how to know youre solving real problem

Prompt

DeepSeekDeepSeek

how to know youre solving real problem

Of course. This is one of the most critical skills for an entrepreneur, product manager, or anyone trying to create something valuable. Solving a real problem is the difference between building something people love and building something that collects digital dust.

Here’s a practical framework to know if you're solving a real problem, broken down into stages.

The Core Principles of a "Real Problem"

A real problem has three key ingredients:

Significant Pain or Desire: It causes frustration, costs money, wastes time, or blocks a strong aspiration. The "pain" is acute.

A Defined Audience: A specific group of people experiences this problem. It's not a vague issue for "everyone."

Existing, Inadequate Solutions: People are already trying to solve it with workarounds, manual processes, or competing products that don't fully satisfy them.

Stage 1: The Idea Phase – Interrogating Your Hypothesis

Before you build anything, ask these questions:

1. The "5 Whys" and "So What?" Test

Dig deep. "People need a better way to find recipes." Why? "Because they can't decide what to cook." Why? "Because they don't know what ingredients they have." Why? "Because their pantry is disorganized." Why? "Because they don't have a system for tracking inventory." Aha! The real problem might be food waste and meal planning inefficiency, not just recipe discovery.

Be brutally honest with the "So What?" question. If the problem is solved, what changes? If the answer is "they save 5 minutes a week," that's probably not a strong enough pain.

2. The "Mom Test"
This is a classic from Rob Fitzpatrick. Don't ask leading questions like, "Don't you think my app idea is great?" Instead, talk about the problem and their past behavior.

Bad Question: "Would you use an app that organizes your bookmarks?" (They'll say yes to be nice.)

Good Question: "Tell me about the last time you lost an important link. What did you do to try to find it?" (This reveals the real pain and their current solution.)

3. The Workaround Test
A strong signal of a real problem is the existence of "ugly" workarounds.

Are people using multiple spreadsheets to track something that should be automated?

Are they manually copying data between two apps that don't talk to each other?

Are they paying for an expensive enterprise software but only using 10% of its features?

The existence of a workaround proves the pain is real enough that people are already investing time/energy to solve it.

Stage 2: The Validation Phase – Getting Out of the Building

Your opinion is biased. You need evidence from the real world.

1. Talk to Potential Users (The Right Way)

Find the ache: Listen for emotional language—"It's so frustrating when...", "I hate that...", "The worst part is..."

Quantify the pain: Ask "How much time does that currently take you?" "How much money does that cost you per month?" "How often does this happen?"

Identify the current solution: "What are you using now to solve this?" If the answer is "Nothing," that's a major red flag. It means the pain isn't acute enough.

2. Look for The "Time vs. Money" Trade-off
People vote with their time and wallet. A real problem is one where people are already spending one or both.

Spending Time: They spend 2 hours every Sunday manually doing a task.

Spending Money: They hire a virtual assistant, pay for a expensive software subscription, or buy a physical product as a workaround.

If they aren't spending either, they probably don't care that much.

3. The "Pre-order" or "Waitlist" Test
The ultimate test is whether someone will commit to using or buying your solution before it exists.

Can you get them to sign up for a waitlist with just a clear value proposition?

Can you get a letter of intent from a business customer?

Could you run a successful Kickstarter or pre-sale?

This moves them from a hypothetical "yes" to a tangible commitment.

Stage 3: The Solution Phase – Measuring Real Engagement

Once you have a prototype or an early product, the proof is in the usage.

1. Are People Using It? (The Vanity vs. Reality Check)

Vanity Metric: 10,000 signups from a viral post. (Meaningless if they don't stick around.)

Real Metric: A core group of 100 users who come back every single day/week. This indicates you're solving a frequent, recurring problem.

2. The "Smile Test" and Unsolicited Praise
Do users spontaneously say things like, "Oh, this is so cool!" or "I was just wishing for something like this!"? Unsolicited, positive feedback is a powerful signal that you've hit a nerve.

3. The "Friction" Test
Are users willing to overcome minor hurdles to use your solution?

Will they invite their teammates?

Will they fill out a moderately long onboarding form?

Will they connect their other apps (e.g., Google Calendar, Slack)?

If the problem is acute enough, they'll jump through hoops.

4. The "Pay or Churn" Test
If you're charging money, you have the clearest signal of all.

Pay: They are literally voting with their wallet that your solution is valuable.

Churn: If they stop paying, you need to find out why. Was the problem not painful enough? Was your solution not good enough? Their departure is critical data.

Red Flags That You're NOT Solving a Real Problem

"It would be nice to have..." is the most common feedback.

No one can name their current solution. (The problem isn't real enough to have motivated a workaround).

Users are excited but won't sign up for a waitlist or try a demo.

You're the only person who seems to have the problem (The "scratching your own itch" trap—make sure the itch is widespread).

The primary benefit is "saving 30 seconds a month." (The pain isn't acute).

