Ep: 29 A Quick BTS Update: Tech Stack Changes and Two New Things I Might Build
“Basically, I wanted Gmail to be better.”
Emylee
I’m not going to pretend this is my most polished episode. I recorded it sick (scratchy voice, coughing, the whole vibe), and I’m still publishing because I care about consistency more than I care about sounding cute. Also, the timing is rude. I was supposed to be out of office right before Christmas, and instead I got knocked out, cancelled a bunch of meetings, and spent the week doing the bare minimum while my brain refused to stop thinking about work (classic business owner problem).
So this episode is short, high-level, and very “I’m still recovering but I found some shiny tools and I have ideas.” I’m walking you through:
A couple of new systems I’m adding to my tech stack for 2026 (I’ve only used them for a few days, so consider this a first impression, not a forever endorsement).
Why I’m rethinking task management as a solopreneur (again).
Two experiments I want to test next year, and I genuinely want your feedback before I pour time into building them.
Because here’s the thing. I don’t want to build random stuff “because content.” I want to build resources you’ll actually use, that make you more money, with less chaos.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode
Why being sick didn’t stop me from thinking about systems (unfortunately).
How my working style has changed as a solopreneur (and why that makes certain tools feel unbearable).
The real reason most project management tools fail me: they become another task to manage.
Why I tested Kitchen CRM, got excited, then immediately got a refund.
The email workflow I actually needed (and why “train your clients” isn’t the answer for this situation).
Spark: the inbox alternative I’m loving (with a couple quirks you need to know).
TickTick: the task manager I’m still testing, but I can see the potential.
The workflow that’s finally helping me not lose email-driven tasks and client status updates.
My 2026 “network + sales sprint challenge” idea, and what I need from you to shape it.
Why I think podcasting can convert high-ticket service clients (without low-ticket funnels), and what I’m noticing in my data.
The real issue with most productivity tools (especially when you’re neuro-spicy)
There’s a whole internet debate happening daily about what’s “best” for neurodivergent entrepreneurs: Airtable, ClickUp, Asana, Notion, something else that someone swears changed their life.
I’ve researched a ton of them, tested a bunch, used a lot, and it’s honestly funny that I’m back in the “what tool should I use” era because I’m not new to this.
I literally co-created a program called Trello for Business (yep, that one), and it impacted a ridiculous number of business owners. I cracked the code back then on getting ideas out visually without making it feel like I was managing tasks all day.
But here’s the truth: my working style has changed.
I’m a solopreneur again. No business partner, no team, no full-time employees to coordinate with. And that changes everything. Tools that make sense for collaboration can feel like overkill when it’s just you trying to ship the work.
When I left my previous company in 2023, I kept things as simple as possible and used what I already knew (Dubsado + Asana). But Asana only really shines when you pay, and I was in my “cutthroat low-cost tech stack” era. I’ve been in and out of Asana since, and I still don’t love it. I can’t even fully explain why, it just feels complicated in a way my brain resents.
My business has two “arms,” and they don’t need the same systems
This matters, because it’s why I ended up needing something new.
I run:
High-touch consulting
I’m integrated into client businesses in a strategic operations seat. There are moving parts, one-time projects, retainers, and a lot of nuance.Sold Out Services
This is my done-with-you program for service providers who want to productize their work, tighten operations, and build a repeatable delivery system. This side is streamlined, productized, and I run it entirely through Airtable (plus a custom comms system I built inside Airtable).
The problem: my consulting clients are different.
They’re often not digital service providers. They aren’t always tech-savvy. A lot of them are older, and they default to email for everything. Meeting requests, scope changes, “where are we on this,” status updates, random tasks that somehow turn into projects, all in Gmail.
And I needed a system that worked with that reality.
I have 3–7 consulting clients at a time. That is not “pay $400/month for a mega-platform” territory. I wanted something close to out-of-the-box, with just enough customization to match how I work.
The tool I thought would work (Kitchen CRM), and why it didn’t
I tested Kitchen CRM because it promised the dream: all client email convos pulled into one chat-style feed, turn emails into tasks, manage projects, keep everything in one place.
I bought a lifetime deal, started setting it up, and realized something important.
Kitchen doesn’t truly integrate with Gmail in the way I needed. It only works if the conversation starts in Kitchen using a Kitchen-generated email address, and the client keeps replying in that thread.
Could I train my clients? Sure. Would they do it? Probably. Would something still get missed? Absolutely.
I didn’t want to change client behavior. I wanted Gmail to be better for me. So I got a refund and kept digging.
The inbox upgrade I’m into right now: Spark
I found Spark, and this is the one I’m already obsessed with.
