Whether it’s a new app, a productized service, or a fresh website idea, the moment a founder comes to me ready to build, I usually pause and ask one key question:

“Why now?”

Not because I want to stall momentum, but because I want to make sure that what we build has purpose, clarity, and alignment with where the business is actually headed.

After working with dozens of founders, startups, and solo operators, here’s what I always recommend before spending a dollar on design, dev, or branding:

1. Know the Problem You’re Solving (And Who You’re Solving It For)

You don’t need a perfect pitch deck, but you do need clarity. Who’s your user? What are they trying to do that’s hard, expensive, confusing, or slow? If you can’t articulate this in one or two sentences, you’re not ready to build. You’re ready to talk to people.

Tip: Spend more time in the problem than the solution. Validation isn’t a survey; it’s having 10 honest conversations.

2. Build a Map, Not Just a Mood Board

A lot of founders show up with inspiration boards, color palettes, and even logos—but no roadmap.

Before we touch anything visual, we need:

• A short-term plan (first 90 days)
• A definition of success (traction, signups, sales?)
• The absolute minimum you need to launch

Design without direction is decoration. Let’s build for clarity, not confusion.

3. Prioritize Function Over Flash

Early-stage builds should focus on:

• What matters most to your audience
• What moves you closer to proof, revenue, or insight
• What you can actually maintain

MVP doesn’t mean ugly, but it does mean intentional.

4. Be Ready to Learn, Not Just Launch

You don’t just need a product. You need feedback loops.

That means:

• Making it easy to collect feedback from users
• Testing early (even if it’s not perfect)
• Knowing how to measure success (quantitative + qualitative)

Build with the expectation that it will evolve—because it will.

5. Don’t DIY Your Way Into a Corner

There’s a difference between being resourceful and being reckless. Use no-code tools, templates, and MVP frameworks—but make sure you’re setting yourself up for future growth, not future pain.

If your platform can’t scale or your brand can’t evolve, you’re just creating rework.

The Bottom Line:

Before you build anything, get aligned:

• On the problem
• On your audience
• On what success looks like in the next 30–90 days

Once that’s clear, THEN we build—on purpose, not on impulse. If you’re not sure you’re ready, that’s where I come in.