Understanding a Pipe Dream Vision: How to Avoid a Weak Product Vision

In product development, one of the biggest challenges is balancing ambition with reality. We’ve all been there: the team is fired up, and there’s a vision on the table that sounds like it could change the world. But is it truly achievable? Or are you falling into the trap of chasing a pipe dream?

In this post, we’ll explore five signs that you’re dealing with a weak product vision, focusing on one of the most telling signs—the pipe dream vision. We’ll dive into what makes a vision unrealistic and provide actionable advice on how to ensure your vision is both inspiring and grounded in reality.

Sign #4: It’s a Pipe DreamInspiration is Not Enough

Sure, it’s easy to get excited about a grand vision. Think about space exploration: going to the Moon is an inspiring goal. But ask yourself, “Have you ever built a vehicle that flies, let alone one that reaches orbit?”

It’s one thing to dream big, but dreams alone don’t make things happen. Without a grounded plan, things will undoubtedly go wrong, and no amount of motivation can make up for unrealistic expectations.

What is a Pipe Dream Vision?

A pipe dream vision is one that sounds great on paper but lacks the foundation to make it a reality. It’s a vision that:

Overlooks current capabilities.Relies too heavily on hope rather than solid strategy.Ignores potential challenges or glosses over them as minor inconveniences.

In short, it’s a vision that cannot be achieved because it doesn’t take into account what your team can realistically do right now.

Balancing Inspiration with Reality

While it’s important to have an inspiring vision, that inspiration must be tempered with a strong sense of reality. People want to be excited by a goal, but they also need to believe it’s achievable.

Why Grounding Your Vision is Critical

When your vision is grounded in reality, it provides your team with a clear direction and confidence that the goal can be reached. It doesn’t mean the goal should be small or unambitious, but it must be something that:

Taps into your team’s current strengths and expertise.Aligns with the resources and tools you have available.Considers the challenges ahead and plans for them.

As the saying goes, “Hope is not a strategy.” Instead, you need a plan that combines ambition with practicality.

The Consequences of a Pipe Dream Vision

If your vision is unachievable, here’s what will happen:

Team morale will drop: If people feel they’re working toward an impossible goal, their motivation will quickly diminish.Trust will erode: When the vision starts to crumble, people will lose faith in leadership and question their decision-making.Resources will be wasted: Effort, time, and money will be poured into something that never had a chance of succeeding in the first place.

Pro Tip: Make sure your vision passes the realism test. Ask yourself, “What are the steps required to get there, and are those steps within our current capabilities?”

Building on Your StrengthsA Vision Rooted in Reality

The most successful product visions are built on the strengths of your current team and resources. Yes, it’s important to push boundaries and innovate, but you must start with what you already excel at.

For instance, if your team is excellent at software development but lacks experience in hardware, it wouldn’t make sense to pivot to building physical devices without first addressing that gap.

How to Ground Your Vision

Here are some practical steps to ensure your vision is both inspiring and achievable:

Assess your current capabilities: What are your team’s strengths? What resources do you have at your disposal?Identify gaps and challenges: What skills, tools, or knowledge are missing that would make the vision more achievable?Create a realistic roadmap: Break down the vision into smaller, actionable steps. Each step should be tied to something your team can realistically achieve.Involve your team: Get feedback from those who will be working on the vision. Do they believe in it? Do they see potential roadblocks?

By taking these steps, you ensure that your vision isn’t built on wishful thinking, but on a foundation of strength and strategy.

Personal Example: When I Overreached

I’ve been there myself. Early in my career, I led a team that was tasked with creating a revolutionary software product. The vision was bold—almost too bold. We were aiming for the stars without checking if we had the means to get there.

It became clear very quickly that our vision was a pipe dream. We lacked the technical capabilities, and the timeline was overly ambitious. The result? We had to pivot drastically, which not only delayed the project but also impacted team morale.

Since then, I’ve learned the importance of building on what you know. Now, whenever I set a vision, I ask myself two key questions:

Is this something my team is capable of doing today?If not, do we have a clear plan to develop the capabilities we need?Final Thoughts: Making Your Vision Achievable and Inspiring

A strong product vision is both inspiring and grounded in reality. It challenges your team to push beyond their limits, but it also takes into account what is achievable based on current resources and skills.

Key Takeaways

Avoid the trap of creating a pipe dream vision by ensuring your vision is grounded in reality.A vision that’s both inspiring and achievable will motivate your team and keep them focused.Build on your current strengths and address gaps through realistic planning and strategy.

Remember, a product vision is more than just a dream. It’s a commitment to a goal that your team can believe in—and more importantly, achieve.

Let’s build something amazing, but let’s make sure we can actually get to the Moon before we start planning to land on Mars.

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