On Founder-Market Fit and Focus

Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story, interviewed close to 5000 successful business owners. He has found two consistent patterns of successful business owners

They are Founder-Market Fit and Focus.

1. Why Founder-Market Fit is more important than Product-Market Fit?

I had an idea for Figma before it was a thing. However, I could not execute it because the concept was too technically advanced, and I was not in a position to raise money or build a team around it.

As I navigate life and the business world. I realize that consistency triumphs. You want to find that perfect spot between skills and passion

Only then you can execute the idea that you want.

But on the topics of skill and passion.

Paul Graham taught us to think about the finite hours of doing X.

He can only code for 5 hours, but he can run a startup all day long.

I can cook for 9 hours but can only move pixels around for 3 hours max.

I can write for many hours but I can only code for 30-minute intervals at a time.

You must watch yourself. And realize this certain state of your mind to see which projects you can outlast everybody.

2. How to focus

We all know the importance of Focus but it is hard to focus in a distracting world.

Here are a few techniques I learned from Cal Newport, Author of Deep Work, and Pat Walls:

1. Take a break from focus.

2. The Russian Dolls Method

3. Keep a scoreboard

4. Work in bursts of energy

5. Store problems you are facing like variables.

6. Use a time-based productivity

Let’s deep dive into each of these methods.

Take a break from focus

You schedule time to use the Internet. Other than that, you go raw-dog

The Russian Dolls Method

From Big Russian Dolls to Tiny Russian Dolls. Break your tasks down into the smallest, most manageable chunks.

Use the Dolls as a visual to memorize.

Keep a scoreboard

Cal Newport keeps a tally of deep work next to his table. Humans are addicted to scores. Keep your scores.

Treat your problems like variables

Store and name your problems at hand as variables. Work around and try multiple questions with them.

For example: if you need to think about marketing for your book. Store the variable book marketing.

And ask yourself the following question:

Which is the cheapest channel to market my book?

How do I talk about my book?

Time-based productivity and work in bursts of energy

Don’t drag things along. Spend less time you need to work on a problem

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