Get Out of the Building

The startup mantra “Get out of the building” comes from Steve Blank, a legendary figure in the field. Its meaning is simple — and vital:
Don’t sit in your home office endlessly polishing your business idea in isolation. Instead, go out into the real world and test it with actual people.

Doing this early can save you from the single biggest startup pitfall: building the wrong product.

Don’t Build Before You Know

It’s tempting to jump straight into building your product. Coding, designing, or producing something tangible feels productive — but before you invest the time and money, you need to confirm:

• The problem is real. Customers genuinely face the issue you’re targeting.
• Your product solves it. The solution you have in mind matches their needs.
• They will pay for it. The value is clear enough for customers to spend money on it.

Skip this validation, and you risk pouring resources into something nobody wants.

The Power of Early User Feedback

The most common reason startups fail is creating a product without demand. The fix? Collect user feedback early.
Talk to customers about their pain points. Show them early product sketches, demos, or prototypes. Listen closely — their input will sharpen your idea, highlight flaws, and inspire improvements.

Don’t be afraid to share your idea. The odds of someone “stealing” it are tiny — and even if they tried, they wouldn’t have your drive or context. In startups, execution beats the idea itself.