Automation that sticks

2026-01-16

A simple mental model: remove toil, reduce risk, and document the default path.

Most automation fails for predictable reasons:

  • It isn’t tied to a real pain point
  • It’s hard to run safely
  • It isn’t the default path

A useful model

Aim for automation that:

  1. Removes toil
  2. Reduces risk
  3. Documents the happy path