English
5min
Module 1: The Lean Startup Mindset
Module 2: Defining Your Vision
Module 3: The Build-Measure-Learn Feedback Loop
Module 4: The Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
Module 5: Validating with Customers
Module 6: Pivoting or Persevering
19/23 Lessons
Content
Getting accurate feedback and data is a skill, and it's easy to make mistakes that lead you down the wrong path. Avoiding these common pitfalls is just as important as knowing what to do.
Pitfall 1: The "Polite Lie" Trap
This is the most common mistake made during customer interviews. People are inherently nice and don’t want to hurt your feelings. They will often tell you what they think you want to hear.
To avoid this, always use the "Mom Test" rule. Ask about past behavior and specific actions, not future hypotheticals. Instead of asking, "Would you use this?" ask, "What did you do the last time you had this problem?"
Pitfall 2: The "Build It and They Will Come" Fallacy
This is the belief that if you build a great product, customers will automatically find it and use it. This mindset ignores the importance of proactive validation and a strong business model.
To avoid this, remember that a startup is a search for a business model, not just a product. Your MVP is an experiment to prove that a viable business exists, not just that you can build something cool.
Pitfall 3: The "Vanity Metrics" Trap
As we discussed in a previous lesson, it's easy to get excited about metrics that look good on paper but don't tell you anything useful.
To avoid this, focus on actionable metrics and the AARRR funnel. Instead of celebrating a million website visits, celebrate the number of people who returned to your site and completed a key action.
Pitfall 4: The "All or Nothing" Mentality
Many entrepreneurs see a pivot as a sign of failure. This fear can prevent them from making the smart course corrections that are necessary for a startup's survival.
To avoid this, embrace the idea that a pivot is a strategic correction based on validated learning. It is a sign of success, not failure. The best entrepreneurs are the ones who are willing to pivot based on data, not just intuition.
Pitfall 5: Not Getting Out of the Building
