["reflection","daily journal"]

The Build vs. Validate Dilemma: My Journey in Product Development

This blog post outlines my current thought process and strategic shifts, aiming to connect with readers who might be navigating similar paths in their startup journey.

The Build vs. Validate Dilemma: My Journey in Product Development

Hello everyone,

I want to share with you my thoughts and experiences regarding the ongoing debate of "build vs. validate" in the world of entrepreneurship. This is a crucial balance that every founder or innovator must navigate, and here's how I've been approaching it.

The Conventional Wisdom: Validate Before You Build

The traditional advice in startup culture is clear: don't build until you've sold. This philosophy advocates for pre-selling your vision or at least validating it through customer interviews before writing a single line of code. The idea is to confirm the commercial viability and utility of your product idea upfront.

On paper, this strategy is logical and optimistic. However, I've encountered several hurdles in applying this model strictly:

  • Engagement with Users: It's often challenging to engage potential users with just an idea. People respond more positively when they can interact with a tangible product or prototype.
  • Maintaining Motivation: For me, building something, even if it's just a basic version, keeps my motivation high. It provides a sense of progress and something concrete to discuss or show.

My Approach: Building with Adaptability in Mind

Instead of a rigid validation-first approach, I've adopted a strategy where I build with the intention of creating highly adaptable 'Lego blocks':

  • Horizontal Repurposing: By developing tools or features that can be easily adapted across different sectors or customer needs, I ensure that what I build has multiple potential uses. For example, 1pg.notion.lol can be quickly transformed into a website builder for doctors, a CRM for various industries, or a visual CV for professionals.
  • Iterative Development: This approach allows for quick iterations based on real user feedback, enhancing the product's market fit more efficiently.

This method is inspired by insights from "The Hard Thing About Hard Things" by Ben Horowitz, where focusing on a core module that can be stripped down and built upon is seen as a viable strategy.

Productivity and Value Creation

When it comes to productivity, the focus should be on creating value - something people are willing to pay for and use. Here's how I'm managing this:

  • Value-Driven Development: Clients pay for results, not visions. With tools like 1pg.notion.lol, users can already achieve tangible outcomes, which is a significant step forward.
  • Content Creation: While I've invested time in content creation, I'm constantly evaluating its utility. Is it actionable? Is it leading to conversion or engagement?

The Role of Delegation

To scale my efforts without getting bogged down, delegation is key:

  • Recruitment for Delegation: By bringing in team members or freelancers, I can delegate tasks that are outside my core competencies or time-consuming, allowing me to focus on what I do best.
  • Developing Playbooks: I'm working on creating detailed playbooks for various tasks, from hosting to content creation, to ensure consistency and efficiency in execution.

Moving Forward

Today, my goal is to wrap up by demonstrating and refining my lead generation and nurturing process with notion.lol. This exercise isn't just about ticking off tasks but about learning and adapting the product to real-world needs.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. I'd love to hear your thoughts or experiences with similar challenges in your entrepreneurial endeavors.

Best, Santosh

Built with 1pg.notion.lol