F*** it just Launch it already!!!
F*** it just Launch it already!!!
The realisation I came to after failing to launch various applications and ideas I had spent lots of time and money on.
It all started as an idea, an obsession, a vision on how I thought and saw this idea growing into an application all clean and hyper polished by the finest designers around and built from the core by the best in the art of software development managing all this from my humble abode.
How wrong I was! Below are a few things Ive learned along the way in the process of creating my own product (something I love doing nonetheless)
Its expensive
Its expensive getting all features cramped in a product which you are not sure about its success that yet. I hate market research ( I might eventually change my mind) but now I can say it again I hate market research hence the reason why I cant foresee the success of my product or not (but thats for another post)
Hiring a developer at whatever the cost you find, constant changes and updating the application while trying to perfect it is costing you money which at this point in time is in short reserves. Therefore delaying the launch of your product is costing you everyday in
sales
design costs
development costs
your time
My advice will be to launch it, have your ears stuck to the ground for ANY feedback or bugs which have been found and get them sorted out asap.
Lose momentum
When I delayed launching my iphone app sometime last year AND mid this year, I eventually lost momentum. Self doubt started creeping in, I started asking myself various questions:
Will it work?
Was it as good as I thought it was?
That product seems pretty similar to mine, can mine beat it?
Do I have the funds to keep on ?
With everything I do, I believe in the 3 sec rule (something I invented, dunno). Basically what the 3sec rule tell me is when I have a brilliant idea or want to walk up to this pretty girl after some eye contact, ive got 3secs to take action after which fear and doubt creeps in telling me how crap the idea may be or how a fool I may look like. 90% of the time when I act after the 3sec I eventually make a fool of myself or sometimes I dont ACT at all. And the remaining 10% of the time I act within the 3sec ie before my doubt and fears creep in I succeed and do really well. For example:
The Good
1. Fiverr Success
My Fiverr success began with me spotting an opportunity, a demand which wasnt satisfied enough . I did NOT reinvent the wheel or idea I used to make money on fiverr I just saw great idea and acted on it BEFORE I had time to think of:
Will it work?
Can I do better than him?
Do I have all I need?
What if I fail and lose money?
And because I acted before all this creeped in, I had the courage to take on the idea. Indeed I was glad I did because I made money with it and I casted my demons by proving them wrong. I made it work, I outperformed my competitor and I didnt lose money on the way.
2.Fiverr Ebook:
I built on this and decided to write an ebook. I’m sure most of you have a draft copy of an ebook lying on your desktop which you are still to complete right? I new this will happen if I delayed writing this ebook, thats why I rushed, went a couple of nights without sleep and completed this book. And guess what? It was crap. Why? I had rushed through it. But the difference is, I had a completed work to IMPROVE on, I could already launch it in the state it was and eventually build on it.
I eventually launched it, made sales (with no updates to it) and eventually sold the website and master rights of the ebook on flippa for a handsome sum for the effort I put in. This is just a reminder that we/I think worst of what will happen than what actually happens. And if we delay acting on whatever it is launching/completing etc we end up losing momentum and eventually end up not launching your product.
My advice will be act before the 3secs (not literally 3secs)
The Bad
This is to show what happened when I acted after the fear and doubt creeped in leading to loss of momentum
1.Smatr Calc & 5 smiles App
I had two brilliant ideas for an iphone application and they are not yet out. Needless to say why, right?
The ugly
Its not always a “success” story, but its not a failure if you leave with a lesson learned and ready to try again.
1.Smatr Social Media plugin
Long story short I acted before my 3secs and because I did, I did not do enough research (did I say market research?) to gauge the success of the product plus other variables were at work like twitter making a simpler follow me button and facebook’s api creating more trouble for my dev than anticipated.
But guess what? despite all the good the bad the ugly, I’m still back and in it.
Next step is down
Here are two scenarios, you can interpret it subjectively but here is how I look at it.
Scenario 1:
You develop a sub-par plugin and launch it.
Whats the next step?
You listen to complains/feedback
You fix them ie updates and add more features
Therefore bringing it above par.
Scenario 2:
You develop an excellent plugin and launch it.
You have no complaints
You make money
And thats it, no features added and sales start to dip.
