It’s a lot easier to shoot a basket or score a touchdown when there’s no one defending you. It’s also more likely that you’ll be successful without any competition, or that people will agree with your premise until they hear an opposing view.
Take care not to become insulated and only discuss your product or idea with those who agree with you. It happens in meetings when everyone gathered hears only the internal story without any user feedback. It happens on campaigns when the bus is filled with supporters who tune out the naysayers. It happens with entrepreneurs who become so enamored with their ideas that they can’t imagine everyone else sharing their excitement.
The test is not how well your product/position/design stands up on its own, but rather whether the merits can outweigh the inevitable pushback.
