Hack Sandwiches

Small moves alone can nudge you forward, but when combined, they create a powerful momentum that feels effortless and unstoppable. Imagine stacking simple hacks like building blocks—each one reinforcing the next, multiplying your impact without extra weight.

Why Stacks Work

Single hacks are good. Stacks are better. A stack is a small set of moves that reinforce one another and aim at a single lever. The right stack multiplies effect without adding weight. You feel it as ease: starting gets easier, finishing becomes natural, feedback arrives sooner, proof appears without effort.

Design Around a Lever

Design stacks around a clear goal. If you want more replies this week, you pull the feedback lever. A clean stack might be “Ship a crisp slice, Ask 3 with a yes/no question, Log latency in the proof doc.” The ship makes the ask easy. The ask produces quick replies. The log shows progress and suggests the next ask. If you want more consistent finishes, pull the finish lever with “Timebox to 40, Slice ‘til you smile, Red button at minute 35.” The clock drives focus, the slice keeps scope honest, and the red button protects the close.

Keep Stacks Light

Keep stacks light. Two or three moves are enough. More than that and you create a ritual you will avoid. The point is to shape behavior, not to script your day. Each move should have a natural place in your loop: before you start, during the ship, at the moment of ask, or at the close.

Name the Stack

Write the stack at the top of your weekly note. Name it so you remember the feel. “Ping‑Proof” for a discovery stack. “Slice‑Box‑Button” for a finishing stack. The name anchors attention. It turns the week into a test you can evaluate on Sunday.

Example Stacks

A discovery stack could use:

• Public commit at noon
• Ship a 20‑second clip
• Ask 3 with a binary question

A retention stack could use:

• Daily pixel
• Friday highlight
• DM one existing user with a “does this help?” check

A revenue stack could use:

• One‑page PRD in the morning
• Ship the smallest buy signal by 4 p.m.
• Share a “what changed for value” post

A finishing stack could use:

• Timebox to 40 minutes
• Slice ‘til you smile
• Red button at minute 35

Each stack keeps the lever in view while moving through the loops.

Measure the Stack

Measure the stack with the simplest visible change. For discovery, track first‑reply time. For finish, track finish rate. For evidence, track how quickly you can assemble the Friday reel. If the stack feels heavy or the number flatlines, remove a move or swap it. Stacks are experiments, not identity.

Build Your Playbook

Over time, you will collect a few stacks that fit you. Rotate them based on stage and energy to keep momentum fresh and aligned. These become your go-to play calls—simple, reliable, and ready to carry you through whatever the week brings.

Next, we’ll explore how to sustain and evolve these systems over the long haul, so your momentum never stalls.