If Day 1 of MIT SUD Ventures Bootcamp is any indication of what’s to come this week, then I’m in for another life-changing experience. Day 1 was a whirlwind—equal parts exhilarating, informative, and exhausting. It’s the kind of day that leaves your mind buzzing long after it’s over, with ideas, challenges, and inspiration swirling together in equal measure.
The focus of today? One critical question: What is the problem?
And no, not the problem you think is most important or the one you want to solve. It’s about uncovering the true problem—the actual need of the person or group your innovation aims to help.
The Danger of Assuming You Know the Solution
When we base our solutions solely on our own experiences or assumptions, we inevitably create a product or service that solves a problem for an audience of one. Ourselves. And while personal experience can be a powerful motivator and starting point, it cannot substitute for the diverse perspectives of those who will ultimately use what we create.
The hard truth? If you’re designing in a vacuum, you’re missing the mark.
Today’s sessions were a humbling reminder to leave preconceptions at the door. Innovation doesn’t start with answers—it starts with listening. It starts with empathy. It starts with the willingness to ask, “What do you need?” and then to truly hear the answer, even when it challenges your expectations or changes your plans.
Always Be Asking, Learning, and Adapting
The key takeaway from today is a mantra I plan to carry forward:
Always be asking: What does the customer actually need?
Always be learning: How can I grow my understanding of their experiences and challenges?
Always be adapting: Am I willing to let go of my initial ideas in favor of better solutions?
It’s not enough to innovate for innovation’s sake. The goal should always be to address a real problem and to do so in a way that genuinely meets the needs of the people you aim to serve. That starts with being relentlessly focused on identifying and validating the true problem.
As I look ahead to the rest of the week, I know this focus will remain central. If today was any indication, the journey ahead will be challenging—but it will also be deeply rewarding. After all, life-changing experiences don’t happen without hard work, humility, and the courage to listen.
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