Processize

---
name: processize
description: Use when turning a product idea into a manual-first process
tags: [process, manual-first, automation, mvp, validation]
related_skills: [mvp, validate-idea, find-community]
---

# Processize

## Core Principle

**Processize before you productize.** Every great product started as someone doing the work by hand. Gumroad started with Sahil collecting PayPal emails and sending payments one by one. Your job right now is not to build software — it's to prove you can deliver value to real people, manually.

## Step 1: What's the Product Idea?

Strip it down to essentials:
- What is the **one thing** this product does?
- What does the customer have before, and what after?
- If you had to deliver with zero technology, how would you do it?

## Step 2: Who Needs This Today?

- Who is already trying to solve this problem with a workaround?
- Where do these people hang out?
- Can you name 10 specific people who have this problem right now?

## Step 3: Design the Manual Version

Walk through every step of delivering the product's value by hand:
- What does the customer give you?
- What do you do with it? (Every step, in order)
- What do you give back?
- How long does it take per customer?

## Step 4: Write the Magic Piece of Paper

Document your process so clearly that someone else could do it:
1. **Trigger** — What kicks off the process?
2. **Steps** — Numbered list, in order
3. **Tools needed** — What you use at each step
4. **Time per customer** — Duration of each step
5. **Handoff** — How you deliver the result

## Step 5: Charge for It

Set a price and reach out to 3 people this week. Every interaction teaches something.

## Step 6: When to Productize

Signs you're ready to automate:
- Delivered manually to 10+ paying customers
- Can predict what they'll ask for
- Process hasn't changed in weeks
- Spending more time on delivery than finding customers

## Common Pitfalls

| Pitfall | Solution |
|---------|----------|
| Jumping straight to building software | Prove the process works by hand first |
| Vague process steps | Every step must be specific and actionable |
| Not documenting the process | Write down every step — this is your "magic piece of paper" |
| Automating too early | Only automate what you've proven works |
| Not charging for manual service | Charge from day one to validate demand |

## Verification Checklist

- [ ] One-sentence description of the manual product
- [ ] Full manual process documented step by step
- [ ] 3 specific people to deliver to this week identified
- [ ] Initial price point set
- [ ] First automation candidate identified (for later)