We Are Not Normal People

A good reminder to creators everywhere to listen to the people whose problems you are trying to solve.

I was walking to my barber for a haircut, thinking about all the ways technology could improve my barber’s business. “Software is eating the world!” I thought. As I walked, I began to create software (in my mind) that would eliminate perceived inefficiencies, save him hundreds of dollars a month, and increase sales exponentially.
Then I go in, got my haircut, and got a reality check.

Me: “So, have you ever tried using scheduling software for your appointments?”

Barber: “Oh man, I’ve tried like 10 of them. Terrible! They’re all terrible.”

Me: “Really? None were helpful. Why?”

Barber: “Almost all my bookings happen on the phone, or via text message. There’s nothing I’ve found that’s more efficient than looking at a paper calendar on the wall, and finding them a time. If I have to walk over to the computer, I’ve already wasted too much time. I have 5 seconds to look, and determine when is have a spare block. All the software I’ve tried just gets in the way.”

All the plans in my head, for incredible barbering software, were crushed, in a single conversation.

This is the power of getting out and actually listening to people.

Sometimes, simple (and non-technical) solutions are the ones that work best.

via Hacker News