Want to ensure your startup’s death? Pivot without a shred of real data.
So many founders build something for months only to panic and scrap the whole idea to start over.
Before changing direction, you MUST determine what’s driving the change in the first place:
→ Is your pivot based on actual data?
→ Or are you just an impatient f*ck?
I don't mean to be harsh, but pivoting prematurely is one of the deadliest startup mistakes.
If you’ve yet to launch (or just launched) - of course no one is using your product!
Your product isn’t a failure, you’re just chomping at the bit.
Before throwing up your hands and tossing your product in the trash, you need to a) LAUNCH the thing and b) start selling it.
Yes, right now, before it’s even live.
Then, and only then, once you have some data, can we discuss whether or not your product is a shit idea.
For some of you, this can seem like a challenge. It’s hard to overcome your desire for customer validation, and I know y’all get antsy without it.
I was this guy at OneTrueFan, where rather than talk to enough people to prove what we were doing was right or wrong, we just kept changing the product and re-launching over and over again.
Too often, pivoting is just impatience talking. Founders build something without real customer input, then panic when it doesn't magically fly off the shelves at launch.
You need to develop the confidence to keep at it.
This confidence comes from Talking. To. Your. Customers.
If you’re out there constantly talking to prospects, even if you’re not truly selling them, and they’re giving you buying signals, then you are grounded in a universe of positive feedback.
If you’re not talking to customers, you’re disconnected and lacking the feedback that staves off panic.
So if your instinct is to pivot, take a hard look at why.
Are you running on real data?
Even if you’ve already made the mistake and built it without selling it first, here’s your chance to not make the same mistake twice.
Get out there and talk to your prospects.
👉 Data, not impatience, should drive all pivots.
Don't succumb to startup ADHD!