Hello and Welcome to Behind the Friction, Reader!

Every Friday, I pull back the curtain on something I've noticed while working on my own business... hoping it helps you see yours a little differently too.

Looking for a previous issue? They are all available to read on my website.

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You buy the template.

Open it.

Lovely. The blank page is somebody else’s problem now. 😄

Then you start.

Which parts do I need?
Does this fit what I’m selling?
What goes in this section?
Am I making this more complicated than it needs to be?

The template saved you from starting at zero.

It didn’t necessarily save you from the part you were stuck on.

That distinction has been on my mind while reading a few emails this week.

One pointed to ready-made content as a starting point for AI. Another offered a library of resources alongside access to someone who could help you use them.

Both got me thinking about what happens after we get the help.

A course can show us how.
A template can give us structure.
AI can give us several possible answers.

And we can still be sitting there thinking:

“Okay. But what do I do with this in MY situation?”

There’s nothing wrong with having work left to do. Buying a shortcut doesn’t mean buying a finished business, right?

But as creators, it’s worth asking whether the work we leave our customers is work they’re ready to do.

If someone needs help choosing, giving them twenty options may leave them with the same problem.

If they know what to do but struggle to begin, another explanation may not be what helps.

Even the format matters. A useful answer tucked inside an hour-long video asks something different of them than a short example they can use right away.

Before adding another lesson, bonus, or set of options, look at the moment your customer has to use what you’ve given them.

What do they need to decide before they can take the next step?

Did you help with that decision?

Or is that where your shortcut ends?

See you behind the friction next week!

Stéphanie ❤️ ​Experience Design Consultant​ ​Seeing what others overlook.

P.S. “Everything you need is included” can be true. So can “I still don’t know where to start.” Just saying!

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NOTE: I'm moving things around in the backend to make room for a new project. Can you help me spot "bad experiences" regarding my site, your members' area, communications, or whatever? I would really appreciate your help with this! It will make it so much easier for me to fix and improve everything that needs attention. Thank you!

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Disclosure: From time to time, I will include links in the emails that would include promotions for my own products or affiliate products, meaning I get paid when you buy the product. However, I only ever mention products I love and would recommend whether I was being compensated or not. Always use due diligence when buying anything and remember, what works for me may not always work for you!

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