Lone Wolf Unleashed - avoid exhaustion, reclaim your time using tools, systems and AI

Mike Fox

Lone Wolf Unleashed with host Mike Fox, founder of Action Advisory, provides practical solutions for business owners overwhelmed by administrative tasks and seeking more personal time. Rather than endorsing impractical hype, the podcast focuses on actionable steps and frameworks to help entrepreneurs streamline their operations without compromising growth. Expect candid discussions, dark humor, and tools to eliminate bottlenecks, aiming to help listeners reclaim their time and improve work-life balance.

  1. 16H AGO

    Before You Automate Anything, Do THIS One Thing

    Most people think saving time in their business means automation, software, or hiring help. New tools. New systems. More complexity. This episode doesn’t do that. Because the fastest win is simpler. Stop rewriting the same things. Standardise what doesn’t need thinking. Get your evenings back. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." In this episode, I break down why templates are one of the most underused tools for solo operators and small teams, and how they quietly unlock massive time savings without automation or extra staff. I walk through real examples from client work, including how a single report template cut review time from an hour to fifteen minutes, reduced caseloads, and delivered a 422% productivity increase. This isn’t about bureaucracy. And it’s not about making work soulless. It’s about doing the thinking once, so you don’t have to keep doing it every day. We cover: Why templates matter more than process maps or procedures How to identify what should be standard and what should stay custom Simple ways to structure templates so they’re fast to use, not annoying Why templates are the foundation for automation, not the other way around How AI can help you build templates quickly without overengineering The payoff is straightforward. You stop starting from scratch. You copy, paste, and change the few things that actually matter. That’s how you reduce admin without building a bigger business than you want. And that’s how Lone Wolf Unleashed helps you switch off sooner and live larger. Chapters/Timestamps00:00 Why templates deserve more attention 01:19 Why templates matter more than process documents 02:37 A real example of time saved with a single report template 05:04 What should and shouldn’t be standardised 05:40 Templates vs automation, and why order matters 07:17 Using AI to spin up practical templates quickly 08:51 How to design templates so they’re fast to fill out 10:06 Choosing your first task to templatise Links:🔗 Lone Wolf Unleashed site – https://lonewolfunleashed.com Mentioned in this episode: You might also like... Check out the "Websites Made Simple" podcast with Holly Christie at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/

    13 min

  2. JAN 26

    Build a Simple Custom AI Agent to Write Emails Faster!

    Most people talk about AI agents like they’re some big technical project. New tools. New workflows. New jargon. This episode doesn’t do that. Because the real win is simpler. Stop doing repeat work. Get your time back. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." In this episode, I walk through a real use case from my program. A not-for-profit leader trying to email politicians for funding, and how we built a custom AI workflow to tailor emails to the recipient’s communication style. This is not “let AI write everything”. It’s a practical framework. Start with a solid template. Use AI to research the person’s style from what they’ve already said publicly. Benchmark it against DISC. Then have the agent rewrite the email so it actually lands for that person. The payoff is simple. You stop writing from scratch. You copy, paste, and only change 1, 2, 3 things, not seventeen. Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… Timestamped summary 00:00 Why this episode exists, using AI to improve written communication Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 02:22 The starting point, building a custom agent with a template first Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 03:55 The research step, pulling public interviews and content Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 04:53 The key insight, we communicate how we like to be communicated with Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 06:09 Feeding the template back in and tailoring it to the person Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 07:40 Custom projects in Claude and ChatGPT, and how to structure them Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 08:18 Why it matters, time saved and faster outreach volume Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 09:57 Using Whisper Flow so you can speak instructions instead of typing Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… 11:16 The “my first agent” link and what it includes Lone Wolf Unleashed - Make Task… Links: 🔗 Lone Wolf Unleashed site – https://lonewolfunleashed.com 🔗 My First Agent – https://lonewolfunleashed.com/myfirstagent

