ENTREPRENEURSHIPMonths to result

Manual

Do it yourself

Problem it solves

business growth stalls

Best for

Startups with limited resources

Not ideal for

Startups with large production runs

Overview

Why this framework exists

The Manual framework involves doing things yourself, rather than automating them. This approach can help startups to get started and to learn from the process, but it can also be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Core principles

3 total
  1. Do things yourself
  2. Learn from the process
  3. Automate as you grow

Steps

2 steps
  1. Do it yourself
    Do things yourself, rather than automating them. This will help you to get started and to learn from the process.
    Pro tipUse this approach to learn from the process and improve the product
    WarningBe careful not to over-engineer the product
  2. Learn from the process
    Learn from the process and use the knowledge gained to improve the product. This will help you to create a better product that meets the needs of your users.
    Pro tipUse customer feedback to improve the design
    WarningBe careful not to overpromise and underdeliver

Checklist

Saved in your browser

Examples

1 cases
Stripe

Stripe did things manually, such as signing up users for traditional merchant accounts, to get started and to learn from the process. This approach helped Stripe to create a successful product and to build a strong reputation.

OutcomeStripe was able to create a successful product and build a strong reputation

Common mistakes

1 traps
Not doing it yourself
Not doing things yourself can prevent startups from getting started and learning from the process.

Origin story

How this framework came to be

The Manual framework is based on the idea that startups should do things themselves, rather than automating them. This approach can help startups to get started and to learn from the process, but it can also be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Source

Traced to primary
Source · ESSAY
Do Things that Don't Scale
Paul Graham · 2024
Open source →