Choose a problem, not a product.
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That wall of rocks? It’s sturdy because each stone fits perfectly into a need. Same goes for great businesses. They don’t start by stacking random “products.” They start by solving a real problem that fits perfectly into someone’s life.
The Marketing Foundation Here
Each “rock” (product) should fill a gap (problem). No gap, no stability. Marketers waste time trying to make people care about an idea instead of fixing something they already care about.
Why It Works
- Problems come with built-in demand
- Emotional pain = motivation to buy
- Solving > selling
- Easier to explain (“We fix X”)
- Harder for competitors to copy genuine solutions
Real-World Examples
- Dropbox: solved “I forgot my USB drive again”
- Airbnb: solved “Hotels are too pricey or booked”
- Calendly: solved “Let’s find a time to meet” email chains
- Slack: solved “Too many internal emails” chaos
- Dollar Shave Club: solved “Razors are stupid expensive”