Back to Week 3
Guide
Week 3
'The Mom Test' key lessons
The core rules from Rob Fitzpatrick's book on asking questions that even your mom can't lie to you about.
The three rules
- Talk about their life, not your idea.
- Ask about specifics in the past, not opinions about the future.
- Talk less, listen more.
Good questions
- “When was the last time this happened? Walk me through it.”
- “What have you tried to fix it? What did that cost?”
- “What don't you love about how you do it now?”
- “Who else should I talk to about this?”
Bad questions
- “Would you use an app that…?” — everyone says yes.
- “How much would you pay for…?” — hypothetical numbers are fiction.
- “Do you think this is a good idea?” — you'll get compliments, not data.
Signals that matter
- They've already spent money or time trying to solve it.
- They ask when they can have it.
- They offer to pay, pre-order, or introduce you to others.