Let me guess – you’ve got this “game-changing” idea for a product. It’s the next big thing, right? You’re about to disrupt the industry, redefine the way we live… except… you’re not. At least, not yet.
Here’s the truth: your product isn’t special. Your “vision”? It’s not revolutionary. And honestly, that’s okay. Because building something that actually matters – something people genuinely want – is way harder than just having an idea.
The Hard Truth About Ideas
I remember Songtive – a social network for musicians where people could remix chords. I thought it was a genius idea. Since my previous app, Piano Companion, was successful, I imagined there must be a huge market for this idea. But honestly, I just made up that market for myself. We spent months and months coding, designing, and tweaking every little detail. I didn’t sleep. I poured my soul into it.
Then I launched it.
And guess what? Crickets. I don’t mean a slow start or a few thousand downloads – I mean nothing. Like, I probably had more bugs than users.
I was devastated. How could people not see the brilliance of what I built? I blamed everything – the market, the timing, even the color palette I chose. But deep down, I knew the problem.
I wasn’t solving a real problem.
Why Most Products Fail
Here’s the thing about products: they don’t exist to showcase your genius or creativity. They exist to solve problems. And if you’re not solving a problem people care about, no one’s going to care about your product.
But you know what’s worse? Thinking you’re solving a problem when you’re not. That’s the real killer.
I’ve seen it happen so many times. Founders fall in love with their own ideas. They think their vision is so crystal clear that they don’t need to talk to users. If you’re not talking to users constantly, you’re just guessing.
The Brutal Wake-Up Call
After my first product bombed, I did what any stubborn person would do – I built another one. This time, I was convinced it would work. I even convinced myself I didn’t need feedback because I already “knew” what people wanted.
Same result.
That’s when I hit rock bottom. I wasn’t just wasting time – I was wasting money, energy, and what little confidence I had left.
I finally did what I should’ve done from the start: I sat down with potential users and listened. And when I say “listened,” I mean really listened – no pitching, no selling, just asking questions and taking notes.
What I learned was humbling. The problems I thought were so big and obvious? Nobody cared about them. Instead, people were struggling with completely different things – things I hadn’t even considered.
Building for People, Not Yourself
I’ve started working on Rwiz AI – an app that began solving real problems for myself and my apps. Managing user reviews was a mess, spread across different platforms, and responding to them felt like an endless task. So, I built a tool to aggregate reviews from different places and automate communication with customers. It wasn’t just convenient – it was a game-changer for my workflow.
And guess what? It’s slowly growing. People are starting to see the value in it, just like I did. It’s not about flashy features or grand visions – it’s about solving a problem that actually exists.
Look, I’m not saying your vision doesn’t matter. It does. But it’s only a starting point. The real magic happens when your vision intersects with real-world needs.
When I started Rwiz AI, it wasn’t about imagining some massive market or beating out competitors. It was about fixing something that frustrated me daily. It turned out, others were frustrated by the same things. That’s where the magic starts – solving real problems in ways that resonate with others.
Competition isn’t the enemy. Irrelevance is.
What makes your product special isn’t your code, your design, or even your marketing. It’s your ability to solve a problem better than anyone else.
How to Stop Building Vanity Projects
Here’s the simplest advice I can give you (and myself!): stop building in a vacuum.
Talk to Users Early and Often
Don’t wait until you’ve built the perfect MVP to get feedback. Start with sketches, mockups, or even just a conversation. Ask people what frustrates them and listen to their answers.
Kill Your Darlings
If a feature isn’t solving a specific problem, ditch it. I know it hurts, but simplicity always wins.
Embrace the Feedback Loop
Feedback isn’t criticism – it’s a roadmap. The more you listen, the better your product will become.
Focus on the Problem, Not the Solution
Fall in love with the problem, not your product. When you’re obsessed with solving the problem, the product will naturally evolve to fit.
Stay Humble
Your first idea isn’t your best idea. Heck, your tenth idea probably isn’t either. Be willing to pivot, iterate, and learn.
It’s Not About You
At the end of the day, building a product isn’t about you – it’s about them. Your users don’t care how hard you worked or how brilliant your code is. They only care about one thing: does it make their life better?
Your product isn’t special. But it can be. If you’re willing to put your ego aside, listen to your users, and focus on solving real problems, you might just build something that matters.
At the end of the day, building a product isn’t about you – it’s about them. Your users don’t care how hard you worked or how brilliant your code is. They only care about one thing: does it make their life better?