This week was a very exciting one. We just had the first group of users test our product (a small working model of our product actually) and it was a huge rush. I think it is the sweetest thrill for an entrepreneur, even more so than getting funding, because the raison d'etre for your startup is building something that your customers will want and use.
There's a world of difference between theorizing about how the customer will use the product and actually watching someone use it. We did the usual, starting with initial observations, known best practices (aka what others have done), some leaps of imagination and plain old common sense and built a prototype/model/demo (not quite ready to be the alpha version). We had lined up a bunch of users to give it a go and give us feedback, and we thought the date was far enough out to make sure everything was the way it should be.
But there we were, three days before the test, and our small team didn't feel confident that we should put the demo in front of users. It was functional, but it didn't have the look and feel of our product vision, and there was concern that it would turn off the users. But I didn't want to postpone, not only because of logistical issues, but because I knew that if we wait until our demo is 100% ready we've waited too long. And I had faith that the users will view it with goodwill and be able to differentiate problems from potential.
So, we got everything lined up as well as we could and charged ahead - and turned out to be a most satisfying experience. There were no disasters, and the expected problems were only viewed as features they'd suggested we improve. It was gratifying to see the proto being used the way we intended - and in ways we could have never imagined. And the many new ideas they generated are invaluable, the stuff that will make the product truly fit their needs. And best of all, at the end of it, we'd got rock solid validation that we're on the right track with the product. No surprise, I'm pumped!
Channeling the inner entrepreneur who views life as a startup. Musings about people, their spirit, the startup ethos and the entrepreneurial attitude, with an emphasis on education and social ventures. The 'how-to'? Not so much. But definitely the why, the what and the whatever.
You must believe
Belief is fortifying. It's stiffens your spine and thickens your skin so you don't easily get swayed from your chosen path. But what do you believe in (in the context of startups)?
When I attended the Entrepreneur's conference in the previous post, one of the panels had a group of successful founders discussing how they 'picked' their venture idea. Interestingly, in this particular group, they had not come up with an idea themselves, but rather sought and reviewed ideas for development. Some looked for the right numbers while others looked for something they could relate to (regardless of what they picked, sooner or later they made it their own). They needed to believe in the idea, however they got there, before they made the jump. Belief generates passion (check out any evangelist for proof).
But there's more. It is necessary to believe in the idea, but it is not sufficient. As an entrepreneur you have to believe in yourself and your ability to successfully build the company on the idea. This belief is what gives entrepreneurs grit, single-minded focus, and the ability to make mid-course corrections and ride the downs. Sometimes the effect of this belief may look like arrogance (OK, in some, it is arrogance), but without it, every nay-sayer, doubter and competitor could make you crash and revert to your safe corporate job. It cannot just be a matter of checking the boxes on skill sets, experience, industry contacts etc. There are many successful entrepreneurs who on paper would never appear to have what it takes - assuming they'd ever measure themselves against someone's else view of an 'ideal' entrepreneur. Filled with unswerving confidence in their idea, there's no room for self-doubt. There are no cycles wasted on 'Can I/Could I' concerns. Belief. Every startup is built on it.
When I attended the Entrepreneur's conference in the previous post, one of the panels had a group of successful founders discussing how they 'picked' their venture idea. Interestingly, in this particular group, they had not come up with an idea themselves, but rather sought and reviewed ideas for development. Some looked for the right numbers while others looked for something they could relate to (regardless of what they picked, sooner or later they made it their own). They needed to believe in the idea, however they got there, before they made the jump. Belief generates passion (check out any evangelist for proof).
But there's more. It is necessary to believe in the idea, but it is not sufficient. As an entrepreneur you have to believe in yourself and your ability to successfully build the company on the idea. This belief is what gives entrepreneurs grit, single-minded focus, and the ability to make mid-course corrections and ride the downs. Sometimes the effect of this belief may look like arrogance (OK, in some, it is arrogance), but without it, every nay-sayer, doubter and competitor could make you crash and revert to your safe corporate job. It cannot just be a matter of checking the boxes on skill sets, experience, industry contacts etc. There are many successful entrepreneurs who on paper would never appear to have what it takes - assuming they'd ever measure themselves against someone's else view of an 'ideal' entrepreneur. Filled with unswerving confidence in their idea, there's no room for self-doubt. There are no cycles wasted on 'Can I/Could I' concerns. Belief. Every startup is built on it.
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