I assume you won't like this article...

The Urban Dictionary states that an assumption (n) "is the brother of all fuck ups."

Current events have propelled a plethora of commentary from travel restrictions to healthcare warnings, bear markets to bailouts and perplexity to personal reflection. The birds and the bees are enjoying unprecedented freedoms, the father of three's increased attention and businesses bean counting more than ever.

An opportune moment to Stop. Reflect. Refresh. Rev-up.

Let's reflect by making some specific risky assumptions for our business @FlashFomo;

• Influencers don't want to create their own branded products.
• Manufacturers are not producing consumer products.
• Fulfilment can't work with the current travel restrictions.
• Investors are not active in the current landscape.

We refreshed by interviewing our customers (influencers, manufacturers and fans);

• We validated that influencers do want to create their own branded products.
• We validated that manufacturers are producing consumer goods
• We validated that fulfilment systems are working, albeit at restricted capabilities.
• We validated that investors are actively looking for opportunities.

We are poised to Rev-up;

• We have run a Lean Canvas on our operations.
• Eliminated our risky assumptions.
• Interacted more meaningfully with our fundraising leads.
• Refined our Objectives and Key Results (OKR's).
• Discovered our North Star Metric.
• Focused on our One Metric That Matters (OMTM).

The paradigm shift from our risky assumptions to confirmed validations is best encapsulated in the words of Thomas Paine; 'the real man (or woman) smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection'.

Like a bull at a gate we are well poised to move forward in 2020 and beyond!