Having Trouble Getting Your Startup off the Ground?
So, you have an idea. You’ve even developed your idea through flowcharts or by writing it out or by talking it out. It’s ready to go, all you need to do is actually go. I’ve been there, most startups have been. But that doesn’t stop you from wondering what’s stopping your product from getting out there. So,what is the bottleneck keeping you from your well deserved millions? Well, I can tell you from personal experience that…
You are.
Yes, you are. Sorry, was that too honest? Maybe, but you need to hear this.
“But I’m pouring my heart and soul into my idea! It’s consuming my life!”
Yeah, well that isn’t everything. Sure, you’re perfecting your product. You’re making sure whatever you release is perfect to your standards before you start selling it and pitching it. Sounds like a good idea, right? Seems reasonable, smart even, to wait until you’re comfortable with your product.
Well, you’d be wrong. If there is one single self evident truth in life that translates to industry, especially in the tech and internet industry, it’s that perfection is simply unattainable. You’re never going to get there. Even if you think you’re almost there. Someone, somewhere, somehow is going to have a problem with something you did or is going to have a better way of doing some aspect that you didn’t even think of. It’s the way of life.
It’s not your fault.
That being said, don’t sweat it. I’m not saying this so you have a panic attack of never being able to accomplish anything. In fact, please don’t. Instead, be confident in your idea and once it can be used, let it be used. Release it, show it off. Get your product and your name our there. You’re not going to get that next round of seed money unless you show results. And the fact of the matter is, the best way to get results is to have people who use your product.
It’s okay to make a mistake.
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
“But if I release a bad product then people won’t use it!”
That’s true enough. Don’t release a bad product. But what’s worse is not releasing a product because you don’t think it’s perfect. Release a good product, not a “perfect” one. It’s okay to make a mistake. That self evident truth has another side-evident truth: people accept change to broken products. Again, this is especially true in the tech and industry markets. Thank god for the era of updates. Quick fixes are now something that is feasible. It’s okay to release an app with a bug as long as you see the response of your users and you in turn respond by fixing the issue.
App stores let users know when an update is available and consumers are used to seeing that and downloading it. There is also the beta route. A ton of software and even hardware are released limited first as a beta in order to have beta-users scope out any bugs and help improve the product. There is already an entire apparatus out there for you to release your product specifically to people who want to try it and help you make it better.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Think about when Facebook was first released. Compared to what it is now, it sort of sucked. But now Facebook is one of the most influential websites ever created. Even now Facebook isn’t perfect. The app still crashes occasionally, the algorithm is constantly being updated, and there are always disgruntled users. So, don’t worry so much. And if you’re first try fails miserably, try again. Tweak it. Keep fixing and releasing until you make the next big thing. What are you waiting for? An invitation?
I formally invite you to finally do it.