Why Better Spent Exists

Thoughts on running a small business, figuring out AI, and finding better ways to get things done.

When I started building Strohm Partners, I had a pretty simple idea. I wanted to help small businesses take advantage of technology that, until recently, seemed like something only bigger companies could afford or figure out how to use.

AI was becoming more accessible, and the possibilities really caught my attention. Not necessarily the flashy stuff you see all over social media, but the practical things. Answering questions, handling routine tasks, keeping track of information, and helping a business stay on top of things without someone having to remember every little detail.

The more I started experimenting with it, the more I realized how much of a difference even a relatively simple solution could make.

And that's really where this whole thing started.

A little about my background

I'm still fairly new to running my own business, but I'm not entirely new to working with businesses and technology.

Before starting Strohm Partners, I spent 13 years working for a B2B software company that provided technology solutions for K–12 school food service operations. Much of that work involved point-of-sale systems used in school cafeterias, along with the back-office software that helped manage everything behind the scenes.

It gave me a pretty good understanding of how important reliable systems are to everyday operations. I also got to see firsthand how frustrating things can become when technology is difficult to use, processes are unnecessarily complicated, or something that should be simple turns into a much bigger headache.

Looking back, I think that experience has influenced how I approach my own business today.

I'm not particularly interested in technology just because it's new or impressive. I'm interested in whether it actually makes something easier.

Learning by building

A lot of what I know about AI and automation today has come from getting my hands dirty and trying things for myself.

Some of my earlier projects have involved building AI-assisted websites for local businesses, including JT3 Hauling and Mrs. Red Bottom's Cleaning Solutions.

These weren't just websites built to look nice. I wanted them to actually do something useful for the businesses behind them.

Using AI throughout the development process, I was able to build the sites and incorporate workflows that help handle website inquiries, simplify communication with potential customers, and organize incoming leads.

That experience changed how I looked at website development.

A website doesn't have to be just an online brochure that displays a phone number and a contact form. It can help collect the right information, get that information where it needs to go, and make it easier for a business owner to follow up with someone who's interested in their services.

And once I started thinking about websites that way, I began noticing opportunities to make other parts of a business work better, too.

Figuring it out in my own business

One of the things I've enjoyed most about starting Strohm Partners has been the opportunity to experiment with these tools inside my own business.

I've incorporated AI into just about every area of what I do, from website development and lead outreach to communication, scheduling, and handling some of the routine work that comes with running a business.

I'm constantly finding little things that can be simplified.

Sometimes it's a workflow that moves information from one place to another without me having to copy and paste it. Other times it's finding a better way to keep track of a conversation or make sure an inquiry doesn't get overlooked.

None of these things sound especially exciting on their own. But when you're running a small business and you're responsible for just about everything, those little improvements start to matter.

And I'm still learning. Some things work really well right away. Others take a fair amount of trial and error, and occasionally I find that doing something manually is still the better option.

I think that's an important part of the conversation around AI that gets overlooked. Just because something can be automated doesn't necessarily mean it should be.

So, why Better Spent?

I wanted a place to share what I'm learning as I continue building my business.

Not another blog filled with articles about how AI is going to change the world, or endless lists of tools that promise to revolutionize the way we work.

There's already plenty of that out there.

I'd rather talk about the things that actually come up when you're trying to run a business. The repetitive tasks, the missed opportunities, the software that makes life harder than it needs to be, and the small changes that can make an ordinary workday go a little smoother.

Some articles will be about AI and automation. Others might be about building websites, improving business processes, managing your time, or lessons I've picked up along the way.

I also want to share things that don't work out as expected, because I'm sure there will be plenty of those too.

More than anything, I want Better Spent to reflect what I'm discovering as a new business owner: you don't always need an expensive system or some complicated technology to make meaningful improvements.

Sometimes you just need to recognize that there's a better way to do something and be willing to try it.

If something I share here helps another business owner solve a problem, save a little time, or find an easier way to manage part of their day, that's exactly what I'd hope to accomplish.

And if nothing else, it'll be a place to document what I'm learning as I go.

Thanks for reading.

Josh Strohm Managing Director/Founder Strohm Partners, LLC