Reducing what you risk.
WHY IT MATTERS
Building before testing is how money is lost.
WHAT TO TEST
That the problem exists That people will pay That you can deliver it
WHAT TO TEST FIRST
Willingness to pay.
HOW
Ask for commitment before the thing exists.
WHAT COMMITMENT LOOKS LIKE
A deposit A signed intention A pre-order Payment for a pilot
WHY MONEY IS THE ONLY RELIABLE SIGNAL
Everything else is free to give.
WHAT TO DO IF NOBODY WILL COMMIT
Establish why.
WHAT THE ANSWERS USUALLY MEAN
The problem is not important enough The price is wrong They do not believe you can deliver It is not the right solution
WHAT MINIMUM VERSIONS PROVIDE
Learning at low cost.
WHAT A MINIMUM VERSION IS
The smallest thing that tests whether the idea works.
WHAT IT IS NOT
An incomplete product released to customers.
WHY THAT DISTINCTION MATTERS
Releasing something broken damages your reputation and teaches you nothing useful.
WHAT TO CONSIDER
Delivering the service manually before building anything.
WHY
It proves demand and reveals what the solution must actually do.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
What you would need to see to proceed, decided in advance.
WHY IN ADVANCE
Results are otherwise interpreted favourably.
WHAT TO BE PREPARED TO DO
Stop.
WHY IT DESERVES SAYING
Continuing because of what has already been spent is the commonest and costliest error.
