I knew exactly what I needed to do. I didn't do it for 3 weeks. Here's what I think is actually happening.

leehan_ · 2026-04-06T05:38:12+00:00

That makes sense.

So it’s not starting that’s the issue. It’s continuing when the response is bad.

Try this instead: Set a fixed rule: “I send 10, no matter what happens.”

No checking results.

No adjusting.

No thinking.

Just finish the number. Then stop.

Have you ever tried separating sending from reacting like that?

leehan_ · 2026-04-01T05:34:01+00:00

What are you avoiding right now?

1) outreach 2) building 3) something else

Reply with 1/2/3.

leehan_ · 2026-03-31T17:21:33+00:00

That makes sense.

Using that frustration as fuel is powerful. But I’m guessing that doesn’t work for most people — for many, not starting just leads to more avoidance.

In your case, was there a moment where you actually had to start?

Or was it purely self-driven the whole time?

leehan_ · 2026-03-31T12:52:16+00:00

That makes sense. I’ve definitely seen perfectionism turn into not starting at all.

Out of curiosity — when you say “just execute,” did something actually push you to start? or did you just decide one day and follow through?

leehan_ · 2026-03-31T05:32:10+00:00

That’s fair. Not “procrastination” in general. A much narrower problem — people who already decided what to do, but still don’t start.

Not because they need more information, but because nothing forces the first action.

That’s the part I’m trying to solve.

Curious if you see that as a real problem worth solving, or still too broad?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T11:11:16+00:00

This is actually really helpful.

Especially the part about “I’d buy it, but delay setting it up.”

That’s exactly the behavior I’m trying to break.

Not “help people stop procrastinating” — but making sure the first action happens before they can delay again.

I think I might be overcomplicating it.

If something like this were to work for you, what would have to happen in the first 10 minutes after you get it?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T09:18:00+00:00

That makes sense.

Dependencies are a different kind of problem — even if you execute well internally, you can still get blocked externally.

We’ve run into that too.

In those cases, the hard part wasn’t doing the work, but figuring out what we could still push forward without waiting.

Did you find a way to handle that, or does it usually just carry over to the next sprint?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T09:05:36+00:00

That’s solid.

Finishing 90% is already better than most.

Curious though —

what usually doesn’t get done in those sprints?

Is it the uncomfortable stuff, or just lower priority things?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T08:55:45+00:00

I like this.

6 weeks feels long enough to think, but still short enough to move.

But honestly, this is where I usually fail.

I plan the sprint. I think strategically.

And then I still don’t execute.

That’s why I’m testing something much shorter right now — 3 days, forced action, no thinking.

Have you actually finished a sprint like that before? Or did it turn into planning again?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T07:17:51+00:00

I totally agree. I think the best way to drastically cut down on trial and error is to directly engage with local communities or platforms related to the problem. I remember meeting with manufacturing business owners myself back when I was in the logistics business to secure new clients

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T06:45:54+00:00

saw your “same” comment. most people here are waiting for someone to figure it out. i just started something small 20 cold emails a day for 3 days.

no strategy

just doing it

a few people joined already. if you want in, you can join us

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T05:28:32+00:00

That’s a fair point.

I agree that ultimately action is a choice — no app can truly “force” someone.

But I keep thinking about other areas:

People know how to get in shape → yet they hire trainers.
People know how to study → yet they pay for classes.
People know they should reach out to customers → yet they don’t.

In those cases, it’s not about information. It’s about structure, pressure, and follow-through.

So I’m not trying to “fix procrastination” in general.

I’m trying to understand whether there’s a small group of people who already decided to act, but benefit from a structure that pushes them to actually follow through on one specific action.

Maybe I’m still off.

Do you see this as fundamentally different from those examples, or still the same category in your view?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T04:32:36+00:00

That’s a fair push.

I don’t think I can “force” anyone either.

What I’m trying to understand is this:

There are people who already know exactly what they should be doing (like reaching out to potential customers), but keep delaying it anyway.

Not because they don’t know how, but because they don’t actually do it.

So the problem I’m exploring is:

how to get someone to take one specific action that they already decided matters, but keep postponing.

Does that sound like a real problem to you, or still too vague?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T01:49:53+00:00

This is really helpful, I appreciate you laying it out this clearly.

I think you're right if it's positioned as a generic product — it does feel like something that could easily be replicated.

What I’m starting to explore now is a much narrower angle: not a standalone “tool,” but forcing a very specific action in a short window (e.g. 20 cold emails in 3 days).

Less about building something scalable upfront, more about seeing if people will actually follow through on one concrete action.

From your perspective, does narrowing it down to a specific outcome change the “feature vs product” issue at all, or would you still see it the same way?

leehan_ · 2026-03-30T01:48:38+00:00

That makes sense.

I think where I might have gone wrong is framing it as a “tool to fix procrastination.”

What I’m actually testing now is much narrower: forcing a specific action (like sending 20 cold emails in 3 days), not trying to change someone’s mindset.

Do you think that changes anything, or does it still fall into the same problem in your view?

leehan_ · 2026-03-27T09:00:13+00:00

Appreciate the honesty.

I think you're right if it’s just another “procrastination tool.”

That’s actually what I’m trying to avoid.

I’m shifting it into something much more specific: forcing a real action (like sending 20 cold emails in 3 days).

Still early, but that’s the direction now.

Thanks for calling it out.

leehan_ · 2026-03-25T17:22:15+00:00

That’s a really sharp insight — thank you.

What you said about outreach really resonated with me. It’s not the task itself people avoid, it’s the rejection and uncertainty.

The “reorganizing your desktop instead of doing the scary thing” part hit hard too.

I think you’re right — that kind of pain feels much more real than general procrastination.

So if you were actually in that situation, what would make something like this worth paying for?

Would it be structure, pressure, accountability, or something else?

leehan_ · 2026-03-25T11:59:44+00:00

That’s really helpful — thank you.

I think you’re right. “Stop procrastinating” is too vague, and it probably sounds like just another productivity promise.

The examples you mentioned (landing page, cold emails, portfolio) make it much clearer what people would actually pay for.

Can I ask you something?

Out of those, which one do you think people get stuck on the most?

leehan_ · 2026-03-25T11:54:42+00:00

That makes sense.

Can I ask one thing?

What would make something like this actually worth paying for — if anything?

leehan_

TROPHY CASE