What I Think About Your Idea Does Not Matter

I review lots of Lean Canvas business models in a week.

At the end of these review sessions,

I am often asked what I think of “the idea”.

What I think doesn’t matter.

I can, like the next guy,

take any position on your business model I choose

and defend it.

I can tell you that because

something similar has been done before in a different domain,

the idea is very promising.

I can just as easily make a case for the opposite.

What I (or anyone else) thinks at this stage

when anything is possible

does not matter.

Much as with science,

the hard part isn’t theory generation,

but validation of that theory through empirical testing.

My job isn’t to tell you whether your idea is good or bad.

But to drive focus on the right questions that need empirical answers

And to show you fast techniques for getting those answers.

You ultimately pose the question: “Is my idea any good?”

to your customers and market.

But there too you don’t simply ask the question,

but rather measure what they do.