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To build an enduring company, ask this critical question: 'If we disappeared tomorrow, what problem would remain unsolved, and would anyone notice?' The goal is to become so essential in solving an urgent problem that your customers would revolt if your solution was no longer available.
When leaders are stuck defining their organization's mission, this question forces a shift from generic goals like survival to tangible impact. It clarifies the unique value provided to customers and society, revealing a more motivating and authentic purpose beyond simply 'staying in business.'
To quickly assess the viability of a company or product, ask three critical questions. Why does the customer have to buy this at all? Why do they have to buy it from you versus a competitor? And most importantly, why do they have to do it now instead of sticking with a workaround? Weak answers signal a weak business.
Predicting the future is hard. Instead, focus on foundational truths that will remain constant. Bezos knew customers would always want lower prices and faster delivery. Building a business around these unchanging principles is a more robust strategy than chasing fleeting trends.
The ultimate test of PMF isn't surveys or usage metrics, but how indispensable your product is. If customers don't immediately notice and complain when it's gone, you haven't achieved true dependency. It's a visceral, high-signal test for any founder.
Beyond finding a market gap, leaders should ask what unique imprint their company leaves on the world. The most powerful justification for a company's existence is providing an essential contribution that no one else would. This reframes the mission from a business goal to an indispensable purpose.
Amidst endless distractions like competitors, funding struggles, or negative press, the most effective focusing mechanism is to constantly return to one question: 'Why do we exist for our customer?' This core purpose should guide all strategic decisions and help filter out noise that doesn't serve the end user.
Instead of the common 'vitamin vs. painkiller' framework, the ultimate strategic goal should be to become irreplaceable in the customer's mind. This single question can align product, marketing, and customer service toward a unified goal of creating deep, lasting value.
To avoid complacency, Miro's CEO asks himself daily, "If I started this company today, what would the product and strategy look like?" The answer to this question determines whether the company needs a small evolution or a complete strategic rebuild to stay relevant in the market.
Aiming for a massive goal like 'a billion dollars' is paralyzing. The key is to invert the problem and focus on immediate survival. By identifying and avoiding existential threats, a company lives long enough for knowledge and success to compound, eventually reaching the goal.
Beyond typical due diligence, a company's true defensibility can be measured with a simple thought experiment: if the business disappeared overnight, how severe would the impact be on its customers? A high level of disruption indicates a strong, defensible business model.