    11 min

  3. JAN 19

    If You’d Stayed Employed, You’d Be Retired by Now

    Most business advice about going solo sounds the same. Quit the job. Take the leap. Freedom awaits. This episode doesn’t do that. Because sometimes the opposite is true. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." In this episode, I share a real conversation that stuck with me. A retired dental technician. His former colleague who went solo. And the moment one of them realised that leaving employment had quietly delayed his retirement by years. It’s not a story about failure. The business was working. The money was fine. But the numbers didn’t stack up the way he assumed they would. We talk about the trade-offs nobody really runs before going out on their own. Income versus risk. Flexibility versus responsibility. And how easy it is to build a business that only works when you do. This isn’t anti-entrepreneurship. It’s pro-awareness. If you’re running solo, or thinking about it, this episode is a reality check worth having before the clock runs down. Timestamped summary 00:00 A Christmas conversation that sparked this episode 01:20 Employment vs business, the moment of realisation 02:45 When “doing well” still isn’t enough 03:50 The hidden workload of solo ownership 05:10 Risk, pricing, and why many businesses underpay themselves 06:30 Flexibility myths and where freedom actually comes from 08:10 The question you should answer before quitting your job 09:40 What I don’t want you to end up regretting

    9 min
  4. The Three Part Accountability System for Achieving Your 2026 Goals

    JAN 12

    The Three Part Accountability System for Achieving Your 2026 Goals

    Most business advice about the new year sounds the same. Set bigger goals. Push harder. Stay motivated. This episode doesn’t do that. Because the real problem usually isn’t ambition. It’s follow-through. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." In this first episode of 2026, I’m talking about why so many business owners quietly abandon their goals by February and what actually helps progress stick when you’re running things on your own. We’re not talking about five-year visions or dramatic pivots. We’re talking about systems. Accountability. And the small structural shifts that make execution possible when motivation fades. I walk through a simple three-part accountability system built for solo operators. Timestamped summary00:00 Why most goals quietly fail 02:20 Friction, habits, and getting started 03:25 The three-part accountability system 04:44 Why running a business alone feels heavier than expected 06:30 Peer pressure that actually helps 09:20 Planning vs implementation 09:46 What I’m building in 2026 and why Mentioned in this episode: You might also like... Check out the "Websites Made Simple" podcast with Holly Christie at https://websitesmadesimple.co.uk/ Get Unleashed by your emails! Subscribe now! Get our insights delivered straight to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    15 min

  5. 12/15/2025

    They Didn’t Want Big Goals. They Wanted Their Life Back

    Most business events promise clarity, big goals, and bold plans. This one did too. But something unexpected happened. Instead of talking about five-year visions or aggressive growth targets, people kept coming back to small things. Walking the dog more. Finishing work earlier. Feeling less permanently behind. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." In this episode, I’m unpacking what actually happened at my first Freedom Forward workshop. The wins, the nerves, the moments I didn’t expect, and the realisation that stopped me mid-session. Everyone left with a roadmap. Almost no one knew how to take the first step. We talk about why “big goals” often stall real progress, why implementation is the hardest part of running a business, and what busy business owners actually need when time, energy, and focus are already stretched thin. This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s a reflection on what people really want from their business and what gets in the way of making change stick. If you’ve ever felt like you’ve done the planning but still can’t move forward, this one will land close to home. And yes, I’ll also explain what I’m building next, why I’m doing it this way, and why I’d rather you get results than over-commit to something you don’t need. Take a breath. This one’s about slowing down to move forward. Timestamped summary00:00 Implementing Ideas: Overcoming Inaction 04:48 Business Growth Roadmap Launch 07:28 "Podcast Farewell, YouTube Ahead" Mentioned in this episode: Get Unleashed by your emails! Subscribe now! Get our insights delivered straight to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    9 min

