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Key Takeaways Waiting for outside validation before acting on an idea will cost you opportunities. Instead of waiting for the world to tell you “yes,” take a closer look when gatekeepers tell you “no.”
When starting my company, naysayers told me there was no viable solution for the problem we were trying to solve. But as we’ve since proven, “no solution” often means “no one’s figured it out yet.”
Don’t let early objections or perceived constraints become stopping points; investigate them rigorously instead of treating them as final verdicts.
A lot of would-be entrepreneurs limit themselves by waiting for permission. They want investors or industry authorities to give them an undeniable green flag to proceed because they’re worried about risk.
It’s understandable for startups to proceed with caution, and it’s admirable for founders to choose responsibility over recklessness. But if you need outside validation before you can confidently pursue an idea, you’re going to miss opportunities for success.
Instead of waiting for the world to tell you “yes,” I recommend taking a closer look when gatekeepers tell you “no.” There’s a personal reason for that: My company’s flagship product was the direct result of being told that there was no viable solution for restoring asphalt shingles on residential roofs.
Fortunately, I didn’t take the naysayers at their word. Here’s why you shouldn’t, either.
“No solution” often means “no one’s figured it out yet”
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