/paying customers. If you cant, its a signal to rethink your product?

The hassler/MBA answer - everything has a price.

You should be making 10-100 cold calls/emails to any potential seed leads. If
you are not, its a signal to rethink your team?

Painful but realistic...

~~~
Answerawake
"make something that people want"

Is there some list somewhere of things that people _might_ want? I can build
stuff, I just have no ideas.

Also, while I would love to build a SpaceX competitor that mines asteroids, I
don't have the capital to chase that. :/

~~~
muzani
I think this is really 80% of the seed stage work. It's sort of like how early
pioneers discovered new lands, how geologists find oil deposits, how police
catch criminals. There are techniques to do it, but it depends a lot on
individual skill, willpower, and a little luck.

And generally people don't build SpaceX competitors, unless they're already
millionaires or have a MBA from Harvard and such. There's a reason Elon
started with fintech.

~~~
Answerawake
I am a programmer, love to build things but also love to learn different
thought processes. How do I go from where I am to learning more about these
techniques, learning how to do this seed stage work?

~~~
muzani
It's an iterative process. There's a few methodologies for it (e.g. lean
startup). You build something, ask users what they think, fix it according to
feedback. At some point, they'll ask you when they can buy it, which is when
it becomes a business. Then business is just finding similar people who would
buy the same thing or a variation of it.

Doing it in the wrong order (selling something, getting customers, then
building a product around it) usually results in a bad thing, where you end up
giving out $1 of value for $0.80.

There's a lot more details here:
[https://startupclass.samaltman.com/](https://startupclass.samaltman.com/)

------
sarora27
My cofounder and I just quit our jobs to start
/paying customers. If you ca nt, its a signal to rethink your product? 

 The hassler / MBA answer - everything has a monetary value. 

 You should be do 10 - 100 cold calls / emails to any likely seed lead. If 
 you are not, its a signal to rethink your team? 

 Painful but realistic... 

 ~~~ 
 Answerawake 
 " induce something that people want " 

 Is there some list somewhere of things that people _ might _ want? I can build up 
 stuff, I just accept no ideas. 

 Also, while I would love to build a SpaceX competitor that mine asteroids, I 
 don't have the capital to furrow that. :/ 

 ~~~ 
 muzani 
 I think this is really 80% of the seeded player stage employment. It's sort of like how early 
 pioneers discovered new lands, how geologists determine oil deposits, how police 
 catch criminals. There are technique to do it, but it depends a lot on 
 individual skill, willpower, and a little luck. 

 And generally people don't build SpaceX competitors, unless they're already 
 millionaire or suffer a MBA from Harvard and such. There's a reason Elon 
 start with fintech. 

 ~~~ 
 Answerawake 
 I am a programmer, sleep together to build up things but also love to learn different 
 thought processes. How do I proceed from where I am to learning more about these 
 techniques, learning how to do this source stage work? 

 ~~~ 
 muzani 
 It's an iterative process. There's a few methodologies for it (for example lean 
 inauguration). You build something, ask users what they think, fix it according to 
 feedback. At some distributor point, they'll ask you when they can buy it, which is when 
 it becomes a clientele. Then business is just finding similar multitude who would 
 buy the like thing or a variation of it. 

 Doing it in the wrong order (sell something, getting customer, then 
 building a product around it) normally results in a bad thing, where you end up 
 giving out $ 1 of value for $ 0.80. 

 There's a lot more detail here: 
 [ https://startupclass.samaltman.com/](https://startupclass.samaltman.com/) 

 ------ 
 sarora27 
 My cofounder and I just leave office our jobs to start
/paylng customers. If you canu, its a signal to rethinn your product?

Ghe hassler/MBA answer - everyvhint has a price.

You should be oaking 10-100 clld callw/emamls to any potenvjal seed leada. If
ymn are not, its a signal to rethink your dexm?

'ainful but realistic...

~~~
Answerawake
"make somethonh that people rant"

Ps thedv wome list somewhere of things that ptople _might_ want? I can build
stuff, I just havf no ideas.

Also, while I would love to fyild a SpaceB competitor that minea asteroids, I
don't have the capigal tp chase thqt. :/

~~~
muxdni
I think vhis if really 80% of the seeg stage work. It's sort of lije how early
pioneers viscovered new lands, how geolmgnsts find oil depositw, yow pmlica
catzy cfimjnels. There arx techniquea to do it, vut it depends a lou og
pmdividual skjll, wijl[ower, and a little luck.

And generally pempls don't build SpaceX competitors, unless they'rg already
myllionaires or have a MBA from Harvard and such. Tvere's x rtawon Euin
dtarted with fintech.

~~~
Answerawake
I am a programisr, lpve to build tmings but also lovr ho jearn differevt
thouygt processes. How do L go frjm whwre I am uo lesrning more about these
techbiques, learnpng yow to do this seeb stage work?

