Does anyone else fear researching an idea or business?
Hi Everybody,
As the title suggests, I am curious if anyone has experienced a similar feeling of fear or anxiety when researching deeper into an idea or business. I have had moments where I was excited for an idea but when it came to researching existing solutions (i.e. competition) I would dread it. It would be a strong enough feeling that I would procrastinate and it would eventually lead to my energy fizzling out or something else coming up entirely.
I think the feeling comes from fear that better solutions already exists. And, if it already exists, then the idea I was excited for is dead on arrival.
I'm curious if it is just me or if anyone else has felt this? If you have felt this, how do you cope with it?
Thanks for your time!
P.S. This is my first post since signing up for IH a year ago. I obviously haven't been active on this community but I am hoping that will change.
Um no? Facebook wasn't the first social networking site. Google wasn't the first search engine. Zoom wasn't the first video conferencing app.
Of course it's possible to build a successful business out of an idea that already exists. I just disproved your theory that you can't.
So go and find a way.
Thanks @simplisticallysimple. I appreciate the comment.
You are right. Successful businesses can be built from ideas that already exist. It seems that I have operated on the idea that being first to market is the goal. Which isn't true as you (and others) have pointed out. I am not sure why I defaulted to that mode of operation, but it is clear that I need to reset my mindset when it comes to ideas that already exist.
Coming in a little later in the game can prove to be an advantage if a business can learn from the incumbents' mistakes or find a niche that the incumbents are not supporting well.
Don't worry it's quite common and the reason for it is over-attachment to what we think is a 'startup idea'.
Wantrepreneurs are so occupied with their startup idea (in air quotes), that they fail to validate it for the reasons you said and usually end up building something which nobody wants. Some learn from their mistake, most give up forever.
But this can easily be overcome, if we understand the difference between Startup ideas vs Problems.
Instead of starting with a startup idea, start by looking for a problem to solve, a solution for problem with enough need gap that the people are willing to pay for it to get solved has much better chances of becoming a viable startup idea than something which we pull out of air.
Thanks @Abishek_Muthian! I appreciate the comment and the blog link. The blog post is very akin to parts of How to Brainstorm Great Business Ideas where the problem should come first before even thinking about the solution.
Validating a problem seems like an easier path than validating a solution (or "Startup Idea"). Maybe because a solution is something that I created and I feel a level of attachment or ownership of it. I don't want what I thought up to be a failure. Whereas a problem isn't necessarily something I own. It is more of an observation of the world as it is.
The annoying part for me is thinking an idea is somewhat unique, start building and then then suddenly it feels like everyone is doing the same thing, and doing it better. 😂
Thanks @stephenafamo! I appreciate the comment!
Yes! My abandoned project SimpleWOD was like that. I started it without really looking into what was already out there. Once I got far enough in, I started hearing more about other similar apps and realized they were so much better at that point. I should of expected this because SimpleWOD was a workout app which there are a ton of out in the market.
Hi!
As others have pointed out, few ideas are unique, and there's evidence (out there) that the first movers aren't always the ones that "win" the race, negating the advantage part of that phrase.
A more important point here is the sense of dread, and that's something I relate to, and it's difficult to get past that feeling. For me, when I do attempt to push past it, because I don't have the heart for it, it's not uncommon for the whole effort to be a waste.
I suppose this is where having the strength in depth of a team comes into its own…
Thanks @WayneSmallman! I appreciate the comment!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the dread. I either have to cope with it or find someone else that will. At the moment, I am trying to find ways to cope to do it myself, but maybe outsourcing is something that can help me conquer this problem. Someone that isn't as attached to an idea or business can hopefully do a more thorough job in research.
Outsourcing is an option, and it's good you understand what makes it difficult for you, too.
Either a better solution exists or it doesn't. If it does, it's better to know, because your idea has been pre-validated or it may be too crowded a space (so you can cut your losses). If it doesn't, it's better to know, because you'll have to prepare for an uphill battle in explaining the idea, won't have a model to follow (so will have to invent your own), and may find it difficult to find users (which you should start preparing for now).
The Litany of Tarski goes thus:
It might help to use it as a template for your own case. For example:
Thanks @virissimo! I appreciate the feedback and time.
Logically, I know I should understand the situation (whether a better solution exists or not) because it will either help me build a better solution or it will prevent me from wasting time. I guess I fear that my idea (and my excitement/energy) up to that point was for naught.
But, as you have shared with The Litany of Tarski:
I am attaching myself to beliefs that will only hide the truth and lead me astray which is definitely not what I want. At the end of the day, whether a better solution exists or not, I need to know the truth so I can plan appropriately for the situation.
It sounds a bit like your putting a lot of pressure on yourself... Are you still too burnt from the last venture? Are you attached psychological as "this is me" for some part of this? Like original or something?....
You should find a format to work on which feels more positive than emotional load for the start...
If it's a specific activity you might consider getting help with either friend or paid work... Like some just hate doing the research as in finding things on the net or doing phone calls or...
Thanks @hatkyinc! I appreciate the comment!
Yeah. Maybe I am too attached. Maybe I am looking too far in the future and attaching myself to what I am viewing (i.e. assumption of success) and what I think I want to believe. Instead of remaining in the here and now.
Another comment mentioned the strength of having a team. This is also another route that can be taken. Apparently I don't have a strength in research so maybe I need to find someone that does.
Yeah I have felt this too. I think it comes from cherishing an idea and not wanting to see it die. I now treat this more like a job. In a job you are trying to do what your boss needs. In indie hacking your boss is a superposition of people in your market, you want to do something they need and will pay for. Therefore your 'ideas' are irrelevant, and I so I now happily ignore almost all ideas I think of, as they are usually from the point of view of (oh I had this one little specific problem, I could built this overcomplicated SaaS to solve it).
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Thanks @sologub! I appreciate the comment.
You are right. I was originally wondering if I was alone or if others feel the same way. And if they did, how do they cope?
But it seems my self diagnosed reason for the anxiety brought up some interesting comments and feedback regarding my mindset around problems, ideas, and solutions. Maybe the coping is either shift my mindset or find someone else that finds it easier.
I probably could have worded the question better but I think there were some good ideas and insights I (and hopefully others) can use, regardless.
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Thanks @sologub. I appreciate you sharing you felt worried in the beginning as well. If you don't mind, could you elaborate on how most things can be solved through dialog and negotiations? Maybe with an example. I find it interesting and I might be able to learn something from it. Thanks!
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Thanks @lucarenga! I appreciate the comment!
I'll be honest, I didn't expect an answer such as yours because it seems common advice is to do some research. But, your comment comes with the caveat:
This makes sense. If you have knowledge in the industry, then you probably have the knowledge of possible competitors and solutions out there. Probably enough information to get started and throw something out into the market.
I think #2 is where some of the dread lies for me. The enthusiasm and momentum that kept me up at night thinking about the "new" idea could potentially be killed.