The Power of Customization (and a 3D-Printed Espresso Tamper)

Aug 13, 2025 3:07 pm

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Good morning, everybody.


What you're looking at here is a 3D-printed espresso tamper and coffee scoop—custom-designed for my kitchen, printed on demand by my son using his Anycubic Kobra 3 Mega printer.


Why does this matter?


Because it’s a perfect example of one of the original fundamentals of the Less Doing system: customization.


🔧 The Product Made for Everyone Is Made for No One

Mass-market products are inherently inefficient. They aim to please the most people possible, which often means adding features you don’t need or skipping the ones you do.


But with the tools available today—3D printing, ChatGPT-generated STL files, software with open APIs, and so much more—customization isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s accessible.


When I first talked about this over a decade ago, the examples were things like:

  • Custom vitamin packs based on your biomarkers
  • Shirts with specific pocket layouts for your gear
  • Software built to match your workflow—not the other way around

Today? I can say, “I want a coffee scoop that’s exactly two tablespoons,” and my son prints it for me three hours later. I say, “I want a tamper that fits our machine perfectly and has a pattern on top,” and boom—it’s in my hand the next morning.


Every time I use them, they spark joy. Because they’re exactly what I need and nothing I don’t.



🧠 Customization as a Delegation Muscle

I see customization as an extension of delegation. Both are muscles worth building:

  • Delegation = "Who else can do this?"
  • Customization = "How can this be done better for me?"


When you take the time to identify inefficiencies in the tools, processes, and systems around you, you’re already halfway to a solution. The second half? Ask:

  • What would the perfect version of this look like?
  • What features are missing?
  • What features am I paying for but never use?
  • Could this be made to my specs?


Sometimes the answer is a 3D-printed scooper. Other times it’s a reimagined CRM, a stripped-down SOP, or a calendar interface that works the way your brain does.


The point is: You don’t have to settle for standard.



A Challenge for the Week

Think of something in your life or business that works… but not quite the way you want it to.


Ask yourself:

What would a custom version of this look like—one made exactly for me?

That’s where optimization lives.


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