If you ask me I’ll rather choose the first scenario and with each fix and feature updates I make sales figures increase. So I will rather launch now and improve an existing product generating money rather than the opposite.
You need to start from somewhere
Finally with everything you need to start from somewhere. You’ve never heard of a BIG company appearing out of nothing right? They all start as SME’s. And even if you start out biggest, whats next? BIGGESTEST? I’m not so sure. But starting small youve got the so many step ups to look up to.
So get on and launch the F*** out of your product!
Discussion
Have you got some project sitting on your desktop/backburner waiting for the right time or just time to complete it? Or have you stepped back after thinking twice about an idea/project you wanted to undertake?
I’ll love to know.
Ps: You might have guessed right, I’ve got a product I am working on. If interested to get an insider scoop when I launch it just pop it below:
What it is in 1 sentence : A plugin which leverages your premium content to get more out of Facebook!
This is so me
I usually think too much while at the same time, I have the most success when I am Nike (just do it) LOL
I think you should launch and as long as the faults of the product are not the kind that will hurt your customers, you can always keep improving it.
I agree totally. We tend to delay so much that we ultimately lose momentum and finally lose the project as a result. As you said, Nikeit! (is that even a word lol)
Martinsay:Thanks
Lol Love it, and all the best on your new product, let us know how it goes.
If you have an idea, listen to your gut feeling, and launch it. Some times the craziest idea are the ones that make a fortune.
Thanks for stopping by Wassim. As Brankica rightly said, Justdoit!
Martinsays:thanks
I know exactly what you’re saying! One thing I would argue though is that if you do release a sub-standard product it may affect your brand/product so much that it has serious long term effects on sales and the re-release of the updated product is likely to suffer from the stigma of the first failure. What do you think?
Hey Will. First off thanks for taking your time to reply. I see from what angle you are coming from but I think history proofs me right, the ipod/idevices werent always that glamorous right? They where shitty at some point, apple had no brand or anything, THEN they built on their previous sub-par product and voila you’ve got a billion dollar company. All am saying is at the start you havent got much to play around with in terms of resources to perfect the end product plus the brand to “harm” in case you’re product is sub-par.
Martinsays: What do you think?
Launching projects or products is not for the faint of heart. I understand that “Honda” will be placing their business jet into production next summer after nearly ten years of development ……. oh really!!! Let’s see now; a major player of personal vehicles for the last 50 years needs 10 years to put legs on this type of project ………. I don’t think so. We in the states went to the moon quicker then that!!! However, Honda is not going to the moon; they are insuring safety for its customers and thereby insuring success for it’s company.
As for “Just Do It” ……….. sweet of you to mention ………. but I don’t think so! Maybe just right for a fluid sporting event or action sequence. Not really a solid business strategy for the Online Marketer.
A white board with future product possibilities is a good start. Then a good solid approach for development and quick deployment will better serve the Internet Marketer rather than throwing caution to the wind.
Oh, by the way Martin? Do me a huge favor please! Would you head on over to:
wp-includes > comment-template.php and edit line 1534 from “rows=8″ to read “rows=16″ so that I might be better able to read what I am writing here in your comment box.
Thanks and I’ll see you soon ……… damn, it’s good to see you back Martin!
Great to have you around Jeffrey man! Your comments, always a kick to the grey cells. First off about the comment template stuff, man cant figure it out
should be quite easy though. I will like to think of it like a mixture between the Just do it and the honda approach. its about stiking the balance which often the safest bet will be to lean towards the just do it. Working so long on the project given that you are one man team with little or no resources can work to your disadvantage in the ways cited in the post. On the contrast with more experience and resources at your disposal I total go with the honda approach ie spend time developing your product till its top notch. But again not everyone is at that stage, I for one am not 
Martinsays: Thanks
Way to slay that big, bad dragon Martin. The cemeteries are full of awesome , though unrealized, ideas. We all have brilliant ideas. The trick is to actually implement them. That’s the sticking point-The Resistance.
Way to go champ. The story continues, and looking forward to reading your next chapter.
Live it LOUD!
Great to have you around Rob! And thanks for the words of support!
Martinsays: Thanks
Just let me say off the bat, awesome that you’ve put yourself out there and took a risk. Most people won’t. Some ideas will work, others won’t, but you’ll never know until you start taking action and implementing.
