edgeStrategyintermediate

Jobs to be done

Jobs to Be Done is a concept in business strategy and decision-making that helps founders, operators, and strategic thinkers communicate more precisely and think more clearly about their work.

Impact
Universality
Depth

Jobs to Be Done is one of those words that separates people who merely use AI from people who get results with it. Understanding Jobs to be done gives you a sharper mental model for when making business decisions, evaluating opportunities, or planning growth. It's requires some domain familiarity, making it worth the effort to internalize.

As part of the Edge level — distinctive vocabulary that sets you apart in specialized domains — Jobs to be done scores 4/5 on impact and 3/5 on universality. In the right context, it is irreplaceable.

When to Use It

Use 'Jobs to be done' when making business decisions, evaluating opportunities, or planning growth. It is particularly valuable when you need to be precise about concepts in business strategy and decision-making.

Try This Prompt

$ Apply Jobs to be done to this business decision — what changes?

Why It Matters

Understanding Jobs to be done doesn't just add a word to your vocabulary — it adds a thinking tool to your mental toolkit. People who can name concepts precisely can manipulate them, combine them, and communicate about them. This distinguishes you as someone who thinks deeply about their craft.

Memory Trick

Imagine explaining your strategy to an investor using 'Jobs to be done' — if you can, you truly understand your business.

Example Prompts

Explain Jobs to be done to me like I'm a smart 12-year-old, then show me a real-world example
I'm writing about Jobs to be done for a professional audience — draft 3 opening sentences that demonstrate authority
Review my approach through the lens of Jobs to be done — what am I missing?

Common Misuses

  • ×Using 'Jobs to be done' as a buzzword without understanding its specific meaning in business strategy and decision-making
  • ×Confusing Jobs to be done with related but distinct concepts in the same domain
  • ×Applying the concept too broadly when it has a specific, narrow use case

Related Power Words

A Mac app that coaches your AI vocabulary daily

Become a Better AI Communicator