You’ll never know what your customers really want unless you ask them. And the only way to ask them is to put something – anything – out into the world.
I used to think that perfection was necessary to achieve the goal. If I just worked harder, polished just a bit more, and tweaked every detail, my product would be ready. But the problem is perfection is a trap. It keeps you stuck in your head, guessing at what people want instead of actually finding out.
The real magic happens when you launch something unfinished. Put it out there, even if it’s messy, imperfect, or not quite right. Why? Because feedback from the real world is worth more than months of planning. People will tell you what works, what doesn’t, and what they truly need. Plenty of companies pay good money for real human feedback.
Yes, it’s uncomfortable. People will point out flaws: “This isn’t good.” “Here’s a problem.” “I don’t understand.” But that’s the point. Bad feedback is the best feedback because it shows you exactly where to improve. It’s a gift, even if it doesn’t feel like it at first. And the sooner you get the feedback in your iteration process, the less time and effort get wasted!
This is the essence of launch quick, update often. It’s not about being reckless; it’s about being brave. It’s about putting yourself in the arena, learning from the real world, and iterating faster than anyone else.
So, what are you not-quite-ready-to launch? Launch it! Then listen to the feedback, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And remember: the sooner you start, the sooner you’ll know how and what to polish.