Our realities are built on assumptions, but if you want to be successful, you'll have to challenge at least some of those assumptions.
Assumptions govern our behaviors. We can never have complete information about our surroundings, so it becomes exceedingly important that we make educated guesses about what's coming down the road. As a simple example, you might assume that your phone alarm is still set to "on" when you go to bed at night--of course, someone could have altered it, you could have forgotten to turn it off, or your phone could be running out of batteries. For the most part, your assumption will prove true, but the time it doesn't, you could be in serious trouble.
Wrong assumptions on a small scale aren't a big deal, but wrong assumptions on a large scale, in a startup environment, can be devastating. If you want to prevent the potentially catastrophic effects of a poor or incorrect assumption, you'll have to challenge those assumptions from a fundamental level:
1.Your clients will be rational. Let's say you have a product that objectively nets your clients a return on investment after one month of use. Theoretically, any potential client will see a profit in using your product. This does not guarantee that your clients will behave rationally, however; they may have preconceived notions or prior obligations that prevent their commitment. Challenge your assumption that they can be rationally convinced.
2.Your investors will be patient. Most investors seek long-term returns on their investments. Rather than nitpicking and micromanaging, they'd rather just sit back, trust the entrepreneur in charge, and see a return in a few years' time. However, don't let this assumption govern your workings. Seek profitability as soon as possible.
3.Your idea won't be challenged. This is a soft assumption, meaning you don't think about it often. You tacitly assume that your idea won't be challenged or duplicated by a competitor, but you never know when one will come around the corner.
4.Your team will stick with you. Your team is what drives your company forward. Because you're working so closely, it's easy to assume that they're going to stick around for the long haul. It's better to establish redundancies in your system and prepare for the potential worst.
5.Your deadline will be met. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of compiling too many dependencies on a single point, like a deadline. No matter how sure you are that a deadline will be met, there is always the possibility that it won't be.
These assumptions are just a handful of the most common for entrepreneurs. As a critical thinker, it's your job to question as many assumptions as possible. The more thoroughly you think about a situation, the better choices you'll make in regard to that situation, and the more stability you'll have in the long term.
Jose Vasquez is a serial entrepreneur and tech enthusiast dedicated to helping startup technology companies get the direction and momentum they need to succeed. As the founder of Build. Brand. Blast., Jose has established a collective resource for tech entrepreneurs to consult when brainstorming, creating, launching, or expanding a new business. Jose is also the founder and CEO of Quez Media Marketing, a marketing firm that combines technology and creativity to help new and growing companies get the results they need.