The top 3 lessons from my conversation with Per Vonk.
Peer #47 on De Gebakken Peren Podcast.
1. Chasing your dream
Per came across a small upstart initiative around chocolate. He loved it and wanted to work with them.
He found out that they would be attending a trade show in the near future.
He had no business of his own there. But went anyway.
He started hanging around at the booth and got to talking with one of the founders.
Since they were both passionate about the same things, that conversations quickly ran over an hour.
After an hour the founder asked: “And, what are you here for?”
Per said: “I’m here for you.”
And the rest is history.
Sometimes you need to chase down your dream.
2. The importance of genre
Consumers are lazy. Or rather, they’re busy enough as it is.
It helps if they can recognize a product as something. What genre is it?
“Oh, it’s like this, but then with that.”
That’s positioning.
But, what if your product doesn’t fit an existing mold? What if it’s a new type?
That requires explaining. Market-making. And it helps if the message is consistent and repeated.
You’ll need to work together with your ‘colleagues’ (the other market-makers) to set a standard. A name to refer to it as.
3. Don’t let perfection be the enemy of progress
Of course you want to make it better.
Of course there are imperfections.
Trust me, I know.
And, I have a real soft spot for artisans polishing and perfecting. There’s tremendous value in that.
But, can you make it better now?
What could the extra time you’d need to improve the product be better spent on?
Especially in the beginning phases of a business?
How many people could already benefit from a product that was good enough, but can’t now, because you are fussing over the details?
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