Affirmation vs. Validation

When you’re working hard on a new idea or a business, it can feel good to hear kind and encouraging words.

Words of Affirmation is, after all, 1 of the five love languages. Starting a business is hard work with long and grueling hours - not to mention the ambiguity.

“I love your business idea” can jolt us with much-needed energy. 

However, the risk founders face is mistaking kind and encouraging words for validation. 

Validating that your business solves a problem for paying customers within a sustainable business is the work of a founder.

Unless they are the target market, our friends & family can’t validate a value proposition.