Do you feel derailed by the temptation to make products from your subproblems?
While working on a product I often encounter subproblems (mostly related to SEO or marketing) that don't seem to have a good off-the-shelf solution.
Then I feel bit tempted to switch and work on that as a product - if I need it, others might need it as well? Also, it's a bit worrying that the main product has unsolved subproblems, indicating it might be too complex to tackle at first (and the smaller problem might be more tractable).
But is that true? There are no guarantees that the subproblem doesn't have problems on its own either.
Observation: I think if I didn't have a strong alignment with my product, I would be too tempted and be switching to different ideas every now and then, never actually releasing anything. So if you are this trigger-happy type, maybe next time you choose which idea to try next favor one with strong alignment (vs just sheer product potential).
Subproblems begetting subproblems. Finishing is more important than starting. Keep a list of problems and when it comes time to build something new, do research and due diligence on each of them and go with the best. Be radically realistic. Don't be distracted too much by the apparently prettier paths along the wayside of the main path.
The subproblem could end up being a bigger business problem and hence opportunity than the idea you're working on.
However, if you keep abandoning X for Y and so on, you'll never complete anything.
So here's how I am going about it -- maintain a list of all the subproblems with lots of information and links to existing solutions in an Excel sheet. Come back to it later after you've completed building the current product/idea you're pursuing.
However, if you suddenly feel more attracted to the new idea more than your current idea, then maybe you should work more strongly on idea validation and conviction on what you're working on.
Often, the winning thing is accidentally discovered. The Ring Doorbell camera was a sub-problem. Invented by a man who spent all his time working in his garage on his engineering dream project, and he kept missing anyone who came to his front door. So he cobbled together a camera for viewing the front door…realized it was a good idea…got on Shark Tank and was rejected, but the exposure boosted his sales..and it is now a billion dollar company.
Who can know….maybe the sub-problem is the one that really needs to be addressed.
Sometime it is just about personality. It is natural for some people get very excited and motivated by new ideas.
If you have this trait, the key is to be aware of it and make conscious choices. Ideally, find some tools that would help you continue to stick to the main project even when you are tempted to switch to another one.
Definitely happens all the time, and it can be a good thing, the subproblem can end up being a better business than the original idea. It's hard to judge though and is easiest to analyze in hindsight. What I would do is keep a list of these subproblems and revisit them once in a while. If they're persistent and a real pain in the butt a while down the road then maybe it's a good idea to investigate further. But don't let them distract you from the main idea!
It happens to me all the time.
This can be good, as “scratching your own itch” it’s been a winning strategy for multiple people. You are 100% sure that your product will have at least one user (you).
This can be bad, because, as you mentioned, it distracts you from your main project. BTW, sticking to something requieres discipline, it’s not “normal”. Counter example might be if you have a product with crazy demand and you just can’t help but to keep working on it.
I’d recommend listening to outside feedback to direct your focus. Talk to people and whatever seems more interesting to THEM ( remember, this is about solving other people’s problem) focus on that.
Thank you!