To create something people want, being brilliant and determined is not enough; you must engage with users and adapt your idea based on their feedback.

As a founder, you need to be prepared to iterate on your MVP based on user feedback, as the product will change significantly over time. Focus on learning from your users to improve your offering.

The best founders continuously engage with their users to refine their product and ensure it meets real needs.

Great founders engage with future customers even before having a product, as this helps them understand user motivations and gather honest feedback.

Founders should avoid the mindset of needing to create a perfect product before launching; instead, they should focus on getting something out quickly and iterating based on user input.

Many founders fear that if they give their product to users and it doesn't work, their company will fail, but in reality, the company doesn't die immediately; you can always improve the product based on feedback.

Startup founders should act as forward deployed engineers, engaging directly with customers to gather feedback and iterate quickly on their products.

A great founder must balance persistence in their vision with the flexibility to adapt based on feedback and changing circumstances.

The evolution of startup ideas is common; founders adapt their concepts based on user feedback and market demands, which is crucial for success.