Phil when needed. This allows him to scale without hiring support staff.
Data Analysis
AI analyses data from his businesses to identify trends and opportunities. This informs strategic decisions.
Administrative Tasks
Automation handles invoicing, follow-ups, and scheduling. Phil focuses on high-value work.
Key Lessons
Start Before You're Ready
Phil didn't wait until he had everything figured out. He launched and iterated. Perfectionism kills momentum.
Automate Everything
Every repetitive task should be automated. Your time is your most valuable asset.
Focus on Leverage
Instead of working more hours, Phil focuses on activities that create the most impact. That's leverage.
Build in Public
Sharing his journey attracted customers, investors, and talent. Building in public is a growth strategy.
The Future
Phil aims to have all his businesses run without him within 5 years. He's building systems and processes that scale.
His goal isn't to work more—it's to work smarter and enjoy life outside work.
Resources
Phil recommends checking out:
- Smarthinking - for finding and hiring remote talent
- Alex's Newsletter - for more insights on lean entrepreneurship
You can follow Phil on X
Image attribution: Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash