All In Startup: Launching a New Idea When Everything Is on the Line

Chapter 12Only Customers Can Tell You if You’ve Found a Problem Worth Solving

Sam felt bad about losing her temper on the car ride. She had driven all the way out to the middle of Area 51 or wherever the hell to get Owen, and he just started spouting off all this nonsense she’d heard a million times from first-time entrepreneurs. Something just snapped. Yeah, he was in pain and looked pretty bad, but the knee didn’t look broken to her and while she wasn’t Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, even she could see the elbow definitely wasn’t broken. She couldn’t help herself. It was as though she wasn’t just yelling at Owen, but all the entrepreneurs who operated under similarly flawed assumptions.

As much as she didn’t like to admit it to herself, Sam knew she had a soft spot for Owen. In a lot of ways, he was a lot like her ex-husband, Stephen. Definitely passionate, maybe a little misguided, but he was well intentioned. He could have definitely made a move in her hotel room, but he hadn’t.

Oh, jeez. The Florence Nightingale effect was taking place. She was feeling sorry for him now, too. Giving him excuses. He’s a grown man, Sam! He’s got people depending on him making the right decisions. Don’t soften up. Don’t worry about telling him like it is. You can only help.

“So what would you have done differently, Sam?”

“I’m sorry?” It seemed like Owen was getting ready for round two of the previous fight. Sam was happy to talk business all night, but she was hoping for a few minutes to enjoy ...