Why I green-lit the Email Love project

This article (and video) is intended to act as a checklist when validating your next idea. I go through each step using Email Love as context. Hope you find it useful!

Here is the checklist download link – rad to print out, sit outdoors… with coffee. It’s all about being realistic with our expectations and promises on side-projects. If you don’t steer too far from your passion, you’ll be just fine!

1. How passionate are you about the side‐project subject?

Rate from 1‐10. 8 or above is Green. Go. Now.
Will I have a ton of fun building it?

2. Why exactly are you building this side‐project?

To get known as a Maker?
To make more money?
To quit my job now?
To grow a business and hire people?
To solve my own problem/need?
To learn a new skill?
To potentially help my existing projects?
To form a contingency plan for my current project?
To build something of value that can help people?

3. Will you use your own side‐project?

4. Opportunity costs?

Why don’t I improve my existing projects with this time?
Am I procrastinating on a bigger, more important project?
Have I considering ridding of a side‐project I am less passionate about, to make space for this new one?

5. Will your side‐project solve a real problem?

Does my idea solve an easy or difficult problem?
Have I researched if there are already solutions to my problem?
Are there still pain‐points in the industry?
How light can I test and validate that my idea is actually solving a problem?
Are people willing to pay for my product or service?

6. Is the side‐project market progressive?

Will my idea be relevant in 1,2,3,5,10 years?
What does my gut say?
Have I spent an hour in Google Trends?

7. Competition

No competition = bad.
Ton of competition = ok.
Ton of competition but not much within my niche = good. Can I target a niche within the broader industry?
Do I know how big this industry is?
How big are the social media followings of my competitors?

8. Are you able to build everything?

Do I have time to build this side‐project while you are working on your main project or day job?
How much do I need to outsourcing?
Do I have savings to outsource?
Without outsourcing, can I launch at lighter version of this side‐project idea to validate outsourcing?

9. Who is creating content and how often?

Am I building a community?
Am I building a standalone tool?
Does my side‐project promise timely content?
Does my side‐project need moderation?
Can I walk away from the idea for a day, week, month, year?

10. Are you fit for the hustle?

Am I mentally strong enough for the inevitable dip?
Am I in it for the short or long game?

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If you found this useful please pass it on to a friend. It’s all about being realistic with our expectations and promises on side-projects. If you don’t steer too far from your passion, you’ll be just fine!