Don't Build a Ghost Town

The biggest mistake engineers make is building for 6 months without talking to a single customer. **Product-Market Fit** is the moment you find people who are willing to pay for your solution to their problem.

1. The "Mom Test"

Don't ask "Is this a good idea?". Everyone will say yes. Ask about their **Current Pain**:

• 'What is the hardest part of your day?'
• 'How much time/money do you spend on X currently?'
• 'If X were solved tomorrow, what would that enable you to do?'

2. Fake it 'til you make it (Non-Trivial version)

Create a landing page with a 'Pricing' section and a 'Buy Now' button. If people click it, you have demand. If they don't, no amount of 'perfect code' will save the business. **Validation is an algorithm, not a feeling.**

4. Career Mastery

Q: "How do I know I've hit PMF?"

Architect Answer: "The **Sean Ellis Test**. Ask your users: 'How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?'. If more than 40% say 'Very Disappointed', you have hit PMF. Until then, stop adding features and keep talking to users."