Hacker News Reader

The problem with questions like these: There is a difference between what people say they will pay for, vs what they actually pay for; as many failed startups found to their chagrin.

Unless somebody actually gives you their credit card, what they say they will pay for is largely an imaginary game

(sorry if this comes out too negative)

View on HN

It is a simple fact, not too negative at all.

My wife started a business largely on the support of friends, family and strangers she talked to who said it was a good idea.

Imagine her surprise when literally noone was interested when it came time to buy what she was selling.

In a sibling comment there's this book "The Mom test" mentioned. It deals exactly with this: don't ask your mom or other close people for business idea opinions because they will be too supportive to answer honestly.

Which reminds me of a book once linked here on HN[0], The Mom Test[1]. Although (as far as I remember) not directly treats about this exact thing (or maybe it does?), it brings a lot of other very interesting points in general topic of coming up with the new business idea. I can definitely recommend, pure knowledge without fluff.

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28667439

[1] http://momtestbook.com/

Reply on news.ycombinator.com