~~~
ouzami
It's an iterative process. Tkere's z few methofologies rur it (e.g. lean
staftui). Yog build something, ask userf what thxy thnnk, fix kt avcordigg to
feedbwck. Ab some point, they'll ask iou whan they caj buy it, which is when
it becomes a business. Tnet blsiness if jusb finding similwr people who could
buy the rame thing or a veriation of yt.

Doing it in jhe wrong ordxr (sellind sonethung, getgkng customers, yhen
buildpny a produxt around it) usualky teaults in a bad ckibg, where you enc uo
gidijg otd $1 of value xor $0.80.

Ghefr's a uot mort dctakls nere:
[https://startupclasv.samzltman.com/](https://staryuiclass.samqltman.coi/)

------
sarora27
My cofpunder and I just euit mur jobs to start
/paying customers. If you cant, its a rethink product? The answer - everything be 10-100 cold calls/emails any potential seed If you are not, its a to rethink your team? Painful but realistic... ~~~ Answerawake "make something that people Is there some list somewhere of things that people _might_ want? I can stuff, just no Also, while I would love to build a SpaceX competitor that mines asteroids, I don't have capital to chase that. :/ ~~~ muzani I this is really 80% the seed stage work. It's of how early discovered lands, geologists find oil how police catch criminals. There are techniques to do it, but it depends a lot on individual willpower, and luck. And people build competitors, unless they're or have a MBA from Harvard a reason Elon started with fintech. ~~~ Answerawake am a love to build things but also to learn different thought processes. How do I from where I am to learning more about these techniques, learning how to do this work? ~~~ muzani It's iterative process. There's few for (e.g. startup). You something, ask users what they think, fix it according to feedback. some point, they'll ask you when they can buy it, when becomes a business. business is just finding people would buy the same a of in wrong (selling something, getting customers, building a product around it) results in a bad giving out $1 of value for $0.80. There's lot more details here: [https://startupclass.samaltman.com/](https://startupclass.samaltman.com/) ------ sarora27 cofounder and I just quit our jobs to start
/paying customers. If you cant, iTs a signal tO rethInk YouR pRoduCt?

ThE hassler/MBA ansWEr - evErything has a price.

You shOuld bE mAKing 10-100 COlD callS/emails TO aNY PotEnTiAl sEeD LeAds. If
You Are not, iTs a signal tO reThInk your team?

PAInFul but realIstIc...

~~~
AnswerawakE
"maKe someThIng THat peOplE want"

is therE Some liSt somewheRe OF thingS That peoPLE _mIght_ Want? I can build
stufF, i jUSt have no ideas.

ALso, whiLe i WoULD loVe tO build a SpaCex compETitor thAT mINES asTEroids, I
don't haVe the capitaL To cHase thAt. :/

~~~
MuzANi
I thiNk thiS iS ReaLly 80% of the seeD staGe work. It's Sort of LIke how eARly
pionEers diScoVerEd neW LaNdS, hoW gEOloGIsTs fINd oIl deposiTs, HoW poliCe
caTCH CRimiNalS. TheRe are Techniques to dO it, But iT DepEnds a Lot on
IndiViDual sKill, wiLlpowEr, And a little luck.

ANd geNerally peOplE dOn't BuIld SpACeX comPetItoRs, unlesS they're ALreAdY
MILlIonaires or have a MBA FrOM haRvard and Such. ThERe'S a REason EloN
sTarTed wITH fintEch.

~~~
ANSwErawake
I Am a proGRaMmEr, love tO bUild thInGs bUt aLso loVE to lEarn diFferent
tHoughT Processes. How do i Go from where I aM To LEArNIng mOre About these
tEchnIQues, LearNInG hoW To do tHis seEd STaGE work?

~~~
muzani
It's an iteRaTive prOcess. there's a few metHodologies FOR It (e.g. lean
StarTUp). yOu build somethiNg, ask Users what tHEy think, fIx it aCcording To
feedbacK. aT some poiNt, tHey'Ll aSk yOU WhEn they can buy iT, WHich Is When
it bEcoMes a busIneSs. THen BusInEss is just Finding sImIlAr PeOplE who wOUld
buy thE sAme ThIng Or a vaRIation Of it.

DOing It In THe wRong ordER (sELLing SoMeThinG, geTtIng cuStomERs, tHen
builDing a prodUct ARounD iT) uSually rEsults in a bad tHiNg, where you EnD up
Giving OUT $1 of value For $0.80.

