In 2018, I spent six months and $4,000 building a SaaS tool that literally zero people bought.

I missed my kids' bedtime for weeks, stressing over code and logos, only to realize I had built a solution for a problem that didn't exist.

It was the most expensive "ego project" of my life. I learned the hard way that building is a form of procrastination — if you aren't talking to customers, you're just playing house.

1. Stop Building the "Perfect" Product

"If you aren't embarrassed by the first version of your product, you shipped too late." — Reid Hoffman

Here's the truth: Your "perfect" product is a fantasy until someone swipes their credit card for it.

Most people hide behind building websites and designing logos because it feels safe. It feels like work.

But real work is getting someone to say, "I need this, how do I pay you?"

You don't need a domain name. You don't need a landing page.

You need a problem and a person willing to pay to solve it.

Validation isn't about getting "good feedback." Friends and family will lie to you to protect your feelings.

Validation is about cash. It's about the "bag."

If you can't get one person to commit $10 today, you won't get 1,000 people to commit $1,000 next year.

2. Craft Your Minimum Viable Offer (MVO)

"Don't sell the plane; sell the destination."

An MVO is not a product. It is a promise.

It's a clear statement of what you will do, who you will do it for, and the result they will get.

Think of it as a bridge. On one side is the customer's pain; on the other is their desired reality.

Your MVO is the bridge. You don't need to build the whole bridge yet — you just need to show them the blueprint.

Use this formula: I help [Target Audience] achieve [Desired Result] in [Timeframe] without [Pain Point].

For example: "I help busy dads lose 10lbs in 30 days without giving up pizza."

It's specific. It's punchy. It's easy to say "yes" or "no" to.

Avoid jargon. If a 10-year-old doesn't understand what you're selling, it's too complex.

Keep it simple. You are testing the demand, not your ability to write copy.

3. Find Your "Watering Hole"

"Go where your customers already hang out. Don't try to build a new stadium when the old one is already full."

Where does your target audience complain? That's where you need to be.

Is it a specific Reddit subreddit? A Facebook group? A niche Discord server?

Maybe they are all on LinkedIn complaining about their boss. Or on X (Twitter) talking about AI tools.

Your job in the first 4 hours of this 24-hour sprint is to find these people.

Don't go there to "market." Go there to listen.

Look for keywords like "How do I…", "I'm struggling with…", or "Does anyone know a tool for…"

These are the digital breadcrumbs leading to your first sale.

Once you find the "watering hole," don't dump a link. That's how you get banned.

Instead, look for the most active threads. See what people are actually crying about at 2:00 AM.

4. The 2-Step DM Strategy

"Permissionless networking is the ultimate cheat code for the modern solopreneur."

Now it's time to get your hands dirty. You are going to send 20–50 direct messages.

The goal isn't to close a sale in the first message. The goal is to start a conversation.

Step 1: The Insight. Reach out to someone who posted a problem. Say: "Hey, I saw your post about [Problem]. I've been obsessed with this lately and might have a way to solve it."

Step 2: The Ask. If they reply, give them one piece of free value. Then say: "I'm actually building a small cohort/product to solve this specifically. Want to see the outline?"

This is "skill stacking" in real-time. You are combining empathy, sales, and networking.

You aren't a telemarketer. You are a consultant looking for a partner.

Treat them like a human. Use their name. Mention something specific from their profile.

If you send 50 DMs, 10 will reply. Out of those 10, 2 might be your first customers.

That is all you need to validate your idea.

5. Get the "Bag" Before You Build

"The only real validation is a notification from Stripe."

If they like the outline, give them the "Founding Member" offer.

Tell them: "I haven't built the full version yet. Because of that, I'm offering it at 70% off to the first 5 people who want to help me shape the final product."

This creates urgency and exclusivity.

It also keeps you honest. If they say "I'll buy it when it's done," they aren't actually interested.

If they say "Where do I pay?", you send them a PayPal or Stripe link immediately.

No website? No problem. Use a tool like Stripe Payment Links or Gumroad.

It takes 30 seconds to set up.

If someone pays you, you now have a moral and legal obligation to build the thing.

That is the best motivation in the world. Much better than a "to-do" list on your phone.

You are now a business owner. Congratulations.

6. The 24-Hour Execution Schedule

"Speed is the only advantage a solopreneur has over a corporation."

Let's break it down. Here is your 24-hour playbook.

Hour 1–2: Define your MVO. Write down exactly what you are selling and for how much.

Hour 3–5: Research. Find 3 "watering holes" where your audience lives.

Hour 6–10: Engagement. Comment on 20 posts. Be helpful. Don't sell yet.

Hour 11–16: Outreach. Send your 50 DMs. (Yes, you might need to do this over two days, but the clock is ticking).

Hour 17–20: Conversations. Reply to everyone. Refine your offer based on their objections.

Hour 21–23: The Close. Send the payment links to the interested parties.

Hour 24: Review. Did you get a "Yes"? If not, why? Pivot or kill the idea.

Don't overthink it. Just move.

Analysis paralysis is the silent killer of dreams.

Flip your services into products. Level up your speed.

7. Embrace the "No"

"Every 'No' is a free lesson in market research."

If everyone says no, you didn't fail. You just saved yourself 6 months of building a ghost town.

In the corporate world, failure is a performance review. In the solopreneur world, failure is data.

Ask the people who said no: "What would have made this a 'hell yes' for you?"

Their answers are your roadmap for your next idea.

Maybe the price was too high. Maybe the problem wasn't big enough.

Maybe you were talking to the wrong people.

Iterate. Tweak the offer. Change the audience.

The only way to lose is to stop testing.

Keep your head up. The "freedom life" requires a thick skin and a short memory for rejection.

Your 24-Hour Exercise

The "Smoke Test" Challenge: Today, identify one problem you can solve. Write your MVO using the formula in Section 2. Find 10 people on LinkedIn or X who have that problem and send them a DM asking for their feedback on your "upcoming solution."

Don't go to bed until all 10 DMs are sent.

A lot of my frameworks come from the hundreds of business books I've read. If you want to get the biggest ideas from these books in minutes, you'll love my Substack newsletter. I share practical summaries of popular business books to help you build your one-person business faster.

The Final Word

Validation isn't a one-time event; it's a habit. I spent a decade in corporate tech waiting for "permission" to build things. I had to unlearn that. You don't need an LLC, a fancy office, or a $10,000 developer to start.

You just need the audacity to ask for the sale before you're "ready."

The most successful builders I know aren't the best coders or the best designers. They are the ones who are the most comfortable being uncomfortable. They are the ones who value their time enough to test their ideas in the heat of the market immediately.

You have the tools. You have the schedule. You have the framework.

What's stopping you from sending that first DM?

What is the one business idea you've been sitting on for months that you're going to "Smoke Test" today? Let me know in the comments — I'd love to help you sharpen your MVO.