The FDE Playbook

The 10 steps, right now

The full playbook — with worksheets, checklists and real examples from this site's projects — arrives by email. Here is the spine of it, no gatekeeping:

1. 1Write the problem in one sentence a stranger understands — who hurts, how much, how often.
2. 2Name the cheapest possible signal that would prove the problem is worth solving.
3. 3Design the smallest product that produces that signal — one job, done completely.
4. 4Cut every feature that does not feed the signal. Kill list first, build list second.
5. 5Build with AI for speed, but keep architecture decisions human — they outlive the sprint.
6. 6Instrument before launch: analytics events tied to outcomes, not vanity metrics.
7. 7Ship to 10 real users who feel the pain — not friends who will be polite.
8. 8Watch behavior, not opinions. Usage is the only testimonial that pays.
9. 9Decide with evidence: double down, pivot the feature, or park it — all three are wins.
10. 10Document everything in the open — the lessons compound into your next product.