The $50K Mistake Every Founder Makes Once

The Growth Insight 🌱

The $50K Mistake Every Founder Makes Once

Many first time founders do everything "right":

• Fiund a problem people complained about

• Get enthusiastic potential users

• Build exactly what they asked for

  Yet..

  Launch to...absolute silence

Not a single user even tries the product. Ouch.

The Hidden Psychology of Problem-Solving

Here's what nobody tells you: People love talking about their problems. They'll enthusiastically describe pain points, nod along to solutions, and even tell you they'd pay to fix them.

But here's the kicker: Acknowledging a problem and being motivated to solve it are entirely different beasts.

Think about it:

• How many people complain about wanting to get fit?

• How many actually hit the gym regularly?

• How many buy gym memberships in January?

• How many are still going in February?

The Real Questions You Should Ask

Stop asking: "Do you have this problem?" Start asking:

1. "What have you already tried to solve this?"

2. "How much time/money have you spent trying to fix this?"

3. "When was the last time this problem actually cost you?"

4. "What's stopped you from using existing solutions?"

The Uncomfortable Truth

If someone hasn't tried to solve their problem with:

• Spreadsheets

• Manual processes

• Existing tools

• Even duct tape solutions...

They probably won't use your shiny new product either.

How to Actually Validate Ideas

1. Look for Active Seekers

   • Find people actively searching for solutions

   • Study workarounds people are already using

   • Target those spending money on partial solutions

2. Study Behavior, Not Words

   • Watch what people do, not what they say

   • Look for DIY solutions in your space

   • Find communities where people share workarounds

3. The Money Test

   • Try selling the solution before building it

   • Start with a waitlist that requires payment

   • Test with a "coming soon" page that asks for credit cards

The Real Question That Matters

Not "Would you use this?" But "What are you currently doing about this problem?"

The Bottom Line

The graveyard of failed startups is filled with great solutions to "real problems" that nobody cared enough about to actually solve.

Remember: Apathy is the silent killer of great products. People naturally avoid change unless the pain of staying the same exceeds the pain of changing.

Your Action Plan

1. Find problems people are actively trying to solve

2. Look for existing spend in the space

3. Validate with behavior, not words

4. Start with a paid waitlist

5. Build only when you have proof of intent

The next time someone tells you they'd "definitely use that," smile, nod, and ask them what they're currently spending to solve the problem. Their answer will tell you everything you need to know.

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