I Don’t Want to Waste My Time.
Most people waste time building what they think people want. That’s how you end up with a beautiful product… that nobody buys.
Here’s how to create a viable product—fast, lean, and backed by real demand.
Step 1: Solve a Bleeding Neck Problem
People don’t buy vitamins. They buy painkillers. If you’re not solving a painful, immediate, and high-stakes problem, you’re not building a business—you’re building a distraction.
Ask:
- What problem is so urgent that people can’t afford to ignore it?
- What’s costing them time, money, or reputation right now?
- What are they already Googling, venting about, or paying for?
Examples:
- Not “get better at budgeting”—instead, “stop overdrafting and get out of debt in 30 days.”
- Not “lose weight”—instead, “lose 10lbs before your wedding without starving.”
💡Quick Test: If your offer doesn’t solve a problem that feels like a bleeding neck (aka “make it stop now”), it won’t convert—no matter how good it looks.
Step 2: Validate with a 3-Sentence Pitch
Don’t start building. Start pitching.
Craft this sentence:
“I help [specific person] solve [specific painful problem] without [annoying or expensive method].”
Your job isn’t to be clever—it’s to be clear. To test your pitch, send that sentence to 10–20 people in your target market (this can be family, friends, or anyone you are connected to on social media). Don’t be weird or salesy; communicate naturally and look to gain some real insight. Say that you are testing this new pitch out on them, just to see what they think, and that you truly value their knowledge and insight. People love when you ask them for insight – it makes them feel important and engages them.
Here are the responses you’re looking for:
- “I need this.” → ✅ You’re on the right track.
- “When can I get it?” → ✅ Validate harder.
- “That sounds cool” → ❌ = No sale. Keep refining.
Ask follow-up questions once the convo is going:
- What’s unclear?
- Would you pay for this?
- What would make it a no-brainer?
💡Pro Tip: Clarity wins. If people “don’t get it,” they won’t buy it.
Step 3: Build a “Sell Before You Build” Offer (AKA MVP)
Your MVP = Minimum Viable Product. It’s the leanest version of your solution that still gets people results.
The mistake? People think MVP means a fully designed platform or 8-module course. Wrong. MVP = proof of value with as little work as possible.
Examples of MVPs:
- Notion or Google doc with a system described
- 60-minute Zoom training (can be prerecorded)
- Simple PDF with a checklist and templates
- A one-time workshop with Q&A – this can be virtual or in-person
- Manual version of a done-for-you service – this can be a document or a video
Then pre-sell it:
- Offer beta access to 5–10 people
- Charge a small fee (yes, charge) – this can be as low as $20
- Engage your testers post-sale, and use the feedback to improve it
💡Remember: If you’re afraid to sell your MVP, your product isn’t clear enough. And if nobody buys the MVP, you just saved 6 months of building the wrong thing.
Step 4: Charge for It Early
You don’t know if your product is viable until someone pays you.
Free feedback is often polite lies. Real money is real validation.
Start small:
- $27–$47 for a PDF or live session
- $97–$297 for a toolkit, workbook, or training
- $500+ for a done-for-you or coaching offer
What matters is that someone commits—even just one person. If one buys, more will.
You don’t need 100 customers to prove the concept. You need 3–5 buyers (with feedback) to validate demand.
💡Tip: Pricing too low says “this might not be valuable.” Pricing too high too early kills momentum. Pick a number that feels easy to say out loud but still makes it feel legit.
Step 5: Refine Based on Use, Not Opinions
Don’t improve your product based on what people say—improve it based on what they do.
Watch:
- Where do they get stuck?
- What do they skip?
- What do they rave about?
Build your next version around that.
Here’s the loop:
- Sell MVP
- Deliver it
- Collect feedback + results
- Make it better
- Sell again at a higher price or better angle
Repeat this cycle 2–3 times, and you’ll have a polished product proven by real usage—not assumptions.
💡Power move: Document your customers’ wins. These turn into testimonials, case studies, and social proof that 10x your credibility.
Final Thought:
Viability = Simplicity × Speed × Problem Solved
- Don’t overbuild.
- Don’t overspend.
- Don’t wait.
If it solves a real problem, people will pay—even if it’s ugly and half-baked.
Ship fast. Validate with dollars. Refine based on usage. That’s how you build a product that prints.
