Before leaving your job, ensure you've validated your idea. Market demand is crucial; do people actually want what you're offering? This validation can help you take the leap with confidence, knowing it's based on solid evidence rather than just a shot in the dark.

You need to be able to withstand rejection; people will think your idea is crazy, investors will say no, and reporters won't care.

You need to find the right users for your product, as feedback from those who don't care about you can be more valuable than that from friends and family.

Validation from investors or media does not guarantee a product's success; founders must ensure their product meets real user needs.

Evaluate whether you would personally use the product being pitched, as this can indicate its necessity and potential success in the market.

Understanding your users and their needs is crucial, especially when facing rejection from investors.

Founders often mistakenly believe they have customers based on interest, but without revenue, they can't confirm the viability of their ideas.

Testing your pitch with friends and family is crucial, but don't stay in this phase too long, as their feedback may not represent your ideal users.

To validate a business idea, create a waiting list campaign to gauge interest; if you can't get at least 150 people to sign up, the idea may not be viable.