🚀 3.2.1. On Daily Routines ::: Atomic Scaling

80% of new users abandon apps within three days. The reason? Most products compete on features when they should be competing on habit formation.

The shift: Stop building feature lists. Start building daily rituals.

3 IDEAS FROM ME:

I. The Atomic Action (Make It Tiny)

The Challenge: People have 40+ apps but only use 9-10 daily. If your product isn't used daily, it won't scale. If it takes longer than 30 seconds, they won't return.

The Solution: Find your smallest valuable action.

Example: Headspace didn't demand 10-minute meditation sessions. They asked for 30 seconds of breathing. That tiny win built the habit.

How to Apply:

• List your product's 7 main functions
• Ask: "What's the smallest action that delivers real value?"
• Test this short loop with actual users

Key Lesson: Daily tiny value beats occasional big value. Always.

II. The Reward System (Make It Feel Good)

The Challenge: People don't open apps because they should—they open them because it feels rewarding.

The Solution: Borrow from game design. Deliver a quick win in under one minute.

What Users Actually Want:

• Achievers: Watch their streak grow
• Socializers: Share and connect with others
• Explorers: Discover something new each time
• Competitors: Beat their personal best

Example: Duolingo turned language learning into a game loop: 30 seconds → cute owl → growing streak → new identity ("I'm someone who speaks Spanish"). This simple formula built a $10 billion company.

The Magic Formula:

Reminder → Quick Action → Instant Reward → Identity Shift

Engagement Mechanics:

• Streaks (missing one feels painful)
• Progress bars (our brains hate incompleteness)
• Surprise rewards (random rewards are addictive)
• Personal avatars (creates ownership)

Key Lesson: Transform your tool into a ritual people actually miss when they skip it.

Make it stick with:

• Streaks (miss a day? You'll feel it)
• Progress bars (our brains hate leaving them incomplete)
• Little surprises (random rewards are addictive)
• Personal avatars (suddenly it's yours)

Turn your tool into a ritual people actually miss when they skip it.

III. The Speed Rule (Make It Fast)

The Challenge: Life is busy. Your product must fit into the cracks of someone's day.

The 3–30–3 Framework:

• 3 seconds: User instantly understands what to do (zero thinking)
• 30 seconds: Core action completes (perfect for a coffee break)
• 3 minutes: Maximum session length (beyond this becomes homework)

Anchor to Real Moments:

• Morning coffee
• Commute
• Lunch break
• Before bed
• Yes, even the bathroom

Speed = Respect:

• Opens instantly
• No unnecessary logins
• Smooth performance
• Zero friction

Key Lesson: Short loops become strong habits. Strong habits become lifetime customers.

2 QUOTES FOR YOU:

“Great products don’t fight for attention. They win by becoming habits.” - Ludovic Bodin, Author of Atomic Scaling

II.

“Games are about the player’s long-term relationship with the system.” - Will Wright, game designer of The Sims & SimCity

1 ACTION:

Your Action Plan: Design Your Core Daily Loop.

Let's Play!

Ludovic Bodin

3x Entrepreneur, 2x Unicorn Investor, 1x IPO. Founder of BOBIC Generational Wealth and Author of Atomic Scaling

PS: On Finding Your Core Daily Loop

Step 1: Identify Candidates

List your product's main functions (maximum 7). For each one, ask:

• ⚡ Takes under 30 seconds?
• ✨ Delivers instant value?
• 🔁 Would they repeat it tomorrow?

Step 2: Score Them

• 🟢 YES = Daily loop candidate
• 🟡 MAYBE = Has potential, needs refinement
• 🔴 NO = Not your daily loop

Step 3: Prioritize Your Greens

Focus on the clear winners. These are your core loop candidates to build, test, and iterate. If you have multiple daily greens, structure them into a weekly routine (like a workout program).

Bonus:

I listed tiny daily tasks for the 7 functions of wealth management in BOBIC to build a strong engagement loop. Help me expand the list and rate the existing ones — you can copy the Google Sheet template for your own product too.. Google Sheet here →​

WHAT ELSE AM I WORKING ON?

My new company: BOBIC Generational Wealth.

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We're building two products powered by a single AI intelligence—like the Star Trek computer navigating the Enterprise, but engineered to grow and protect generational wealth. We call her Nori. She's designed with all three principles embedded in her DNA: daily use, compounding value, and network effects that make every family's data improve outcomes for all users. I’m looking for family owners and game designers to brainstorm with us as we build.

Get my book

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Read my #1 bestselling entrepreneurship book, Atomic Scaling, which has helped thousands of founders build products that grow themselves. Click here to learn more →​

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​Atomic Scaling - the official Masterclass. Transform your habits in just five minutes a day with daily lessons from world-class entrepreneurs in tech, AI, and gaming, delivered straight to your device. Enroll now →​

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

"Ludovic Bodin's Atomic Scaling provides an insightful framework and invaluable lessons that shed light on how gamers are driving the future of entertainment, technology, and society"

- Kevin Lin

Co-founder of Twitch