MediaClip

Most of the work is unwinding the existing process

October 26, 2026

0:34

When the tools get more capable, the building gets easier and the hard part moves. Joshua Oakes, who said he is in the middle of this on a couple of projects: "I will testify that 95% of the work is unwinding the existing…" That 95% is his number, from his own work.

The questions he asks along the way: "What's the process here? OK, but what's the intention behind that process?" That is how he finds where the real checkpoints are.

If you are about to automate a process, start with why you do it that way.

Share thisPost on X(opens in a new tab)Share on LinkedIn(opens in a new tab)

The next step

That's the moment. Here is how you make it yours.

Build something realTake what you learned and build something concrete. valuefirstagent.com is where your build becomes a working agent.valuefirstagent.com(opens in a new tab)

And then, the rest of the path:

  1. Join the conversationainativehumans.org(opens in a new tab)
  2. Practice with peersvaluefirstcollective.com(opens in a new tab)
  3. Teach the next personthe Academy