Book 3 · Chapter 10: What to Build (and What to Leave Alone)
This page walks five questions to tell you whether to build, buy, or skip a tool, plus a 15-minute search checklist.
This page assumes you've read the chapter. It hands you the tools, not the lessons.
Build / Buy / SkipQuestion 1 of 5
Does a good-enough version already exist?
Before you build, have you tried an existing app or a template? If an app does 85% of what you need for ten dollars a month, building the last 15% yourself is rarely worth it. The key phrase is good enough, not perfect.
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15-Minute Search Checklist
Before building anything, spend fifteen minutes searching for an existing solution. If you find something 80% or better, use it. Build only the gap.
- 1Set a timer for fifteen minutes. Not casually browsing. Actively searching for an existing solution.
- 2Search with specific queries. Use the exact phrases that describe your need (examples below), not vague terms.
- 3Found something 80% or better? Use it. Customize it if you can. Build only the gap if you must.
- 4Found nothing good enough? You've validated that your need is unique enough to warrant building. Now you can open Cowork guilt-free.
Example search queries
- Client proposal generator for consultants.
- Budget tracker with automatic categorization.
- Travel comparison tool weighted criteria.
From the 15-Minute Rule section.