“Done is better than perfect.” – Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook
As entrepreneurs, we’re often perfectionists. We want every feature of our product or service to be flawless before we unveil it to the world. But waiting for perfection can slow down your startup’s momentum and keep you from the valuable feedback that comes from real-world experience. That’s where the concept of a Minimum Viable Product, or MVP, comes into play.
An MVP is a version of your product with just enough features to be useful by early customers who can then provide feedback for future product development. It’s not about launching a half-baked product, but about learning as quickly as possible how your customers react to your product’s core functionality.
The power of the MVP is best demonstrated through the story of Airbnb. The idea of opening your home to strangers and turning it into a mini-hotel was quite revolutionary. But rather than waiting to build a perfect platform, Airbnb’s founders started with a basic website, even listing their own apartment. It was a simple start, but it allowed them to validate the most critical assumption: were people comfortable renting space in their homes to strangers? As they received bookings, they gathered valuable feedback that helped them iterate and refine the platform into the robust, global marketplace it is today.
So, what does this mean for you as an entrepreneur? Don’t let the quest for perfection hold you back. Start with an MVP, gather feedback, iterate, and improve. It’s about learning through doing, adapting quickly, and building a product that truly meets your customers’ needs.
Action Step: Reflect on your product or service. What is its core value? Can you create an MVP that delivers this value? How can you gather and incorporate customer feedback into your development process?
Remember, entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. Speed is crucial, but so is stamina. Launching an MVP allows you to establish a continuous feedback loop with your customers, learning from their experiences and adapting your product accordingly.
Learning through doing is a powerful way to build products that resonate with your target market. For more insights on MVPs and other key startup strategies, check out our book of the week “The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries.