Take a cab (uber) ride out — Take a Cab (uber) ride back
What does this mean?
Well I had a dream last night that I was talking to a good friend and colleague about a new venture I am involved in that is set to disrupt the healthcare industry.
In that conversation he said “take a cab ride out, take a cab ride back”, in other words take the time each day to take a ride with your customers (current or target) to just speak to them and understand them. It’s easy to get caught up in the 5 smart guys and gals in a room syndrome where all you do is talk about features and functionality that people might want… but there’s nothing more valuable than getting out there and actually talking to customers.
Here are a few simple ways to do that, let’s assume you’re super early and don’t have users.
- Identify everyone you know that is a prospective customer: shoot them a text or an email and ask them one question. You’ll probably get this question wrong and learn nothing the first time but it will lead you to a better question. The first time you might say “hey would you use a smart tracker that helped you track your steps each day?” That doesn’t tell you why they would, what they’d be willing to pay, what software or output they’d need it just gives you a really general “oh that sounds cool” or does not, but it’s a start. Just get out there and go for a ride.
- Ask each of the people in group 1 to introduce you to 1 person to speak with about your new product or service. Ask a better question that helps you understand why people would or wouldn’t care about your product, what they did before your product and what they’d do without it.
- Join groups, comment on posts and articles… anything that seems relevant to your topic and potential customers. Be honest, ask people for help and tell them you want to learn. People are willing to help when you’re honest and humble… even if it’s a little spammy.
Rinse and repeat 1 through 3 all the time so you never lose touch with the people that define the success or failure of your idea.
