---
name: shortlist-a-problem
description: "Group research notes into pains, pick the strongest one, and list how people search for it."
---

# Shortlist a problem worth building

Purpose:: Find the problem worth building this week and the searches people type around it.

Rules::
- Use only the notes you collected; the problem needs 2+ notes behind it
- Skip anything you already built or chose
- Search terms are 1-4 words, how people search for a product type; no sentences

Inventory::
- Your research notes (posts, reviews, threads, cards)
- Your list of past picks

Steps::
1. Group pains and buyer words that mean the same thing
2. Keep groups backed by 2+ notes and relevant now or within 2 years
3. Pick the strongest pain; name it as a thing in a few words
4. Write the problem: <who> struggle to <job> because <reason>
5. List 10-15 terms: "<x> software", "<x> tool", "<x> template", "<x> for <who>", newer names
6. Reply with Thing, Problem, Notes, the 2 runner-up groups and Terms

Metrics::
- The thing traces back to 2+ notes
- Every term could show search volume in a keyword planner

Source:: https://isklls.com/skills/shortlist-a-problem (iSklls, free skill library)