The Power of a Kickass Vision: Ditch the Flops and Build what?sticks

Do you ever feel like your startup has lost its purpose? You’re not alone. Many founders have experienced the same feeling at some point in their entrepreneurial journey. It can be frustrating to see your vision becoming diluted or sidetracked by the opinions of others. But don’t worry, there are strategies you can use to regain your startup’s original purpose.

Growing Pains: As your startup grows, you’ll find that more and more people will have opinions on how you should run your business. Investors, mentors, employees, and even customers may have their ideas of what your company should be. While it’s important to listen to feedback, it’s also important to remember that the original purpose of your startup is unique to you. It’s what sets you apart from the competition and gives your business its soul.

When does it happen: The loss of purpose can happen at any stage of your startup’s journey. It may happen early on when you’re trying to find your product-market fit or later when you’re scaling your business. It can even happen after a successful exit when you’re considering your next venture. The important thing is to recognise when it’s happening and take steps to regain your purpose.

How bad is it?: Experiencing a loss of purpose can sometimes be a good thing. It means that you’re growing and evolving as a founder. It’s natural to have doubts and questions about the direction of your startup. This is where reflection and self-discovery come in. Take this as an opportunity to learn more about yourself and your business. It’s a chance to refine your purpose and make your startup even better.

But too many chefs can spoil the broth, and success has many fathers. The unique vision that made your startup stand out can become muddled and contaminated by the opinions of others. It’s important to listen to feedback, but it’s equally important to stay true to your vision. As the founder, you are the only person who can truly define the purpose of your startup. While others may have valuable input, it’s ultimately up to you to decide what direction to take.

How to get back on track: To regain your startup’s original purpose, you must take a step back and reflect. Ask yourself why you started your business in the first place. What was your original purpose and how has it evolved? Consider what sets your startup apart from the competition and what makes it unique. Then, communicate this purpose clearly to your team and stakeholders. Make sure everyone is aligned with your vision and values.

Whose vision is best: Founders are unique individuals. They have a passion for their business that’s hard to replicate. They see opportunities where others see obstacles. Founders are also risk-takers who are willing to put everything on the line to see their vision come to life. These factors are what make founders the best people to define the purpose of their startup.

Only your compass can point to your true north: As a founder, it’s important to stay true to your purpose. Don’t let the opinions of others sway you from your vision. At the same time, be open to feedback and criticism. Listen to your customers, investors, and mentors, but don’t let them define your purpose for you. Use their input to refine your vision and make it even stronger. Communicate your purpose clearly to your team and stakeholders. Make sure everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal. Coca-Cola sold only 25 bottles in the first year as patrons were not keen on a black-coloured drink but they persisted and the rest is history.

As a leader, you are always in the driving seat: Regaining your startup’s original purpose is a journey that all founders go through. It’s natural to experience doubts and questions along the way. But by reflecting on your original purpose, staying true to your vision, and communicating clearly with your team, you can get back on track and make your startup even stronger. Remember, you are the only person who can define the purpose of your business. Stay true to yourself and your vision, and success will follow.

The recipe you can follow to get back on the right track.?

1. Focus on your vision and problem-solving: The first step to validating your vision is to focus on the problem you’re trying to solve and your unique solution. Don’t get bogged down by how you will monetise your idea at the outset. Instead, try to solve the problem as creatively and effectively as possible. Avoid the temptation to switch to selling a commodity or copying someone else’s vision, as this may contaminate your unique offering and result in a confusing, feature-heavy product. Remember, your vision should be original and meet a real need in the market. Once you have a clear understanding of your vision and unique value proposition, you can start to think about how to monetise it.
2. Write down all the moving parts of your vision. This includes the core product or service, target audience, marketing strategy, distribution channels, partnerships, team structure, and more. By breaking down your vision into its components, you can better assess each element’s feasibility and ensure they all work together cohesively. This step is also an opportunity to brainstorm potential roadblocks or challenges that may arise and develop contingency plans to address them. Remember, your vision should be unique to you, so avoid copying someone else’s vision or switching to selling a commodity. Doing so could contaminate your original idea, resulting in a “spaghetti set of features.”
3. Identify your target market: Once you have a clear understanding of the moving parts of your vision, it’s time to identify who your target market is. Look at the different segments of the market and start creating a persona for your ideal customers. This will help you better understand the needs and wants of your potential customers and tailor your product to meet those needs. Keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to identify the prospects who are most likely to buy your product or service.
4. Talk to real prospects who match the persona you have identified. These are the people who are most likely to use your product and pay for it. You need to get their feedback on your vision and understand their needs and pain points. This will help you refine your vision and identify the features that are most important to your target market.
5. Focus on prospects who are willing to pay for your product or service. Anyone who is not willing to pay is not relevant at this stage. You need to identify your early adopters, who are the first customers that will adopt your product and provide feedback. They are the ones who will validate your vision and help you refine your product to meet their needs.
6. Refine your thinking based on the feedback you receive from your prospects. This step isn’t about changing your product or vision altogether, but rather honing in on what people want and are willing to pay for. Product creation should come after you deeply understand your target market’s needs and preferences. However, if you are introducing something entirely new or innovative, such as an anti-gravity belt or a vehicle that travels faster than light, it may be difficult to get accurate feedback due to the lack of existing market experience with such products. In these cases, your prospects’ responses may be limited by their bounded rationality, so you’ll need to use your best judgment to determine whether to move forward with the idea.
7. Evaluate the feasibility of the vision based on feedback. This step involves assessing whether the vision is technically feasible, financially feasible, and legally feasible. This evaluation will help ensure that the vision is realistic and achievable. It will also highlight any gaps and potential to reiterate your thinking.
8. Create a roadmap for turning the vision into a product or service. This roadmap should outline the necessary steps and milestones for product development, marketing, and sales. It can also include a timeline for each step and any necessary resources, such as funding or personnel. Thinking always comes before doing.?

Before you create something in the world it has to take shape in your head.

Regaining your startup’s original purpose is a process that involves reflection, self-discovery, and remaining faithful to your vision. Doubts and questions may arise, but these steps can help you overcome them and make your startup stronger. As the founder, you are the best person to define your startup’s purpose, and staying true to it will lead to success. If you think you have lost the path endeavour to realign your startup with its original purpose and fulfil a genuine market need. Your startup’s purpose is what sets it apart and gives it character, so make sure to communicate it clearly to your team and stakeholders. Doubts are usual, but with reflection, a steadfast vision, and transparent communication, you can get back on track and build a startup that’s true to your mission.

? Sameer Babbar

[email protected]

Disclaimer: This is for information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. The author, his company his associates, his directors, his staff, his consultants, and his advisors do not accept liability for any loss or damage, including without limitation, any loss, which may arise directly or indirectly from the use of or reliance on the information provided.