Could any of your failures have been prevented with The Mom Test?

So far, The Mom Test is an easy and straight-forward read. I'm loving it.

The first 3 chapters have left me thinking a lot about the kinds of questions I've asked potential customers as I've tried to validate my business ideas in the past. Reflecting on those conversations through the lens of The Mom Test, I'm embarrassed by how many mistakes I made.

For example, I'm reminded of a brick and mortar store I opened a few years ago. At the time, I lived in a small town in a remote location that had little access to things like herbal remedies, supplements and other natural products. I had several conversations with people who expressed a desire for these products so I thought there was enough interest to open a store. But now I realize I should have dug a lot deeper.

If I'd read The Mom Test back then, I would have asked more concrete questions anchored in reality WITHOUT letting potential customers know that I was thinking of opening a store myself to avoid the false positives and ego protecting.

Because I didn't do that, I opened the store. And the store failed. I had tons of interest right away. But soon, people were asking me where I bought my products and requesting that I bring them a bulk version without all of the cute packaging and the higher price tag.

It turned out that this particular group of people would have benefited more from a service which delivered bulk orders of certain hard-to-get goods to their door, rather than a full-on store. I could have saved myself all the time and money I spent opening the actual store if I'd have simply asked them:

"How are you CURRENTLY using these products when you do have access to them or at the very least how have you used them in the past?" - questions I believe pass "The Mom Test."

I would have found out that most of them used these products in their own businesses (like the organic coconut oil for the massage therapist). Not necessarily for personal use. In the end, I (sadly) closed the store and did what I should have done in the first place.

Anyway, I'm definitely keeping "The Mom Test" in mind in future conversations with potential customers.

How about you all? I'd love to hear about your failures that could have been prevented with "The Mom Test." What happened? And, based on what you've read so far, what could you have done better? What questions should you have asked (or not asked!)?