Obtaining feedback and validating ideas

The need to get out of the comfort zone for interviewing.

Many novice entrepreneurs tend to skip the external validation phase, either because they find it tedious or because it requires leaving the safety of their comfort zone to interact with strangers who might criticize their vision.

However, bypassing this process is a critical mistake; catching flaws in strategy or product conception during the planning phase is infinitely cheaper than trying to course-correct once the business is up and running.

Strategic blind spots are inevitable when working in isolation, and only honest and early feedback can illuminate those problem areas before they become significant financial losses.

Sources of feedback: close circle, potential customers and experts.

To get a complete perspective, sources of feedback should be diversified.

The close circle, consisting of friends and family, is accessible and useful for detecting obvious errors, although it lacks technical and emotional objectivity.

The next level involves contacting peers in the industry and, most importantly, potential customers, since no one knows the problem you are trying to solve better than those who experience it on a daily basis.

In addition, it is possible to access the wisdom of experts through digital communities and specialized networking groups.

Instead of asking for direct favors, an effective strategy to stand out in these groups is to provide value first, answering others' doubts and building reciprocal relationships before asking for advice on your own project.

How to ask questions that avoid complacent answers

When collecting feedback, the goal is to elicit truth, not ego validation. If respondents respond with generic praise such as "that's a great idea," this can be dangerous and misleading to business development.

To filter out the politeness and get to the real intent, you need to ask engagement questions.

For example, if a potential user praises the product, the next step should be to ask if they would be willing to pay for it up front or make an immediate reservation.

This transition from verbal interest to financial commitment reveals the true viability of the idea.

It is critical to listen more than talk, synthesizing critic