Blog Post

How a few small upgrades at home changed the way I think about automation in business

Earlier this summer, I found myself with a rare block of free time—just enough to take on a small home project. I figured I’d install onesmart lightbulb so I could turn off the upstairs hallway light from my phone whenever it was left on.

One light turned into two. Two turned into five. Then the downstairs lights, the door locks, the thermostat—because apparently Alexa knows better than I do. Then came motion sensors, smart switches, and a web of automations I definitely didn’t plan on.

And then Amazon Prime Day happened. 

Suddenly the robot vacuum that had been in my “maybe later” list for months was 50% off. At that price, it felt more like a responsibility than a purchase.

Now I can walk through the entire house without touching a single switch. That’s not bad… even though my Gen X indoctrination still kicks in and I catch myself manually turning off lights out of sheer habit. Old programming runs deep.

But the robot vacuum? That one surprised me.

It actually makes a meaningful difference. The house stays cleaner. It runs more often than I ever would. It doesn’t mind that I’m not home. It just works.

That got me thinking about automation in business. Some automations are fun to have. Others fundamentally change how you operate. In my company, Spear One Solutions, we’ve recently added several automations that started small but have grown into essential tools.

The AI Voice Receptionist

This system answers calls, schedules appointments, and routes people correctly—automatically. It doesn’t replace anyone; it removes the interruptions that derail focus. I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to juggle calls, and nothing falls through the cracks.

The Social Media Assistant

This tool handles the posting schedule, formatting, and repetitive tasks involved in staying visible online. It doesn’t write the story for me—it removes the friction. I can focus on message and intent while the system manages the logistics.

Just like the robot vacuum, these aren’t gimmicks or technical novelties. They’re multipliers of time.

They take work that has to be done—answering calls, managing social presence, scheduling posts—and turn it into something I don’t have to think about.

Some automations are nice to have. Others actually make a difference.

And the ones that make a difference aren’t the ones that impress guests at your house—they’re the ones that give you back your time, attention, and energy. Whether it’s a cleaner living room or a more efficient business workflow, the principle is the same: When automation quietly improves your day without demanding attention, you know you've found something worthwhile.