Book 3 · Chapter 11: The Capstone Project
This page plans a build in four stages before you start, with a worksheet, an idea list, and the capstone showcase.
This page assumes you've read the chapter. It hands you the tools, not the lessons.
Before your first prompt, stage the build. Name the project, state the core problem, then say what each version does in one sentence. The tool writes the plan you build against.
PROJECT: Client onboarding system CORE PROBLEM: Building each new client's onboarding from a blank document every time. STAGE 1 (MINIMUM VIABLE): Input a client name and service tier, get a basic onboarding checklist STAGE 2 (USEFUL): Customized per client type, with timeline and draft welcome email STAGE 3 (RELIABLE): Handles edge cases (rush onboarding, clients upgrading mid-process, holiday delays) STAGE 4 (DEPLOYED): Triggered automatically when a new client row appears in the CRM spreadsheet, produces draft for review
Build Stage 1 first, on its own. Everything after that is iteration.
4-Stage Planning Worksheet
Before you build, write your project's version of each stage. One sentence each, five minutes, saves hours.
Stage 1: Minimum viable version
The simplest thing that solves the core problem. Ugly is fine. Limited is fine. Working is mandatory.
Stage 2: Actually useful
Add the features that make you want to use it daily. This is where it earns its place in your workflow.
Stage 3: Reliable
Test it, break it, harden it. Make it trustworthy enough to depend on without babysitting.
Stage 4: Deployed
Put it to work for real. Set up the schedule, write the documentation, define the fallback.
From the Planning the Build: Stages, Not Sprints section.
- Find your frustration (ask yourself)
Think about the last two weeks. What did you do three or more times that felt tedious? What decision did you make badly because you lacked organized information? What do you gather manually that could be gathered for you? What process do you follow that has predictable steps but still requires your attention each time?
- Work project ideas
A client onboarding system that generates custom checklists, timelines, and welcome emails. A weekly business health dashboard that pulls data from multiple sources and highlights what needs attention. A content pipeline that drafts, queues for review, and tracks performance. A project estimation tool that calculates timelines based on scope inputs and your historical data.
- Personal project ideas
A home renovation tracker that compares options, tracks budget, and produces weekly progress summaries. A family logistics coordinator that pulls from everyone's calendars and produces a daily "here's what's happening" brief. A big-purchase research system that gathers options, scores them against your criteria, and presents a recommendation. A travel planning system that aggregates flight/hotel/activity options weighted to your specific preferences.
The chapter's two worked builds. See how each was briefed in the gallery.
Client onboarding system
Generates a custom checklist, timeline, and welcome email for each new client, by service tier.
See in the galleryHome renovation tracker
Compares contractor quotes, material options, and timelines against a firm budget for a kitchen-and-bath remodel.
See in the galleryBuilt something with these? Share it in the community