Are you solving the right problem?
How to define a problem, why it matters, and traps to avoid.
Hello, I’m Hema, and welcome to my newsletter First Impression. Each month, I write an in-depth post on positioning, brand, or GTM strategy for early-stage startups. Join startup founders, investors, and practitioners and subscribe to get the newsletter in your inbox.
Why problem definition matters
When I have one week to solve a seemingly impossible problem, I spend six days defining the problem. Then, the solution becomes obvious. —Albert Einstein
When I work with startups, I often begin with framing or defining the problem they are trying to solve. Let’s look at the publishing industry as an example. For those of us born before the iPad, our reading journey began with books. The publishing industry was huge. In 1998, American consumers spent $23 billion on books. In 2021, over two decades later, total book sales were $29.3 billion, including e-books1. Not a huge growth rate.
The Internet and Amazon, in particular, transformed this industry. For a lo…
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