I like your formula of Problem = Customer + Need + Insight
I want to suggest Kurt Lewin's definition of insight as a useful one for entrepreneurs:
“Insight can always be viewed as a change in the cognitive structure of the situation. It frequently include differentiating and restructuring in the sense of separating certain regions which have been connected and connecting regions that have been connected.”
Kurt Lewin in “Behavior and development as a function of the total situation” (1946)
I blogged about in https://www.skmurphy.com/blog/2012/09/23/kurt-lewin-on-insight/ Insight allows an entrepreneur to look at the same situation an established firms sees but make new connections or break what was first viewed as continuous into distinct subsets (or niches).
Feb 12, 2023·edited Feb 12, 2023Liked by Ben Yoskovitz
I liked your distinction between Insight and Deeper Need.
As an investor, would you require that the founder(s) have discovered a unique insight, or would you be satisfied with a clear understanding of User + Functional Need + Deeper Need (with the hope that, through paying attention to users, the founder(s) would eventually discover a unique insight)?
I'm also curious to hear your thoughts on how acute the Functional Need should be. i.e., are you only interested in opportunities to solve "hair on fire" problems?
Early on it's unlikely a founder has a genuine insight, but instead has, hopefully a Deeper Need.
I want to make sure that founders have dug deep enough to understand the social and emotional implications of what they're pursuing.
"Hair on fire" problems are best--but it's not always obvious if that's true early on. So the short answer is: it depends.
What isn't exciting are OBVIOUS problems that everyone sees, when the founder has no real or unique perspective on the solution. That's just chasing a universal truth with, what is most likely, a mediocre solution.
Another great post! I'm really enjoying these posts, Ben. Please keep them coming. Agreed with everything you shared here specifically around emotional needs. Our users tend to make emotional decisions and then try to rationalize them.
Goal is to publish a new post weekly -- we'll see if I can maintain that rhythm and pace. But I certainly appreciate the feedback and glad you're finding the content helpful.
I like your formula of Problem = Customer + Need + Insight
I want to suggest Kurt Lewin's definition of insight as a useful one for entrepreneurs:
“Insight can always be viewed as a change in the cognitive structure of the situation. It frequently include differentiating and restructuring in the sense of separating certain regions which have been connected and connecting regions that have been connected.”
Kurt Lewin in “Behavior and development as a function of the total situation” (1946)
I blogged about in https://www.skmurphy.com/blog/2012/09/23/kurt-lewin-on-insight/ Insight allows an entrepreneur to look at the same situation an established firms sees but make new connections or break what was first viewed as continuous into distinct subsets (or niches).
Thanks Sean -- appreciate the comment and feedback.
I liked your distinction between Insight and Deeper Need.
As an investor, would you require that the founder(s) have discovered a unique insight, or would you be satisfied with a clear understanding of User + Functional Need + Deeper Need (with the hope that, through paying attention to users, the founder(s) would eventually discover a unique insight)?
I'm also curious to hear your thoughts on how acute the Functional Need should be. i.e., are you only interested in opportunities to solve "hair on fire" problems?
Early on it's unlikely a founder has a genuine insight, but instead has, hopefully a Deeper Need.
I want to make sure that founders have dug deep enough to understand the social and emotional implications of what they're pursuing.
"Hair on fire" problems are best--but it's not always obvious if that's true early on. So the short answer is: it depends.
What isn't exciting are OBVIOUS problems that everyone sees, when the founder has no real or unique perspective on the solution. That's just chasing a universal truth with, what is most likely, a mediocre solution.
"People are not as rational as we might want them to be, or believe them to be."
People aren't rational at all, and often don't even understand their own reasons for doing things ;) Enjoyed this piece! Thank you :)
I was being polite. Laugh. I should have simply said, "People are irrational, bordering on crazy." Thanks for keeping me honest!
Great piece, loved it!
Thanks Tanweer - glad you found the post helpful.
Another great post! I'm really enjoying these posts, Ben. Please keep them coming. Agreed with everything you shared here specifically around emotional needs. Our users tend to make emotional decisions and then try to rationalize them.
Goal is to publish a new post weekly -- we'll see if I can maintain that rhythm and pace. But I certainly appreciate the feedback and glad you're finding the content helpful.