Just because an idea seems brilliant to you doesn't make it viable.
Your creation might have potential, and you could feel confident about it, but most ideas fail in practice.
You risk wasting enormous time and effort on a product no one actually wants.
Avoid this pitfall by building only in response to genuine, observed demand, don't learn this lesson the hard way.
I can't emphasise this enough.
You want to create something, I get it (!)
That doesn't mean it's the right move. Beware of wishful thinking:
- You might convince yourself that your hard work guarantees success, but it only reflects your hopes, not market reality.
- Targeting a "broad market" based on its size sounds logical, but it doesn't ensure demand.
- You could benchmark your idea against competitors and believe it's superior, yet still fail to attract even one customer.
Every assumption about what will work remains unproven until tested.
Before diving into a new idea, evaluate two key factors:
- The direct costs: What software, licenses, and time will building it require?
- The opportunity costs: What else could you accomplish in that timeframe?
Every effort incurs losses, not just financially, but by delaying progress in more promising directions.
This principle extends beyond business: It applies to your studies, job choices, and even relationships. Any commitment of time and energy diverts resources from alternatives.
How to be guided by reality
Talk to real people
- Conduct interviews, surveys, and observations. Do they recognise the pain points?
- Does your solution resonate as useful?
Build only the minimum to address core needs initially
- Keep it simple at first as complexity can overwhelm and deter early users.
Run small experiments
- Create lightweight, disposable prototypes and share them with actual users. If they respond positively, proceed; if not, pivot or abandon.
- Gauge if it sparks genuine interest or conversations before investing more.
There's nothing worse than doubling down on a failing idea when demand is absent.
That said, consider these counterpoints:
- People often resist trying new things.
- Building trust for something novel is challenging.
- This is where effective sales, negotiation, and marketing tactics become crucial.
Even the best product can flop if the visuals, messaging, or positioning feel off, predicting this is tough upfront.
There's never been a better time to test ideas
Tools like vibe coding make it effortless to develop real, testable products without full launches.
Build functional workflows and features, then demo them to an audience.
If users love it, they'll demand continued access.
This approach minimises waste: These tools enable deployable apps, potentially on your own secure infrastructure, giving you a huge advantage.
Yes, scaling to production requires more effort, but you'll reach that stage faster. A working prototype with real usage boosts investor interest. From there, turning it into polished software is straightforward: Hand over functional code, and developers can refine it efficiently.
Conclusion
You could spend weeks or months grinding on an idea with slim odds of success.
Building for imagined users is like working in the dark.
Illuminate your path by engaging real users, don't fear idea theft; execution matters more.
Prototype, measure responses, and iterate based on actions, not assumptions.
Prioritise only features backed by validated demand.