Building for the Worst: How to Make Your AES Indestructible
Building for the Worst: How to Make Your AES Indestructible
What if the internet goes down?
What if Stripe bans you?
What if Google changes its algorithm and your traffic drops to zero?
What if the AI you use disappears?
The paranoid Architect is a living Architect.
Your AEP must be Antifragile — a concept from philosopher Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
An antifragile system doesn’t just survive shocks.
It gets stronger when attacked.
Fragile, Robust, Antifragile
The Fragile System
Definition: Breaks under stress.
Example: A business that depends 100% on Facebook Ads.
- Facebook changes its rules → Business dead.
Characteristics:
- Single point of failure
- No plan B
- Total dependence
The Robust System
Definition: Resists stress.
Example: A business with multiple traffic sources.
- Facebook changes → We also have Google and email.
Characteristics:
- Diversification
- Redundancies
- Resistance
The Antifragile System
Definition: Gets stronger under stress.
Example: A business that learns from every crisis.
- Facebook changes → We discover email converts better → We double revenue.
Characteristics:
- Optionality
- Continuous learning
- Improvement under pressure
The 7 Pillars of the Antifragile AES
Pillar 1: Own Your Email List
The golden rule: Email is the only asset no one can take from you.
The platform problem:
- Instagram can ban your account
- TikTok can shadow-ban your videos
- YouTube can demonetize your channel
- Google can de-index your site
The email solution:
- You own the addresses
- You can export to any tool
- No one can cut you off from your audience
- Direct, guaranteed communication
Action:
- Collect emails from day 1
- Export regularly to CSV (backup)
- Use tools that allow export (avoid prisons)
Pillar 2: Multi-Payment
Never depend on a single payment processor.
The Stripe risk:
- Stripe can freeze your funds
- Stripe can ban you (sometimes without explanation)
- Stripe can change its terms
The multi-payment solution:
- Stripe + PayPal (minimum)
- Ideally: + a third (LemonSqueezy, Paddle, Wise)
- For high-ticket: Direct bank transfer
Action:
- Set up at least 2 processors
- Test regularly that everything works
- Have alternative payment instructions ready
Pillar 3: Multi-Source Traffic
Traffic must come from multiple channels.
The single-source risk:
- Google Update → -80% traffic overnight
- It happens. Regularly.
Traffic diversification:
- SEO (Google, Bing)
- Email (your list)
- Social (multiple platforms)
- Paid (multiple networks)
- Referral (partnerships)
Rule: No source should exceed 50% of your traffic.
Action:
- Audit your traffic sources
- If one source > 50%, diversify as priority
- Build email in parallel with everything else
Pillar 4: Multi-Platform AI
Don’t depend on a single AI.
The single-AI risk:
- OpenAI changes its terms → Your workflow breaks
- An AI becomes unavailable → Production stopped
The multi-AI solution:
- OpenAI (GPT-4) + Anthropic (Claude) + Google (Gemini)
- Workflows adaptable from one AI to another
- Prompt abstraction (easy to migrate)
Action:
- Regularly test alternatives
- Have prompts that work on multiple models
- FlowContent handles this abstraction for you
Pillar 5: Backup and Documentation
Everything must be backed up and documented.
The no-backup risk:
- A service closes → Data lost
- Your computer crashes → Everything is lost
- You get sick → No one can take over
The backup solution:
- Automatic daily backup of everything
- Documentation of each process
- Access shared with a trusted person
Action:
- Set up automatic backups (GitHub, Notion backup, email export)
- Document your processes (even briefly)
- Create an “emergency document” with all access
Pillar 6: Protective Legal Structure
Protect yourself legally.
The no-structure risk:
- Lawsuit → Your personal assets are exposed
- Tax problem → Maximum complications
The legal solution:
- Company (LLC, Corp, depending on jurisdiction)
- Separation of professional/personal assets
- Professional liability insurance
Action:
- Create an appropriate legal structure
- Consult an accountant/lawyer
- Update regularly
Pillar 7: Cash Reserve
Cash reserve is your ultimate shield.
The no-reserve risk:
- Zero revenue for 2 months → Bankruptcy
- Sudden opportunity → No capital to seize it
The cash solution:
- 6-12 months of expenses in reserve (minimum)
- Separate account, not touched except emergency
- Ideally: in a stable currency
Action:
- Calculate your fixed monthly expenses
- Progressively build the reserve
- Don’t touch except for real emergency
Catastrophe Scenarios (And How to Survive Them)
Scenario 1: Google Update Massacres Your SEO
Symptom: Organic traffic -80% overnight.
Survival:
- Email list → Direct communication maintained
- Paid ads → Temporary replacement traffic
- Other channels → Active diversification
Reconstruction:
- Analyze what changed
- Adjust content
- Patience (it often partially recovers)
Scenario 2: Stripe Bans You
Symptom: Unable to collect payments.
Survival:
- PayPal or other processor → Immediate continuity
- Communication to customers → Explanation + new payment link
- Bank transfer → Option for high-ticket
Reconstruction:
- Understand why (chargebacks? forbidden products?)
- Appeal to Stripe (sometimes reversible)
- Migration to permanent alternative
Scenario 3: A Competitor Copies All Your Content
Symptom: Your articles word for word on another site.
Survival:
- DMCA takedown → Removal request
- Google report → Duplicate content in your favor (if you’re the original)
- Continuous advance → You produce faster than they copy
Reconstruction:
- Non-copyable differentiating element (your style, your community)
- Deeper, more unique content
- Legal protection if necessary
Scenario 4: You Get Sick for a Long Time
Symptom: Unable to work for months.
Survival:
- Automated systems → Continue running
- Documentation → Someone can intervene if necessary
- Cash reserve → No financial pressure
Reconstruction:
- Total rest until recovery
- Progressive return
- Maybe: permanent delegation of certain tasks
Scenario 5: Your Niche Dies
Symptom: Demand for your theme collapses.
Survival:
- Diversified portfolio → Other niches compensate
- Transferable skills → You can pivot
- Cash reserve → Time to rebuild
Reconstruction:
- Analysis of adjacent niches
- Reuse of infrastructure
- New system in new niche
The Antifragility Audit
Do this audit regularly (quarterly).
Checklist
| Element | Question | Yes/No |
|---|---|---|
| Do I have an email list that I own? | ||
| Have I exported recently (backup)? | ||
| Payment | Do I have 2+ active payment processors? | |
| Payment | Have I tested alternatives recently? | |
| Traffic | No source exceeds 50%? | |
| Traffic | Do I have at least 3 active sources? | |
| AI | Can I switch AI in less than 24h? | |
| AI | Have I tested alternatives recently? | |
| Backup | Is all my data backed up? | |
| Backup | Are my processes documented? | |
| Legal | Do I have a protective structure? | |
| Legal | Is my insurance up to date? | |
| Cash | Do I have 6+ months in reserve? | |
| Cash | Is this reserve separate? |
Score
- 14/14: Antifragile
- 10-13: Robust (needs improvement)
- 6-9: Fragile (danger)
- < 6: Ultra-fragile (emergency)
Conclusion
The paranoid Architect isn’t a pessimist.
They’re a realist who prepares for the worst to enjoy the best.
A good system gets stronger when attacked.
The 7 pillars of the Antifragile AES:
- Own your email list (the untouchable asset)
- Multi-payment (never a single processor)
- Multi-source traffic (never > 50% from one source)
- Multi-platform AI (never a single AI)
- Backup and documentation (everything saved and written)
- Legal structure (legal protection)
- Cash reserve (6-12 months minimum)
Build for the worst.
Enjoy the best.
A good system doesn’t survive crises. It comes out stronger.