As for projects on the backburner, well I have a closet full of them unfortunately. Time is definitely a factor; of course so is priority. I agree you need to act NOW and act yesterday, but in reality sometimes that just doesn’t pan out.
But you’ve inspired me Martin. For that I thank you. You are not one to give up and I foresee great things in your life because of it. You’re living your life, not observing it.
Much continued success my friend.
Lots of my ideas havent worked, and am pretty sure more wouldnt. But its all about picking it all up and continuing! Every time I think about using the “no time/I’m busy” excuse I always think of this “Those who say they are busy are NOT actually busy” its just like saying if you REALLY want something, you’ll strive to get it.
Martinsays: thakns for dropping by Michele
Hey Martin, long time no talk. Loved the article. I completely agree with the 3 second rule.
Not sure if you’re familiar with Napoleon Hill, but he had an offer proposed to him by Andrew Carnegie at the beginning of the century. He accepted the offer after mulling it over for half a minute. Carnegie said if it would’ve taken him very much longer, he would’ve withdrew the proposal. The offer ended up leading to a lifetime of success for Hill.
It just proves that you gotta take action!
Keep up the good work,
Brent
There you go! Had he asked to sleep over it (I’m not advising against sleeping over tough decisions) he might have lost it. The other day a friend quoted something like this to me from Steve Jobs, “dotted lines arent linked forward but backwards”
Martinsays: thanks
Hey Man,
First off… it is GREAT to see you back n the blogosphere… You burnt out like a Phoenix, so this must be you RISING from your ashes lol…
I love your input on the FUCK IT, Launch it, then perfect it… I have a product coming out in the next month, (it’s actually a physical product) but we are purposely only producing 200 unites (as a beta) to then workout any feedback for the next 1000!!!!
Nice to see you out an about, I’m about to check up on this plugin because I FREAKING LOVE THE IDEA BRO!!!!
Surfs up,
Thanks man! I really missed every thing about the blogosphere! Great! Do let us ALL know about your launching process, every step of it man!
Martinsays: Goodluck
I don’t know what makes the difference, but sometimes I’m like lighting! I get an idea and go for it instantly. Other times? Not so much. Hence the 2 ebook drafts waiting in limbo for me to decide.
3 seconds is fast, but if we trust our gut instinct it’s more than enough time.
Not literally 3secs :p but I’m sure if you give yourself the necessary boost and complete those ebooks, even one I’m sure you wouldn’t regret it
Martinsays: Welcome to njmart.in
Hey Martin, I totally get where you are coming from. I have a project I have stewed on for a long time and if you don’t keep moving forward it is so easy for negative self talk to … well, talk yourself out of it.
Mowing a head, perfect or not is the best bet as you can always tweak and improve along the way.
I have a coach who is very well known online and he always says, “you don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going’ and he absolutely goes nuts at people like us who are bright enough and knowledgeable to do it… we just can over think it.
It really doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect… even if the first few people find things that are sub par, you can ask for input or get to work in a more focused manner bringing it up to snuff.
I wish you the world of success. Now get it out here my friend!
Jayne
Hey Jayne, thanks for contributing. This is quite common when you are working alone ie no JV or partner so motivate you. You dont have to get it right, you cant ALWAYS get it right and chances are your first time wouldnt your BEST over time. You eventually achieve your best by trying and building on the effort.
Martinsays: Thanks
Martin,
Kudos to your dude for putting your ass on the line. Good luck on your projects, keep at it and make it happen!
Thanks Steve! Appreciate the effort!
Martinsays: Thanks
Hey Martin
here’s a variation I’d add for ya…f*** it, pre launch it. What i now do is I offer all my new courses and eBooks for sale at least 4 to 6 weeks before they’re going to be released. If the take up isn’t enough then I cancel that product and refund everyone.
It’s a great way to find out if your course or eBook is gonna fly before you create it.
(Plus if there’s a ton of people who’ve bought it and are waiting for it you better have a good reason for not publishing on the stated date – so it lights a fire under your butt!).
Paul
That sounds like a safe bet to the F** launch it, rather pre-launch it. But how do you gauge all that without a finished product? Do you just pitch the idea and see what the response is like? Also most often not everyone has got the “list” to pitch to. So ultimately what can you do, if you havent got the audience/list for a start? You F*** it and launch it
Martinsays: Thanks