People jump into tools because tools feel like progress. A new app, a new automation, a new dashboard. These are something you can point to and say you’re building momentum. I’ve done it myself. The mistake is thinking motion and clarity are the same thing.
A few years ago, I built an entire website around an idea I hadn’t fully understood. I imagined an e-commerce shop selling curated PDFs and templates – not the typical race-to-the-bottom versions, but something intentional. I spent weeks setting up the pages, the systems, the branding, the imagined workflows behind it. Only later did I realize the larger context: Etsy, Gumroad, Stanstore already dominated the space. The market didn’t just favor volume; it demanded it. And I had no interest in becoming a template factory.
The truth is I didn’t need an e-commerce workflow. What I need is an online presence – a place to write, think, and show my work. So why did I think of creating an e-commerce website just because I have a few PDFs lying around? Actually I don’t know. I was just glad I did something to make myself busy. The understanding came after the build – I bought the domain, I paid for the hosting, and created a whole website. This meant that I would have to redo everything because what I really need is to establish my online presence, not an e-commerce store. This has been work that I have to put aside. This experience taught me something permanent: it’s expensive to build before you understand what you’re building for.
I see the same pattern in automation work. One of the first signals that someone lacks clarity is when they want to automate because “everyone else is doing it.” They saw a short reel, a YouTube tutorial, or a fellow founder setting up some elaborate system, and suddenly automation becomes a box to check. But if you can’t explain why a workflow matters to your business or your life, automation won’t help. It might make things heavier.
Clarity should be a prerequisite. It shapes what you build, what you ignore, and what you decide not to touch yet.
My own practice is simple. Before opening any tool, I ask why I’m reaching for it in the first place. What problem am I trying to solve? What outcome actually matters? I’ll study a few tools side by side, not to chase features, but to understand the underlying need. Only then do I start designing a workflow.
Because tools can make good decisions faster. They can’t make unclear decisions better.
Clarity comes first. Workflow follows. And when you honor that sequence, the work becomes lighter, cleaner, and more aligned with what you actually intend to build.