Quote from James A.Hart on July 16, 2025, 9:09 pm

Many entrepreneurs fall into the same trap: they spend months designing logos, building websites, or sourcing products — only to realize that no one wants to buy what they’re selling.

Here’s a better way:
Sell it before you build it.

Why This Works

Sales are not an afterthought. They are the business.
You can have the most beautiful product in the world, but if no one is willing to pay for it, it’s not a business — it’s a project.

Successful founders know this. That’s why people like Richard Branson sold tickets before he had a plane. That’s why smart marketers test demand first, then build the solution.

The Problem with Most Founders

Many beginners believe that having a great idea is enough.
They spend weeks polishing every detail, hoping that when they finally launch, customers will line up to buy.

But ideas are cheap. Execution — especially selling — is where the real value is.
Worse, by the time you realize no one wants your product, you’ve already wasted time and money.

The Smart Approach: Test the Front End

Instead of building the whole business first, do this:

• Identify a “bleeding neck” problem — something your market urgently needs solved.
• Create a minimum viable offer — just enough to present a clear solution.
• Try to sell it immediately — use a basic landing page, simple ad, or direct outreach.

If people are willing to pull out their credit card — congratulations. You’ve validated real demand.

If not? You’ve saved yourself months of wasted effort.

Ethical Testing Tactics

You don’t need to lie or mislead anyone. You can test offers ethically by being transparent:

• Build a basic Shopify page or one-pager with the product.
• Run ads or send cold emails to test demand.
• If people try to buy, thank them, refund immediately, and let them know the product is coming soon.

This method is legal, compliant, and smart. You learn what people want before investing in production or development.

Services Too: Not Just for eCom

Selling before building isn’t just for physical products. It applies to services, courses, software, and everything in between.

• Want to launch a service? Pitch it with a clear offer, even if you haven’t built the backend.
• Use tools like Loom videos, cold outreach, or simple proposals.
• Once you land a client, be honest about the delivery timeline. Then build.

Stop planning. Start selling.
Movement beats meditation.
Get your first “yes” before you invest months into development.

Because the value isn’t in the thing you offer —
It’s in your ability to sell it.