The advice to talk to your users has become commonplace. The reason why people don't do it is because it makes them feel bad. And they don't want to feel bad. When you're an employee, if you're working at Apple or Google, you don't have to worry about any of this stuff. You got 15 layers protecting you from external world feedback that you don't want.
Dalton Caldwell and Michael Seibel on the importance of talking to your users, why successful founders are ok with rejection from potential customers, and how protecting your ego by not talking to your users can kill your startup.
To create Rookies Mistakes we asked YC founders: Is there a simple fact you wish you knew when you started your company or a rookie mistake you wish you could take back?
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