This weekend I spent some time talking to friends about Fun Bucket. I am trying to reach out and learn more about what I can do to make it a great service for people to share their goals.

As I listened to and wrote down my friends’ feedback, I had to deal with something you’ll never be told you will encounter. I started stacking dollars in my head.

“I really want quick access to this. I think if I had an app that worked for it, I would be more likely to use it.” [Me: $10,000-20,000]

“I think I would be more likely to use this if my friends were on it as well.” [Me: $5-$8 per initial user for advertising]

I had to pay really close attention to this growing feeling that my user focus group was writing checks I couldn’t cash. The feedback is important, and a professional focus expert can follow the feedback and get down to the kernel of what the user really wants. You can’t do that if you know that more questions about the smartphone app are going to mean your mobile development budget will be shot to hell.

You are going to hit the point where you start to hear feedback, ideas, and excitement in an entirely new language–your money. When that happens, take a breath and actively ignore it. If you can’t ignore it, set up a new story. All the money you have and are spending right now isn’t for you. The money you are spending right now is for your customers. Later, maybe they’ll give you money because of all the nice things you are doing for them now.

 

Later.