Listen then launch 👇
Key Takeaways:
Waiting to validate your idea may be a sign you fear being seen.
Try a ‘reverse-launch’ approach to get started and gauge interest.
Sometimes, being wrong early is the only way to eventually be right.
Every bit of feedback is a win because it provides real data.
That big idea you have isn’t doing any good rotting on the back of a napkin. Why sit on a concept that could change the course of our career?
No more polishing up your pitch deck and tweaking your logo as you wait for a "perfect" moment that only exists in your head. The person who actually needs your help is out there and the market waits for no one.
The Waiting Room Trap
Stalling may feel like "due diligence," but it’s usually just a fear of being seen before you feel ready. We’ve been conditioned to think that professional means finished, but it’s time to drop the dead weight.
When you spend six months building a solution for a problem that might not exist, you aren't being diligent. You’re actually betting with the one thing you can’t earn back: time. This delay keeps you in a safe loop where you never have to face the reality of a "no."
But much like in poker, being wrong early is the only way to eventually be right.
Making Your Minimum Bet
Think of your idea like a single hand of cards. You don’t put your entire life savings into the pot before you’ve even seen the flop. You make a minimum bet to see if the other players are interested.
A "Mock Launch" is that minimum bet. It is a low-friction, high-intel way to see if your concept has legs before you spend a single dime on development. You’re looking for a signal. If people show interest in the rough version, lean in. You’re on to something.
Which market are you ready to disrupt with your offer?
Reverse Engineer Press Release to Pitch
How do the big players handle this? They start at the finish line. HubSpot uses a tactic where they write a mock press release before a product even exists. By starting at the end, they get aligned on the core story early on. This "reverse-engineered" approach helps them look through the eyes of the buyer to see if the pitch carries any real weight.
You can use this same logic to test your new idea or side hustle. Once you have that mock announcement, you have the foundation for everything else.
Pull the most captivating parts of that press release and turn them into a direct offer:
The Headline Becomes the Hook: If your press release says "New Service Cuts Accounting Time by 50%," that is your email subject line.
The "Quote" Becomes the Transformation: Use the fake testimonial you wrote for the PR piece to describe exactly how a client's life changes.
The Summary Becomes the Ask: Take the closing paragraph and turn it into a simple question: "I'm running a pilot for this right now. Do you want a seat?"
Elements of a $0, 24-Hour Test
What if you could determine the viability of your next launch in one afternoon without spending a dollar? Here is how to strip it down to the essentials:
Pick Your Table: Identify ten people who actually deal with the problem you’re solving. Don't go to your mom or your best friend; they’re biased. Go to the people who would actually pay for the fix.
Speak Like a Person: If your pitch sounds like a corporate brochure, start over. Use the words your customers use when they are complaining about their problems.
Focus on the Solution: People don't buy your process. They buy the result. If your pitch focuses on your methodology instead of their relief, you’re missing the point.
Keep the CTA Tight: Don't ask for "feedback" or a "chat." Ask for a commitment. A "no" is just as valuable as a "yes" right now because it saves you wasted effort.
The Strategy of Starting
Real strategy is about making moves on imperfect information. You’ll never have the full picture until you’re actually in the game.
You have the vision. You have the roadmap. Now, put them to use. Send the pitch. Post the offer. Flip the table on your own hesitation.
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