Spark connects directly to Gmail (and can connect multiple accounts, plus Google Calendar, plus Outlook). It basically becomes your new inbox home base. You stop living in Gmail and you manage email inside Spark.
What I love most isn’t just organization, it’s task conversion.
When a client emails me something I need to do, I can use a keyboard shortcut and instantly create a task from that email. The task auto-pulls the subject line as the title, links back to the email, lets me set due dates, tags, location, and basically turns “email chaos” into “task I can actually complete later.”
Also, Spark has a feature that helps with inbox boundaries. I can tell it when I want to check email (like morning and afternoon). If I open it outside those windows, it gives me a dashboard and can show me only the truly priority stuff instead of dropping me into the full inbox spiral.
My two quirks so far:
There can be a 30–60 second delay between Gmail receiving an email and Spark showing it.
Spark has a “trust this sender” feature for first-time senders. If you don’t approve the sender, you might not see the email in your inbox (which matters when you’re waiting on confirmations). You can turn it off, but you need to know it exists so you don’t lose your mind like I did.
The task manager I’m testing: TickTick
I integrated Spark with TickTick (yes, I hate the name too). I’m still in the “IDK yet” stage, but I’m giving it time because I like what I’m seeing.
It’s simple, customizable, and uses smart lists/folders that should get more useful over time as it learns my behavior. Right now I’ve got it organized with separate boards for:
Sold Out Services
Consulting
Admin
TickTick also has a Gmail integration, so technically I could create tasks from inside Gmail too, but Spark is making the email experience itself way cleaner, so I’m leaning into that workflow.
The big win is this: I can stay in email mode while I’m processing email, and only switch into task mode when I’m ready to execute. That separation is everything for my brain.
Two experiments I’m considering for 2026 (and I want your feedback)
1) A network + sales sprint challenge (Q2-ish)
Let me be very clear: my offers are not lead generation programs. If you don’t have access to a network (or you refuse to use it), you’re probably not ready to work with me. I have a lot to say about how you’re underutilizing your network, but I’m not trying to brand myself as your lead gen coach.
That said, in my most recent Sold Out Services launch, I got a ton of questions about lead flow and conversion.
And conversion is my playground.
I love talking about:
Discovery calls that don’t waste your time
A sales call structure that feels authentic and still converts
The prospect journey (not just the client journey)
Follow-up, proposals, and the whole “how does this feel on the other side” experience
So I’m considering a hands-on, guided sprint challenge where we focus on building pipeline through your existing network, then converting it with better sales conversations. I’m talking scripts, role play, real outreach, and real calls.
Question for you: would you want it to be more networking-heavy, more sales-heavy, or both?
2) Podcasting as a client acquisition channel for service providers
A surprising theme I’m seeing: a lot of my clients want to start podcasts in 2026.
What’s funny is I didn’t start this podcast to “get clients.” I started it because recording twice a week stops me from building chaotic new offers. I’d rather rant into a mic and give it away than create a whole new product that blows up my ecosystem.
But when I looked at my data, I’ve converted at least three high-ticket service clients from this show (and at least one from my other show). I don’t have a low-ticket offer. I don’t have massive audience numbers. And it still works.
So if you’ve been thinking about podcasting only if it’s clear it can convert high-ticket services (without funnels and tiny offers), I want to talk about what I think I’m doing differently and how you can replicate it.
Chapters
00:02 — Sick voice, shorter episode, still publishing
02:26 — Why I’m revisiting my tech stack
04:48 — My history with Trello for Business (and why it matters)
05:29 — Solopreneur life, neuro-spicy work style shifts
07:56 — Two arms of my business, two different systems
10:19 — What I actually needed for consulting client communication
12:40 — Kitchen CRM: why I got a refund
15:03 — Spark: new inbox workflow + task creation
17:16 — TickTick: task manager test and how I’m organizing it
19:40 — Spark boundaries + dashboard perks
22:06 — Spark “trust sender” nuance and email delays
24:23 — I don’t teach lead gen, but I do teach conversion
25:04 — Prospect journey, clarity calls, sales call formula
27:28 — Network + sales sprint challenge idea (feedback wanted)
29:40 — Podcasters in my audience, and why podcasting can convert
32:04 — What I want to teach about podcasting for high-ticket services
Resources & Mentions
Interested in Being on the Show or Working with Emylee?
Are you a service provider with a bold perspective to share? Apply to be a guest.
Ready to transform your service into a productized, scalable offer? Apply for Sold Out Services.
If you’d like to see a library of all published episodes in a gallery with easy-to-find links to all listening platforms be sure to check out the Sell The Damn Service Episode Library.
