While there's more startup content than ever, when it comes to the absolute earliest stages of company creation--the kernel of the idea and fleshing that out into something real--it still feels we're groping in the dark.
Some thoughts...
Some thoughts...
Ideation:
Tops-down (A new technology or regulation came out and I want to methodologically navigate what can be uniquely built as a result)
Bottoms-up (I experienced this problem, and built X to solve it)
Both can work, but there's a stigma against tops-down.
Tops-down (A new technology or regulation came out and I want to methodologically navigate what can be uniquely built as a result)
Bottoms-up (I experienced this problem, and built X to solve it)
Both can work, but there's a stigma against tops-down.
Need to do following things:
1/ Celebrate "distance traveled" on an idea rather than the landing on an idea.
Why does this happen?
They meet ppl who ask them, "what are you doing?"
They panic, "well, I don't want to be a dabbler for the rest of my life" and pick an idea.
1/ Celebrate "distance traveled" on an idea rather than the landing on an idea.
Why does this happen?
They meet ppl who ask them, "what are you doing?"
They panic, "well, I don't want to be a dabbler for the rest of my life" and pick an idea.
2/ They don't go deep enough.
They do some research read some papers talk to a couple people and conclude "there's an opportunity!"
But they don't go deep enough to deeply understand their first customer, their pain points, and how to reach more.
They do some research read some papers talk to a couple people and conclude "there's an opportunity!"
But they don't go deep enough to deeply understand their first customer, their pain points, and how to reach more.
3/ They focus too high-level & long-term, not enough on what's in front of them.
Instead, find the little thing you can execute against for the next few months....that you can see is leading to this larger thing.
Instead, find the little thing you can execute against for the next few months....that you can see is leading to this larger thing.
h/t @brettberson from our episode.
Makes sense re: tops-down b/c many of the people who follow that route tend to be like low conviction type people who are always bouncing around to the next hot thing.
