Short-lived opportunities
I was wrong to only look for long term, 'sustainable' ideas...
I used to be biased towards product ideas that are long term, ‘sustainable’ or something I can work on and grow for a long time. So I scoff at trends and fads, and tend to be kind of a snob at those who bandwagon on shiny new tech.
You can spend years looking for a product idea that has no platform risk. Or you can identify painful problems fast, build fast, ship fast, and capture some values where still possible. Then move on to the next thing ✌️ – @tdinh_me
But recently I’m coming round to a more nuanced view. I realised I’m excluding myself from a whole world of good but short-lived opportunities, all because of a narrative that just because it’s short term it’s lesser.
Truth is, longer term, sustainable ideas are not objectively or morally better than the short-lived and spiky viral ones.
They’re just… different, just as we can enjoy the consistency of the sun rising every morning, but also love watching bursts of fire works that’s gone in 60 seconds.
I think deep down in my psyche there’s some sort of a wraped belief that sticking to something lasting is better. Like getting married to your product. The One True product that you can love and work on for the rest of your life.
When I write it this way to mirror it back at myself, it gets poignantly clear – I am wrong.
So comically wrong.
And it’s not a false dichotomy either. It’s not either long term product or all short term products.
Why not both?
A mix of both. Some longer term ones that’s hardy like a workhorse, flourishing like a cash cow. And the others can be fleeting, opportunistic, bright sparks of joy and money.
Both can be just as lucrative but over different timespans.
Both can be just as fun to work on.
Both are just as good as any other opportunity the world has to offer.