Note:

Assumptions are at the center of every action we take, and in the contexts of high uncertainty like a startup those assumptions establish the path to success or failure. For this reason, the most important next step is almost always Assumption Testing.

As we test assumptions our goal is Validated Learning: Direct evidence about the truth of our assumptions that validates or changes our next steps.

If most startups or new products fail because of faulty assumptions, it makes sense to find those faulty assumptions as quickly as possible. This is an important part of how to Build the right thing first and avoid investing time and money into building something nobody wants... Or worse, everyone wants but nobody will pay for.