Entrepreneurship is a journey of dealing with uncertainty, questioning norms and taking risks.
Naive people are inevitable along the way. Some of them could also be your closest friends or family and could also be really apprehensive about your future. While some may objectively query the feasibility of your idea, others may reflect their very own limitations or risk aversion.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, the challenge is to differentiate useful feedback from the background noise. This distinction is crucial when deciding to vary, maintain, or refine your approach.
Skepticism is like a mirror, not a wall
When someone doubts your idea, their skepticism may reveal more about them than about you. People who have never taken a business risk are unlikely to suggest it to others. Their reluctance is a reflection of their comfort zones, not an assessment of the potential of your vision.
In turn, the opinions of experienced entrepreneurs who have faced similar challenges are often based on real-world considerations. These people understand each the emotions and risks of entrepreneurship, so their concerns are more prone to be based on actionable insights. They may highlight market dynamics, technical feasibility, or lessons learned from similar ventures, which may be invaluable in shaping your strategy.
Overcoming doubt with market insights
When faced with skepticism, especially from those with limited entrepreneurial experience, the best response is to validate your assumptions through market feedback and real-world testing.
In my case, I’m building a productivity tool from scratch in a virtual data room. Initial comments suggested that “no one will need this.” Instead of taking these opinions at face value, I took the following steps.
- I created a easy survey: I used a relevant group on a skilled social media platform to check assumptions about my problem. I asked if the problem I wanted to unravel was real and if people would pay for a potential solution. An encouraging 77% of respondents supported my idea. This alone prompted me to launch proof of concept development.
- Direct contact with end users: Once the PoC was live, I talked to potential users and showed them the PoC. Their excitement about the already working product belied their initial hopes. Their enthusiasm strengthened my determination and gave me insight into how the product could meet their needs and what I’d need to switch about it. This helped me proceed to create a product that is still in development. I’ll fail, but I have more confidence and optimism, backed by real market feedback.
- Focused on vision as an alternative of fear: Some people worry that sharing your ideas before publishing may cause others to repeat your idea. I see it in a different way. Others may replicate your idea post-launch, but even if they do, they do not share my vision or the detailed understanding of the market that drives product development and business strategy.
Turn skepticism into fuel
Skepticism can paralyze you or propel you forward. The key is to channel these activities productively.
- Use doubts as an incentive to substantiate your assumptions through direct contact with your audience.
- Let prospect feedback, surveys and interviews guide you greater than generalized opinions.
- Remember that no one sees your vision as clearly as you do. The strength of your belief combined with real-world validation separates fleeting ideas from potentially impactful businesses.