"When I want to reflect and journal I use ________"
This is a rough breakdown of a product idea that I haven't been able to shake.
What is the core problem?
- Self-reflection takes an inordinate amount of energy/effort to do (willing self to sit down and ask hard questions is no small feat)
- Self-reflection does not come naturally to most people; you are both the subject (asking the reflective question) and the object (answering the reflective question) at once
- Adherence is hard, as you are only accountable to yourself
What is the product idea?
- The analogy: "Headspace for journaling and written reflection"
- A prescribed path and place to aid folks' establish and maintain a reflection/writing practice
- i.e. X-day long audio courses to help folks journal; examples
- 7 Day - Daily reflection pack
- 10 Day - Gratitude journaling
- 1 off - Stressful day
- B2C to start
Who is it solving that problem for? (beachhead segment only)
- Currently doing written reflection: people already journaling and want additional content or rails to follow
- Likely to want to: people using headspace/calm/waking up/etc.. and are likely to already have, or want, reflective writing practice
What are they dissatisfied with? (current market alternative)
- Self-guided reflection
- either purely mental or based on written prompts
- No solution
- not taking the action at all, the activation energy needed is too high
What are the benefits they gain?
- Easy to start: "paths" reduce the cognitive burden of having to formulate the questions you want to answer
- Motivation to continue: keep streak going, exposure to different courses/reflections, feel good helping yourself
- Habit built: a place to return to, track progress
- Improved reflection: audio prompting is different experience; sparks more creativity when not having to ask / answer yourself
What are some core risks?
based on: How to De-Risk a Startup
- Product/Market Fit Risk: always; not clear there is a market need for this
- Market risk: not sure this is a giant market (if it exists)
- Medium term competition risk: this is a easy-to-copy idea (look at all the meditation apps)
Why (not) now?
- Now
- People are trained by meditation apps to follow "path" apps like this
- Self-care, coaching, mental health trends
- Not now
- In addition to the risks...
- This is an app, not a business; too small of opportunity
- ...(having a hard time thinking outside of the risks + this is
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