u/JorjTheFounder

Everyone says "solve your own problem" — scratch your own itch, build what you wish existed, etc. Classic startup advice.

But I genuinely struggle to find anything in my life that I hate enough to build a whole company around. My daily frustrations are either already solved or too small to matter.

So I tried the other route — find problems other people have and build for them. Talk to users, do research, validate the idea. All the right steps.

And it works on paper. But something feels off when I'm actually building. There's no fire behind it. I'm solving something I've never personally felt, which means I'm always one step removed from truly understanding it. I can empathize, sure — but it's not the same as living it.

When you solve your own problem, you're the most obsessed person in the room by default. You know exactly when the solution feels right because you can feel it yourself. You're not guessing what "good" looks like for the user — you ARE the user.

Solving someone else's problem means I have to constantly go back and ask, validate, guess. And honestly, the emotional fuel just isn't the same.

Maybe I just need to be more patient and wait for that personal pain point to hit. Or maybe I'm overcomplicating this and I should just pick something and commit regardless.

Has anyone built something successful without personally experiencing the problem? How did you keep yourself motivated through the hard parts?

I have a strong idea but zero budget — what's the best way to attract users completely organically? I'm just starting out and trying to grow without spending a single dollar on ads or paid promotion. I know organic growth is possible, but I'm not sure where to begin or what actually works. What are the essential steps and strategies you'd recommend for someone in my position? Would love to hear from people who've done it before — what moved the needle for you early on?