4 Months, 3 Lessons: What I Discovered About Launching Digital Products as a Solo Creator

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Hey mate,

Are you playing it safe?

I mean, really safe.

Like sticking to what’s easy because it felt like the only option?

I know I have.

But if you’re playing it safe to feel comfortable, it won’t take you where you want to go.

For years, I lived by the motto: "If there's no risk, there's no way to fail."

In college, I avoided public speaking like it was the plague.

The thought of standing in front of a room full of people, hands shaking, voice cracking—it terrified me.

And the fear didn’t stop there.

When I started my career as a software developer, I avoided the "big leagues."

Companies like Google or Accenture? No way.

Rejection wasn’t something I could handle.

I’d rather stay in my comfort zone.

A safe job, safe choices, safe life.

But here’s what I learned:

If you want to create something meaningful, you have to get a little uncomfortable. Playing it safe isn’t the path to growth.

If you want to be an entrepreneur (or go further in your career), you have to embrace risks.

Not giant leaps, but small steps that push you beyond your comfort zone.

This year, I decided enough was enough.

I left my job of seven years for a role at a Nasdaq-listed software company.

I began messaging strangers on Threads.

Taking risks with my digital products, and putting myself out there in ways I never had before.

Sure, not everything worked out, but each risk taught me something valuable—and that’s what growth is all about.

Now, here are three key lessons that might help you avoid some of the mistakes I made when working on your next digital business idea.

I hope these lessons make your journey a little smoother.

Lesson 1: Don't Build in a Bubble

You probably have spontaneous ideas like.

"I should start a coffee shop!" or “I want to have my own restaurant!“

"Maybe a time management course would be great."

The truth? Some of these ideas are great—just not when you build them based solely on your assumptions.

One of my ideas, "The 30-Minute Threads Success System," was something I thought people would love.

I didn’t ask anyone for feedback; I just went for it.

And, well, it flopped.

What You Should Do Instead:

Test your idea before diving in.

Think about your audience. What do they actually want?

It doesn’t have to be elaborate—reach out to friends, post about it online, or ask your audience directly.

A simple, "Hey, would you be interested in this?" can save you a ton of heartache.

Like Kevin did when he asked, "Who’s interested in a Threads workshop?"

It’s about validating before investing.

Lesson 2: Don't Be Afraid to Promote—And Keep Promoting

You've got a great idea, and you finally put it out there.

You make one post, and... crickets.

Sound familiar?

I launched my "Threads Content System," got a few people interested, and then stopped promoting.

Big mistake.

Even the best digital business ideas need consistent exposure. (not that this was the greatest…)

What You Should Do Instead:

Don’t give up after one post.

Share it again. And again.

At least ten times.

Each time, make a small adjustment.

Maybe tweak your headline, or try a different angle.

People need to see your offer multiple times before they take action—so keep showing up.

Ask yourself, "How can I make this more relevant to the people I’m trying to help?"

Lesson 3: Build With Feedback, Not in Isolation

Maybe you’ve spent a whole month developing your idea, working on it solo, convinced it would be a hit.

But when you finally launch it, nothing happens.

And you don’t want to let go because you’ve already poured so much into it.

It’s the classic "sunk cost fallacy."

I’ve been there too.

One of my digital business idea took me a whole month to develop.

I worked on it solo, convinced it would be a hit.

But when I finally launched it? Nothing.

What You Should Do Instead:

Make feedback part of your process.

Build in small chunks, share early, and adjust.

Get people’s feedback for every reasonable small milestone you have.

May it be every week, or every 2 weeks.

And don’t be afraid to pivot if it’s not working.

The time you save will be worth it.

So there you have it—three lessons that can help you turn your next digital business idea into something people actually want.

Take that first step, reach out, and keep putting yourself out there.

Even small risks will push you forward.

And hey, if you’re working on something right now, let me know!

I’d love to hear about it and help however I can.

Till next time,
Vikko

P.S.

Just a heads up—I’m trying out something new by adding advertisements to this newsletter occasionally.

For every unique click on the ad, I earn $2.40 (before taxes).

If you’ve found value in what I share and you feel like supporting my work, your click would mean a lot to me!

Thanks for being awesome!

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