I’m also on Medium - check that out if you prefer 🙂 also free for you!

This one is about prioritizing what you're working on - making sure you're tackling the highest leverage problems. If that doesn't interest you, I'll see you next week - there, just saved you 5 minutes.

The Problem with Busywork

Hard work is the entry price to entrepreneurship.

But it's easy to fall to the trap of working hard on the wrong thing.

I spent nearly all of last week adding features, tweaking UI, generally "improving things".

But, the true bottleneck of the business is not with the core product - it's with the onboarding and retention of new users.

10-20 people sign up to Wordrobin every day. Very few ever make their first post.

As long as this is true, it doesn't matter how good the editing capabilities of Wordrobin are. If no one uses the features, the features are not the bottleneck.

The Cost of Undirected Effort

Not being deliberate about what we're working on can be dangerous.

It's especially tricky because when you work hard, but don't think about what you're working on, you default to things you enjoy. So the work itself feels intuitive in a way that doesn't ring alarm bells.

It may feel like we’re making progress, but these efforts often aren't the thing that will grow our business. I have poured countless hours into features that no-one has ever seen. These projects were great at keeping me busy but did not move me or WordRobin forward.

By not prioritizing our work effectively, we lose out on actual growth, even though it feels like we're doing the right thing.

A Framework for Deliberate Action

To take deliberate action, I follow this framework:

1. Define a Specific Goal: Start by identifying a clear objective. My current goal is to secure the first paid user for Wordrobin.

2. Identify the Bottleneck: Analyze your current state to pinpoint a singular bottleneck. In my case, the issue lies in a poor onboarding experience, leading to user churn.

3. Decide on Actionable Steps: Determine concrete actions to tackle the bottleneck and concentrate your efforts on implementing these solutions. For me, this means I need to roll up my sleeves, and reach out to users, so I can find out what confuses them.

Consider the impact of every task on your overall objectives. Instead of simply checking items off your to-do list, ask yourself: "Is this what is stopping my business from growing?" This simple question can help you find out which activities give you the highest returns and encourage you to eliminate those that drain your resources.

Also, take time to reflect on your personal values and long-term vision for your company. Ask yourself this simple question: "Why do you exist?"

For me, I believe in the value of writing, and want to build a product that helps anyone write valuable content. This means getting a paid user is actually a second order objective. I don't want payment for the sake of it - I want it both as a signal that I'm providing value, and a step towards working on Wordrobin full time.

Taking a second to 'check myself' has been helpful in making sure that I'm not working on something because someone else says I should, or because it's familiar to me.

Conclusion: Take Control of Your Time

It's crucial to regularly assess how you allocate your time and energy. Ask yourself: Are the tasks on your to-do list truly aligned with your goals? I have been asking myself this very question every morning, before I start working. This has helped me find "sticky" areas where I often find myself stuck. Each step should contribute to a larger vision for your business. By consciously choosing where to invest your time, you can maximize your rate of progress.

WordRobin Update

Reader Feedback

There’s now another way to get feedback - thoughts from your reader. This means you can see how your readers would react to your message before you publish.

What’s next?

People seemed to like the new newsletter format! I will keep it as-is.

Just in case you prefer reading online articles, I’m also on medium - here

with love, Ben

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