Silicon Valley says you should lead with the traction. Everyone elsewhere encourages business plans.
Silicon Valley says you should build a prototype and iterate. Everyone elsewhere encourages “giving it your all” and “never give up.”
Silicon Valley says you should talk to your customers. Everyone elsewhere encourages sharing ideas at pitch competitions.
Seems to me — especially as I continue to drive around to new cities every week — that there’s a disconnect somewhere.
To someone from Silicon Valley, I’d say that it’s time to start spending more time in Middle America if you want to build a real business. To everyone elsewhere, I’d say that starting a business is cheaper (and easier) than you think.