Taming Chaos with Code: The First Step to Startup Success – Learning the Basics of Systematization

When starting a startup, many entrepreneurs get caught up in ideas and market development, but at the same time, the “things you have to do” pile up quickly, and it’s easy to fall into a chaotic state. Daily tasks like project management, organizing customer data, and prioritizing to-dos can quickly become overwhelming. If these aren’t properly organized, business growth can be constrained. But did you know that “systematization using code” can dramatically improve this situation?

Even a little programming knowledge can automate manual tasks, saving significant time and effort. And the best part? You don’t need to write complex code—simple scripts or tools can often have a huge impact. This article will explain the basic points of systematization for startups, as well as beginner-friendly tools and code examples you can start using right away.

By the end, you’ll feel, “What seemed chaotic can actually be visualized and automated with a few simple tricks!” Let’s tame the chaos and run your business smoothly!

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Why Systematization Is Necessary

Startups operate with limited resources, so efficiency is critical. Even with great ideas or products, complicated workflows and information management can drain enormous time and energy. The key to success is organizing these “miscellaneous tasks” efficiently so you can focus on your core business.

This is where systematization comes in. It sounds technical, but it’s actually very simple. For example:

• Automatically managing customer inquiries
• Automating updates to project progress or presentation materials
• Automatically gathering and organizing web-based information and data

Automating these routine tasks reduces errors and, more importantly, saves time.

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What Can You Do with Code?

When you hear “systematization,” you might think, “Programming isn’t for me.” But that’s not true. Using beginner-friendly languages like Python or JavaScript, or tools like Google Apps Script, you can implement useful automations relatively easily.

For example:

• Automatically pull information from a specific web page daily into a spreadsheet
• Schedule and automate email sending
• Automatically post notifications to Slack or LINE

These can all be done with small pieces of code and the right tools.

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Key Points for Systematization

• Clarify your purpose: Be clear about why you want to automate or systematize.
• Start small: Don’t try to automate everything at once—begin with a small, manageable scope.
• Leverage existing tools: Automation tools like Zapier or Make (formerly Integromat) are beginner-friendly.
• Learn from code examples: Studying concrete examples helps accelerate understanding.

With these points in mind, you can start systematizing processes that fit your business.

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Tools and Beginner-Friendly Code Examples

Useful Tools:

• Zapier / Make: Connect multiple web services to create automated workflows. No coding knowledge is required—just use the GUI.
• Google Apps Script: JavaScript-based scripts that interact directly with Google Sheets or Gmail—great for automating small tasks.
• Python: Slightly more advanced, but beginners can start using free editors like Thonny and simple scripts.

Example 1: Fetching web data into Google Sheets

function fetchData() {
  var sheet = SpreadsheetApp.getActiveSpreadsheet().getActiveSheet();
  var url = "https://api.example.com/data"; // API endpoint
  var response = UrlFetchApp.fetch(url);
  var data = JSON.parse(response.getContentText());
  sheet.getRange("A1").setValue(data.result[0].name);
}

Set this to run on a trigger (e.g., periodically), and your data collection becomes automatic.

Example 2: Sending batch emails with Python

import smtplib
from email.mime.text import MIMEText

smtp_server = 'smtp.gmail.com'
port = 587
sender_email = '[email protected]'
password = 'password'

recipients = ['[email protected]', '[email protected]']

msg = MIMEText("Hello! Here’s the latest startup news.")
msg['Subject'] = 'Latest Update'
msg['From'] = sender_email

with smtplib.SMTP(smtp_server, port) as server:
    server.starttls()
    server.login(sender_email, password)
    for recipient in recipients:
        msg['To'] = recipient
        server.sendmail(sender_email, recipient, msg.as_string())

Scheduling this script allows you to automate bulk email sending.

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How to Get Started

1. List what you want to automate: Identify tasks that could be automated.
2. Start with familiar tools: Try Zapier or Google Apps Script first.
3. Reference code examples: Search online for templates or scripts.
4. Expand gradually: Once comfortable, move on to more complex workflows.

Even systematizing small parts of your business can make your work flow much more smoothly.

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Conclusion: Use Code to Tame Chaos

Success in a startup requires more than just ideas—you also need effective systems. Systematization with code is now accessible even for beginners, and gradually learning it can dramatically improve efficiency.

The key is to start small, take action, and learn along the way. By leveraging free tools and simple code examples to automate and organize tasks, your startup will become far more manageable, freeing you from chaotic workflows.

Take the first step confidently—use code as your ally and build your own powerful system. Your future business success is in your hands!