  6. 12/01/2025

    Stop Doing Everything Yourself: Business Delegation Lessons From a 7-Year-Old

    This episode started with something simple — teaching my 7-year-old how to vacuum the house. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." And in all truth, it wasn’t simple at all. It turned out to be one of the clearest lessons I’ve ever had on delegation, systems, and letting go of tasks I should never have been doing in the first place. If you’re a solo operator who’s convinced delegation “doesn’t apply to you,” we need to talk. Because most of the work you’re buried under doesn’t require your judgment… just your knowledge. And once you learn how to transfer that knowledge properly, everything gets lighter. In this episode, I break down: • the hidden micro-decisions inside every “quick task” • why handing something off is a skill, not a personality type • how to define “done” so you’re not picking up the pieces later • how to build a feedback loop that actually helps people improve • the difference between teaching judgment vs teaching steps • why your fear of “not being needed” is probably slowing your business down If a seven-year-old can learn to vacuum like a pro with the right structure, you can absolutely train someone — or something — to take recurring tasks off your plate. Listen in, and make this the week you finally hand off one thing you shouldn’t be doing anymore. Timestamped summary00:00 "Delegation Over Perfection" 03:17 Delegating Tasks and Automation 07:12 Delegating Tasks with Efficiency 10:47 Delegation: Knowledge vs. Judgment 13:00 "Communicate Task Completion Effectively" 16:08 Delegation Tips and Website Promo LinksTim Ferris talking to Sam Corcos - https://tim.blog/2023/09/20/sam-corcos/ My template download - http://lonewolfunleashed.com/procedure-template Mentioned in this episode: Get Unleashed by your emails! Subscribe now! Get our insights delivered straight to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    17 min

  7. 11/17/2025

    The Accountability Problem Every Solopreneur Pretends They Don’t Have

    In this episode, I’m digging into something most solopreneurs avoid until it’s too late. Accountability. Hi, I'm Mike Fox, host of this podcast, "Lone Wolf Unleashed." When I talk about accountability, I don't mean the fluffy “how are you feeling this week?” kind… the real kind. The kind that checks whether you actually finished the thing you swore you’d do, whether you're using the systems you built, and whether those systems still serve you instead of slowing you down. I walk through the three types of accountability every solo operator needs: And you'll want to hear them because — honestly — most people fall down on all three! If you’ve ever half-built a dashboard, ditched an automation on a busy Tuesday, or kept a pointless process alive simply because it’s what you’ve always done… this episode will probably sting a bit. In a good way. Stick around to the end where I talk about how to ensure you'll have people who call out your excuses (nicely) and how it might well end up being the thing that finally gets you your time back. Timestamped summary00:00 "Implement Fully for Success" 05:25 Systems, Accountability, and Optimization 06:30 "Making Accountability Simple and Effective" 09:48 "Systems Accountability Simplified" 14:26 "Commit to Your Business Goals" Mentioned in this episode: Get Unleashed by your emails! Subscribe now! Get our insights delivered straight to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    16 min

  8. 11/03/2025

    Reclaim Your Time: Living in the Moments That Matter Most

    Welcome to Lone Wolf Unleashed, the podcast for solopreneurs who want to reclaim their afternoons without sacrificing their income—or hiring staff they’ll resent. Hi, I'm Mike Fox. In today’s episode, “Reclaim Your Time: Living in the Moments That Matter Most,” I'm inviti8ng you to think about stepping back from the time-sucking monster of business and focus on the little life moments that truly matter. Forget complex systems and workflow hacks. This week is all about the mindset shift that lets you appreciate time spent with family, the small everyday joys, and the power of drawing healthy boundaries around your work. If you’re tired of being perpetually busy and ready to experience more of what means the most to you, click play now. 00:00 Cherishing Life's Small Moments 03:32 Mindfulness Beyond Business Tasks 07:20 "Optimize Time, Delegate, Templatize" 10:45 "Scaling Through Systems, Not Busyness" Mentioned in this episode: Get Unleashed by your emails! Subscribe now! Get our insights delivered straight to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time.

    13 min
See All (25)

Trailer

About

Lone Wolf Unleashed with host Mike Fox, founder of Action Advisory, provides practical solutions for business owners overwhelmed by administrative tasks and seeking more personal time. Rather than endorsing impractical hype, the podcast focuses on actionable steps and frameworks to help entrepreneurs streamline their operations without compromising growth. Expect candid discussions, dark humor, and tools to eliminate bottlenecks, aiming to help listeners reclaim their time and improve work-life balance.

Information