Yesterday, I wrote about the benefits of mentors. However, there can be too much of a good thing. If you’re a founder, how do you separate the signal from the noise? What do you do with competing or contracting advice? Here’s what I’d say to you:
So, you’ve been bombarded with all sorts of feedback from investors and mentors, right? It’s like everyone’s got an opinion about your baby, and it can be overwhelming.
Remember, you’re the expert here! You’ve poured your heart and soul into building your company. You had the idea to create something incredible, and the spark to go on this mission- Don’t let all these meetings mess with that. It’s easy to get pulled in different directions, but stay firm.
Here’s what I’d do:
- Track that feedback! Create a spreadsheet and note down who said what in each meeting. Categorize it if that makes it easier. Over time, you might spot some patterns that can actually be valuable insights.
- Now, listen up – investor feedback comes with a grain of salt. They’ve got their own interests and might push you towards “bigger” ideas. But remember, this is your company, and you know it better than anyone else.
- Your customers and users are your North Star. They are the real MVPs! Get your product out there, let them play with it, and pay close attention to what they say. Their feedback will guide you in the right direction.
- Iterate and keep building. It never stops, never ends. The product will never be done*.
So, don’t get discouraged by all the noise. Take those meetings, soak in the advice, but don’t rush to make changes. Trust your gut, and let the market be your ultimate advisor.
You’ve got this! Stay focused, keep grinding, and remember, you’ve got the power to make it soar. Good luck!
Take all advice with a grain of salt, including this.
*This does not mean to feature-stuff your product and experience. When you keep adding feature on feature it starts to show. More on this in a future post.