Chapter 4: The First Step — List

If TenK 6 is a map, List is the trailhead. It looks small—almost too simple—but it sets your direction. Start wide and you avoid false certainty. Start narrow and you risk months on the wrong bet.

Why List Matters

Most builders fall for the first shiny idea. You picture the UI, feel the dopamine hit, and dive into code. That rush is real, but it isn’t reliable. Listing five ideas breaks the spell. It pulls you back to options. It reminds you that ideas are cheap; evidence is not.

When you put five ideas on the same page, you stop romanticizing a favorite and you start comparing tradeoffs. Patterns surface. A theme might show up across options—like “help people start” or “cut setup time.” You feel freer to test instead of defend because you haven’t sworn loyalty to one path yet. You also spot “adjacent possibles”—small variants that improve the idea without inflating scope.

That’s the point. List separates exploring from committing. Explore first. Commit next.

A Real First List

On a slow Tuesday, I stared at four dull options. Here’s one that kicked off a real loop:

1. Sudoku game.
2. YouTube content idea generator.
3. Simple video editor (CapCut/Canva alternative).
4. Growth coach for indie builders.
5. A cross word game.

Number 4 became Indie10k. The win wasn’t the selection. The win was forcing five options onto the page before choosing.

How to List Well

Keep it light. One sentence per idea. Skip specs and diagrams. You’re capturing candidates, not committing to projects. Timebox yourself to fifteen minutes so momentum stays high. If an idea scares you because real people might see it, include it. Post the list somewhere you’ll see it again—a notes app, a doc, or a small public post if you want accountability. If you’re stuck, write one “anti‑idea” (what you would never build) to jog new angles.

You don’t need a framework to list. You need a timer and a place to type.

Common Missteps

Researching TAM before you list drags you into analysis when you need options. Treating ideas like commitments loads emotion onto a step that should feel light. Stopping at one because it “feels right” turns a guess into a plan. Write all five. You can still pick the first one—after you see it next to four others. The act of writing options is the work; good picks come from seeing choices clearly.

A Simple Prompt

If you get stuck, use this: “What five things could I ship in one week that would create a real signal?” Aim for sign‑ups, replies, clicks, or a person who says, “I’d pay for that.” Not a prototype museum—signals. Prefer ideas where you can press “publish” rather than “perfect.”

Micro-Exercise

Before you close your laptop tonight, write five ideas you could ship in one week. No edits. No research. Just write. Tomorrow, you’ll pick one and move.

List kicks the loop into motion. Pick keeps it rolling.

From List To Pick

When you finish the list, step away for ten minutes. Read it once without editing. Ask: which option would teach me the most this week? Circle it. That question keeps you from choosing what flatters your skill and steers you toward what advances the project.