Always design loops or be at risk of closing shop

You know, we focus on growth now. Or, we pivot later. What is the common thread?

They (most) run a series of steps that consists of a business.

They build and hope they come. But forget to advertise, nor to capture basic analytics.

They focus on features nobody asked for, and they asked nobody for feedback.

Build proof of concept → make flashy investor deck → promise TAM and growth → next round of investment.

It seems a good idea. Endless growth opportunity. Rocketship made in a garage. But the loop, it is wide open.

Either the exit was never to leave a working product behind. I am hopeful most cases are more simpler and addressable.

Build → release → market → get feedback → change/pivot → start again. This is the main loop.

All others are supporting loops, work best if your main one performs. To perform, it has to be closed, meaning to run in cycles, end bites the starting one, in a never ending circle.

Closing the loop means confronting your endgame. A terrifying moment, one that feels like a point of no return. I know, been there, done that, you do it too, even if you don’t run a startup.

It is your fear manifesting as procrastination. Still, it shouldn’t be. Reign it in by putting it to context.

There will be always a second chance at launching your product, retargeted to new users even if you disappointed the first ones.

There will be the next big client, if you bring your learnings.

Until you have a runway. If you ate your runway, without closing the loop, there won’t be a second chance. No more users means closing shop.

Aim to have three-four launches in your runway, and pursue the user problem relentlessly.

Doesn’t guarantee success. But gives a good shot at it! Keep building, keep learning!

What do you think, am I way off?