The One-Sentence Litmus Test

You should be able to fill in this blank clearly and convincingly:

"Right now, [specific group of people] are struggling to [achieve a specific goal] because [a specific problem]. This causes them [significant pain/waste], and they currently try to solve it by [inadequate workaround]."

If you can't crisply define that sentence, you haven't found a real problem yet. Keep digging.

20:09

GrokxAI

how to know youre solving real problem

Determining whether you're solving a real problem is a critical step in ensuring that your efforts, whether in business, product development, research, or personal endeavors, are meaningful and impactful. A "real problem" is one that affects people, has tangible consequences, and is worth addressing. Here are some steps and considerations to help you assess whether you're solving a real problem:

1. Identify the Problem Clearly

Define the problem: Can you articulate the issue in a clear, concise way? A vague or poorly defined problem often indicates that it may not be real or significant.

Ask "Why?": Use the "5 Whys" technique to dig deeper into the root cause of the issue. Keep asking "Why?" until you reach the fundamental problem. This helps ensure you're addressing the core issue, not just a symptom.

2. Validate the Problem with Real People

Talk to potential stakeholders: Engage with the people who are affected by the problem (e.g., customers, users, or community members). Do they acknowledge the issue? Do they experience pain or frustration because of it?

Observe behavior: Sometimes, people may not articulate a problem clearly, but their actions (e.g., workarounds, complaints, or avoidance) can reveal underlying issues.

Gather feedback: Conduct surveys, interviews, or focus groups to understand the scope and impact of the problem. If many people share the same struggle, it’s likely a real problem.

3. Assess the Impact and Urgency

Who is affected, and how many? A real problem often impacts a significant number of people or has a deep impact on a smaller group.

What are the consequences? Does the problem cause pain, inefficiency, loss of time, money, or opportunities? The more severe the consequences, the more likely it’s a real problem.

Is it urgent? If the problem needs to be solved immediately or is worsening over time, it’s a stronger indicator of its reality and importance.

4. Check for Existing Solutions

Are there current solutions or workarounds? If people are already trying to solve the problem (even if ineffectively), it’s a sign the problem is real. Look at whether these solutions are inadequate or if there’s room for improvement.

Why haven’t others solved it? If no solutions exist, explore why. Is it because the problem isn’t significant enough, lacks resources, or is too complex? This can help you gauge whether it’s worth tackling.

5. Test Your Assumptions

Build a hypothesis: State your belief about the problem and why it matters. For example, “I believe [group of people] struggle with [specific issue] because of [reason], and solving it would help them [benefit].”

Run experiments: Create a minimal viable product (MVP), prototype, or pilot solution to test whether addressing the problem resonates with your target audience. If people are willing to use or pay for your solution, it’s a strong indicator the problem is real.

Measure engagement: Track how much interest or traction your idea gets. Lack of interest might mean the problem isn’t as significant as you thought.

6. Look for Data and Evidence

Quantitative data: Look for statistics, research, or data that support the existence of the problem. For instance, if you’re addressing a health issue, are there studies showing its prevalence?

Qualitative evidence: Anecdotes, complaints, or testimonials from affected individuals can also validate the problem’s reality.

7. Evaluate Your Motivation

Are you solving for yourself or others? If the problem is something you personally face, it may be real to you, but it might not resonate with a broader audience. Ensure you’re not projecting your own needs onto others unless you’ve validated that others share the issue.

Are you passionate about it? While passion alone doesn’t confirm a real problem, your genuine interest in solving it can drive persistence and creativity—provided the problem is validated by others.

8. Consider the Market or Context

Is there demand? If you’re solving a problem in a business or product context, is there a market for your solution? Are people willing to pay, invest time, or change behavior to address the issue?

Does it align with trends or needs? Real problems often tie into larger societal, cultural, or technological shifts. For example, addressing remote work challenges became critical during the COVID-19 pandemic.

9. Reflect on the Outcome

Will solving this problem create value? A real problem, when solved, improves lives, saves resources, or creates meaningful change. If the impact is negligible, it might not be worth pursuing.

What if it’s not solved? If ignoring the problem has no significant downside, it may not be a real or pressing issue.

Warning Signs You’re Not Solving a Real Problem

People don’t seem to care about the issue when you explain it.

You’re solving something that’s “nice to have” rather than “must-have.”

There’s no evidence or data supporting the problem’s existence.

You’re creating a solution in search of a problem (i.e., starting with a product idea rather than a pain point).

Feedback from your target audience is lukewarm or indifferent.

Final Thoughts

Solving a real problem requires empathy, research, and a willingness to pivot if your assumptions are incorrect. Continuously seek feedback and stay open to adjusting your approach. A real problem is one that, when addressed, makes a meaningful difference to those affected by it. If you’re unsure, start small by testing your idea with a target group and iterating based on their response.

Would you like help defining a specific problem or brainstorming ways to validate it? Let me know!

20:09

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This comparison was generated using the SNEOS AI Comparison ToolPublished: October 03, 2025 | Models: DeepSeek, Grok