Episode 81
Rapidly validating & testing new ideas w/ John Zeratsky
In this episode of Startup Survival, I’m joined by John Zeratsky, one of the co-authors of two books that had a huge impact on me as an entrepreneur: Sprint and Make Time. I was immediately obsessed with the ideas in Sprint about how to test and validate my business ideas in just five days.
I see a lot of startup owners that don’t do enough research and testing before they launch—mostly out of fear. But the testing process is necessary for success. John and I talk through the basics of a sprint, the importance of a “fake it til you make it” mindset, and practical tips for testing your ideas.
At the end of the episode, John shares his advice for tackling the tasks that feel scary and making them feel more manageable.
About John Zeratsky
John Zeratsky is a co-founder and general partner at Character, bestselling author of Sprint and Make Time, and former design partner at GV. Previously, John was a design leader for YouTube, Google Ads, and FeedBurner, which was acquired by Google in 2007.
Connect with John:
If you like this episode, check out these resources.
- Book: Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days
- Podcast: 3 biggest mistakes I made building a company
- Blog: Start. Even if it’s not perfect.
More about the show: www.jackiehermes.com/podcast
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