My Secret to Efficiency: First the Work, Then the Workflow

Three Reasons We Build Useless Workflows, and the Counterintuitive Strategies to Build Effective Ones.

A few nights ago, I fell down a YouTube rabbit hole. The video was slick and captivating, showcasing a new AI-powered workflow. The presenter had an idea for a business, and within minutes, he used AI to generate a stunning landing page, write compelling marketing copy, and set up a system to accept orders. My mind started racing.

The tools are finally here. The friction between idea and execution is dissolving.

I could see it all perfectly. I'd have a flash of inspiration for a new business, and instead of spending weeks building, I could have a functioning digital storefront by the end of the day. There were other workflows, too—automating social media, customer outreach, content creation.

So I did what any systems-minded person would do. I signed up for a few of the products, played around with the tools, and started connecting the APIs. It felt incredible.

"Look at all the time I'm saving!" I thought.

I had a powerful, automated system ready to go. But the problem was that I didn't …