Distractions Disguised as Opportunities

Ever had that moment when someone suggests a "game-changing" feature and you think, "Wow, this could be THE thing that makes us successful!" Only to realize months later that you spent a fortune building something almost nobody uses?

Welcome to the world of distractions disguised as opportunities – the sneaky little demons that can derail your entire product roadmap. Let's talk about how to spot them before they steal your time, money, and sanity.

The Squeaky Wheel Problem

You know that saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease"? Well, in the tech world, the squeakiest customer often gets the feature. But here's the thing – that one super vocal customer might only represent 2% of your user base.

Picture this: Your biggest client calls and says they NEED a purple button that makes rainbow sounds when clicked. It sounds urgent and important because they're paying you good money. But before you rush to build the rainbow button, ask yourself: Do your other 500 customers actually want this too?

Sometimes the loudest voice in the room is just... the loudest voice. Not necessarily the most important one.

The Recency Trap

Humans have this funny thing called recency bias. We think the most recent thing we heard is the most important thing ever. It's like when you learn a new word and suddenly hear it everywhere – except with product feedback.

Your brain works like this:

• Monday: Customer A wants feature X
• Tuesday: Customer B wants feature Y
• Wednesday: Customer C wants feature Z
• Your brain: "Feature Z is clearly our top priority!"

But what about the 50 people who asked for feature X last month? Your brain conveniently forgot about them because they're not fresh in your memory.

The Founder Pivot Trap

Here's a tough love moment: Not every idea you have as a founder is brilliant. (I know, I know – shocking!)

Sometimes founders get excited about a new direction and call it a "pivot." But a real pivot is based on real data and user feedback, not just because you saw a cool app at Starbucks.

Before you change direction, ask yourself:

• Did users actually tell you they want this?
• Do you have data showing your current approach isn't working?
• Or did you just get excited about something new and shiny?

Real pivots are data-driven. Everything else is just changing your mind.

Your Secret Weapon: Feedback Tools

Here's where things get practical. Instead of relying on your memory or whoever yelled the loudest this week, use tools that help you see the big picture.

Canny is like having a super-organized assistant who never forgets anything. It collects all your user feedback in one place, shows you which requests are most popular, and helps you spot real patterns instead of just reacting to the latest email.

Think of it like this: Instead of making decisions based on the last person who talked to you, you can see what ALL your users are saying over time. Pretty cool, right?

The Reality Check Questions

Before you get distracted by the next "amazing opportunity," run it through these simple questions:

1. How many users actually asked for this? (One doesn't count as "everyone wants it")
2. Does this solve our core problem? (The main thing your product is supposed to fix)
3. What happens if we don't build this? (Will users actually leave, or just be slightly annoyed?)
4. Can we test this cheaply first? (Before spending months building it)

If you can't answer these questions clearly, it might be a distraction wearing an opportunity costume.

The Bottom Line

Building great products isn't about saying yes to every idea that sounds exciting. It's about staying focused on what your users actually need and being smart about which voices you listen to.

Don't let the squeaky wheel, your recent conversations, or your latest "brilliant" idea pull you away from building something truly valuable. Use the right tools, ask the right questions, and remember – sometimes the best opportunity is the one you don't chase.

Coming Next Week:

Recap the foundations and strategy we've discussed so far.

At Keiboarder, we help startups to Fortune 500 companies avoid costly software development mistakes with expert fractional CTO leadership, a clear roadmap, and a proven process to build and scale market-ready products. Get in touch with us, and let's build awesome things together! 🚀 Contact us