Don’t Fall Into A Startup Trap: An Almost Perfect Survival Guide

I spent 6 months building a product no one will use. I fall into a trap that you need to have a creative idea. I believed that successful startups are born out of a moment. I was too self-centered. An idea, no matter how groundbreaking, is just the first step. The first. Wrong step.

In fact, about 90% of startups fail. 10% of startups fail within the first year.

Founders spend 3 to 6 months working on a product that no one will use. Then they’re trying to market it, and guess what.. no one uses it.

Look Beyond the Obvious Belief

I started to read a lot, watching podcasts, talking to other founders. I found the solution, an exact formula, and because I’m feeling like the Santa Claus of startup wisdom, I’m going to share the ticket with you.

Most startups fail because founders don’t pay attention to users. They always start with a brilliant idea that might be brilliant only to them. The real key to startup success is a user-centered approach to problem-solving.

Entrepreneurship is like an art, and problem-solving is like writing a song. Besides artistic creativity, It takes time, it requires practice and energy. Even though there are millions of songs out there, many popular ones use the same four chords.

Start With What’s Missing

The syndrome is when you start with an idea and then look for a problem called — the made-up startups. Instead of forcing an idea into the market, it should start with a problem, germinate into a solution, and mature through constant user feedback.

Much like Netflix evolved from a DVD rental service to an online streaming platform in response to changing user behavior.

The brilliant startup idea will come to you from personal growth and understanding of the world around you.

This was the case with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. He didn’t just roll out of bed one day and think, “I’ll invent Facebook today.” He was already into computers, saw a gap that needed filling, and built a solution.

He didn’t think of “Could this be a big company?”; also, they started with a small market that urgently needed it.

The same case applies to Microsoft; they started with a small number of Altair owners who wanted to program. They noticed an opportunity by asking “What’s missing?” from their experiences and grabbed it.

To get good at spotting these opportunities, you need to dive into a field that’s changing rapidly. This takes effort and time, but it’s a worthwhile investment considering the lifespan of a successful startup.

If You Feel Stuck

After dropping out of college, Steve Jobs stepped into a world full of creative ideas and growing technology. He went to computer club meetings with his friend Steve Wozniak, worked at a company called Atari, and even traveled to India to learn more about life.

These experiences helped to shape Jobs’ special way of thinking about technology and design. This is what led to the creation of Apple and its amazing products.

So how does anyone who feels stuck in a quiet pond reach a busy dock?

Dear dreamers, doers, and those who consider the tendency not to start anything until you’ve had a cup of coffee, the answer is in our power to change and look for new things. We aren’t like trees that can’t move. We can pull up our anchor and start sailing. We can put ourselves in situations that make us think hard, learn, and grow.

You need to find a field that’s changing quickly. One way to do this is to learn new things by going to special meetings, joining groups online, or working on projects with friends who like the same things.

Even just reading about new things happening in a certain area can help you understand where the changes are happening.

Pay Attention

Your life is different now — you joined the fast-changing field, and you live in the future. It will take some time to notice missing things. It will be hard to find problems, and they will not be looking like startup ideas.

In the world of startups, this problem-solving business can take various forms. It could be an app, a website, or even a service that’s integrated with technology.

The key is to always start with your own experiences and aim to make life just a bit easier, not just for yourself, but for others who share your struggle.

Start With Your Own Problems

Coming up with startup ideas often begins by solving your own problems. This isn’t just theoretical — it can also lead to solutions that resonate with others facing similar challenges.

Take Slack as an example.

Initially, it was an internal communication tool for a gaming project called “Glitch.” When Glitch didn’t succeed, the team recognized the potential of their communication tool. They understood that if they were benefiting from it, others could too.

This insight led them to launch Slack as a product, which is now used by millions of organizations worldwide.

You might be thinking “There’s a big problem in that market that I can solve and earn some money”. But, without inside experience, you’re just scratching the surface. Like, I’m not a doctor, so how much can I understand about the healthcare industry?

It’s so underrated to solve your own problems. You’re instantly an expert because it’s your experience, your problem. You know it like the back of your hand. That’s a great starting point.

Take Action

When you’re inside the fast-changing field, you just learned everything from the inside out. You became fluent in the language of the industry, you understand its trends and developments, and you literally equipped with a new lens.

First of all, congratulations, you did it! You’re in the 5% of those who adapt fast. It’s time to think, speak to others, and make your big list of problems.

Start with writing about things that you want to change. What makes you unhappy, problems that you see, or repetitive tasks. Ask others what they’re struggling with. If you do that every day for a week, you’ll end up with a big list of problems that need to be solved.

— Zaur