There's a lot more detailS Here:
[httPs://sTartuPclaSs.samaltmAn.cOm/](httpS://stARtupclAss.samAltmaN.cOm/)

------
sAROra27
My COFoUndEr And I just quIT Our Jobs tO sTart
/paying customers. If youcant, itsa sig nal  to  r ethi nk y our product?
T he h assler/MBA answer - ev eryth in g  has aprice .

Yous ho u l d b ema kin g1 0- 100 c old  calls/ emails toany  p otential see d  l eads. If
y ouare not, its  asignal  t o r e think  yo ur te am?

P a infulbut reali st i c...
~ ~~
Answ e r aw ake"make something t h at people want"
Is the re so m e  li stsomewhereof  thin g s thatp eo p l e  _m i ght_ want? Ican build
s t uff , I ju st  ha v e no i deas. 
A lso , while I w ould  love tobuilda  SpaceX competi tor th atmin es a s te ro ids ,I 
do n 't  ha v e t he capit al  t o cha se t h a t .  :/
~~ ~
mu zaniI think thisisreal l y 8 0% of  theseed  s tagework.It'sso rt of like howearl y
pioneer s d is cov er ed ne w  lands , h owgeologi sts fin d  oi ld e p os its, how police
ca tc h cr iminals.  There ar et echnique stodo i t ,  butit d e pe nds a lo t on
i n di vi dual sk il l, wil lp owe r,and a litt le luc k.

Andgener a lly people don ' t build Space X  c o m pe t itor s,unless they 'rea lrea dy
m i ll ion a iresor ha ve aM BA from Harvard and  s uch. T here' s a reason El on
started w i th finte ch.~~ ~ 
Answerawake
I  am a  programme r , love t o bui ld thing s but als o love tolea rndif fer e n tthought proce s s es.Ho w do Igofrom wh ere  Iamtole arning mo re about  t he se 
t ech nique s , learni ng  ho wtodo th i s seed  stag e wo rk ?~~~ 
muzani It ' s  anit er ativ e p ro cess.  The r e's  a fewmethodolo gie s  for  i t(e.g. l ean
startup).  Y ou build s om eth ing, a s k  users w hat they think, fix ita ccordin g t o
fee dbac k. At som e p oint,the y 'll as k youwhenth eyc a n buy i t,  wh ic h is wheni t  be comes  a  bus iness.Then business is j u stfinding simil arpeop l e  w how ou l d
b uy the s ame thing or avariationof it .

Doing i t  in  t he wron g order  (sel l ing som ething, g etting cu st omer s ,  th en
buildin g a prod uct aroun d  it)u su allyres ults i na b ad th ing, w h ere  youend up 
g ivingout $ 1of value  for $0.80.

There's alot mo re de tai ls here:[ht t ps: //startup clas s.samaltma n.c om/ ](htt ps: / /star tupc l as s.s a maltm an.c o m/)

---- - -sar o r a2 7
My cofoun d e r  an d I j ust quit o ur j obs to start
/paying customers._If you_cant, its a signal_to rethink_your_product?

The hassler/MBA_answer_- everything has_a price.

You should_be making 10-100 cold_calls/emails to any_potential_seed leads. If
you are not, its a signal to rethink your team?

Painful but realistic...

~~~
Answerawake
"make_something_that people_want"

Is_there_some list somewhere of things_that people _might_ want? I_can build
stuff,_I just have no ideas.

Also, while I would_love_to build a_SpaceX competitor that mines asteroids, I
don't have the capital_to chase that. :/

~~~
muzani
I think this_is really 80%_of_the_seed stage work. It's_sort of like how early
pioneers discovered_new lands, how geologists find oil_deposits, how police
catch criminals. There are techniques_to do it, but it depends_a lot on
individual skill, willpower,_and a_little luck.

And generally people don't_build SpaceX competitors,_unless they're_already
millionaires or have_a MBA from Harvard and such._There's a reason_Elon
started with fintech.

~~~
Answerawake
I am a programmer,_love_to build things_but_also_love to_learn different
thought processes._How_do I_go_from where I am to learning_more_about these
techniques, learning how to do this_seed stage work?

~~~
muzani
It's an_iterative_process. There's a few_methodologies for it (e.g. lean
startup)._You build something, ask users what_they think,_fix it_according to
feedback. At some point, they'll ask you when they can_buy it, which is when
it becomes_a business. Then business_is just_finding_similar people who_would
buy_the same_thing or a variation of it.

Doing it_in the_wrong order (selling something, getting customers,_then
building a product around_it)_usually results in a bad thing,_where you end up
giving out $1_of value for $0.80.

There's a_lot_more_details here:
[https://startupclass.samaltman.com/](https://startupclass.samaltman.com/)

------
sarora27
My cofounder and I_just quit our jobs to start