Most products fail because they’re just products

People don’t want tools

They want outcomes

So when you build a product, you're just one more app in a folder

But when you build a workflow, you become part of their day

Like caffeine. Or doomscrolling.

That’s how you win

Think about it

Notion didn’t win because it was a note-taking app

It won because it became the command center for creators and teams

A second brain, but way prettier

Zapier isn’t sexy

No one brags about it on Twitter

But it powers workflows people use every day without thinking

Like the plumbing of the internet

Superhuman didn’t sell faster email

It sold a workflow that made you feel like the main character in your inbox

Workflows stick

Products get replaced

When you sell a product, people ask

“Do I need this?”

When you offer a workflow, they ask

“How did I ever live without this”

And suddenly, you’re essential

Let’s break this down

Most people build tools that solve problems

But they forget to ask

“How does the user actually use this?”

That’s why feature-packed apps get deleted

And simple tools stay installed for years

It’s not about more power

It’s about less friction

Here’s real example:

A guy built a tool that lets Airbnb hosts automate guest messages

Nothing fancy

No sleek UI

No “powered by GPT-4” badge

But it replaced a messy, annoying, copy-paste workflow

And that alone made it worth paying for

That tool now makes over $50,000 a month

And it probably hasn’t been updated since the last iPhone with a home button

Not because it’s deep

But because it’s embedded

It became part of someone’s daily process

If you’re building something now, ask yourself

Is this just a tool

Or is this part of someone’s daily rhythm

If it saves time

Reduces friction

Or removes frustration

It’s sticky

That’s your angle

How to apply this:

1. Spot a clunky workflow people already hate

2. Build the replacement, not just a prettier version

3. Make switching over feel like a life upgrade

Gmail users—Move us to your primary inbox

On phone? Hit the 3 dots in the top right corner and click “Move To” then “Primary”

On desktop? Back out of this email then drag and drop this email into the "Primary" tab near the top left of your screen.

Stay strong,

meho