Vision is the starting point…not the destination

When we talk about product innovation in any industry, we often celebrate the visionary – that person with the lightbulb idea that changes everything. But here’s the thing: successful products are rarely the ones that stay true to their original concept.  Let’s take PayPal. It began in 1998 not as the fintech giant we know today, but as Confinity – a digital wallet and financial hub for PalmPilot users. (Elon Musk was involved – what happened to him?!)

Anyway, Fieldlink, their initial offering was slick, clever and technically brilliant. But it didn’t take off. Why? Because the market was too small and the user need wasn’t compelling enough. They had the tech, but no traction. The genius wasn’t in the idea, it was in the pivot. PayPal shifted focus to something bigger and more relevant: a secure, web-based payment system linked to email. Suddenly, it solved a real problem in a growing market. 

At Liquid Friday we’ve experienced a version of this journey with our Stride technology. Initially Stride was conceived to predict contractor behaviour and improve redeployment. That was the headline USP, but as more recruitment agencies used the platform, something unexpected emerged. What they valued most wasn’t the predictive insights, it was Stride’s ability to support compliance and simplify onboarding…that’s what was making their lives easier.  We could have stuck stubbornly to the original vision. But we listened. Innovation only works in dialogue with its market and our job as innovators is not just to create, but to observe, adapt and evolve. 

Here’s the lesson I’d share with any founder, product leader or tech dreamer: don’t be blinkered by your vision. Being in love with the idea is a great start, but staying married to it when the world’s telling you something different is a risk you can’t afford. True product success is built on flexibility. You still need intent, but you also need ears. When your audience tells you what they need, listen hard. That feedback isn’t a distraction, it’s your map for growth. Follow it!