So you think you're ready to build
A reality check for teams who want momentum
Before you jump into execution, make sure you’re not walking straight into the traps almost every team falls into.
Stop trying to force frameworks onto an idea you already like
Opportunity Solution Trees, Double Diamonds... They’re great if you’re really exploring user problems or opportunities. But most teams reverse-engineer them to make a solution they’re already attached to look more legit.
Don’t use frameworks to justify your assumptions. They are only there to reveal opportunities for you to develop solutions.
You’ll assume a lot, just don’t get stuck in assumption hell
Momentum matters more than perfectly modeling every edge case.
If you try to map out every scenario, you’ll fall into a black hole where assumptions depend on more assumptions, and once one collapses, everything breaks.
Pick a direction. Ship something. Own the outcome. Adjust as you learn.
Observe and listen without blaming your users
If users don’t understand how to use your product, that’s on you.
Watch how they behave: in usability sessions, in analytics, in support or feedback tickets. Reality always beats whatever you imagined in a meeting room.
Be ready to be humbled
People will complain. Loudly. Sometimes aggressively.
Remember how annoyed you get when YouTube redesigns something? Exactly.
Don’t take it personally. Frustration is a signal. Learn from it. But...
Don’t get carried away by a single piece of feedback
One loud user does not equal the whole market.
Yes, they’ll say they hate the new thing.
Yes, most will get used to it in days if it actually solves a real need.
Stay calm. Ignore the noise, pay attention when it becomes a pattern.
Keep iterating, your first version is never the final one
Except for a few rare cases (yes, even physical products iterate), your first release is not your masterpiece.
Changing what you shipped isn’t failure. It’s part of the process.
Your users will evolve. The market will evolve. If you don’t evolve with them, legacy features will trap you before you notice.
Get comfortable being in the spotlight of criticism
This isn’t like coding in the background. When you build something people can touch and judge, they will judge it.
Don’t jump at feedback from people who aren’t your users. It will very likely pull you in the wrong direction.
But stay humble and listen closely to feedback from the people who might actually rely on your product. That’s where your real learning starts.