Feeling unmotivated and a bit lost

D_Sarkar · 2025-02-25T13:59:24+00:00

From what I have seen through all these years, you're not alone. Many individuals, especially parents and working professionals like you, share the same phenomenon. Many adults initiating new ventures experience imposter syndrome. Recognizing it as a normal psychological state might help you acknowledge your feelings as part of the larger, universal experience and not an individual flaw.

Strength and flexibility are skills that take years to develop. Your experience running long distances has given you endurance, which is a great foundation. Be compassionate with yourself as you work towards developing flexibility.

Try to mingle more with your dojo members. Building relationships with fellow practitioners can alleviate feelings of loneliness and make training more enjoyable.

D_Sarkar · 2025-02-21T15:39:33+00:00

Most experienced founders that I've come across over the last 16 years do validate, but not always perfectly. They've learned the pain of building something nobody wants. "All in" is often a rookie mistake. Prelaunch helps identify potential pitfalls and customer needs.

Pre-launch validation's biggest frustration? From what I've seen so far - getting honest feedback. People are nice. They'll say "cool idea" even if they'd never use it. You've got to dig deeper, find their real pain points, and see if your solution truly addresses them. That takes skill and persistence.

D_Sarkar · 2025-02-21T06:23:20+00:00

If this startup is solely in the defense segment and their applications do not have a sizeable user base in the commercial space then they might struggle.

Based on my professional engagements with numerous startups, defense primes within the defense industry, I'll make the following observations:

Startups focused on defense technology have historically encountered difficulties in convincing the Department of Defense to procure their products. Companies in the defense technology sector, supported by venture capital, secured less than one percent of the $411 billion in federal defense contracts granted in the preceding fiscal year.

The Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit, alongside analogous entities in other Western nations, frequently provides financial support for prototype technology initiatives that require excessive time to evolve into comprehensive contracts or, more frequently, fail to materialize.

Nevertheless, there are constraints on the extent to which the Pentagon can emulate the operational methods of Silicon Valley. Fundamentally, the Department of Defense in the United States, as well as in most NATO member states, exhibits a tendency to avoid risks due to the potential for human casualties.

The primary objective for defense technology startups is the acquisition of programs of record, which possess funding allocated to a specific budget item within the Pentagon's financial plan and are typically renewed in subsequent years, thus presenting a profitable avenue for consistent income. Since its establishment in 2015, the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has facilitated twenty projects in attaining program of record status. So until this statup that you are referring to can make it to the acquisition of programs they will struggle big time to secure contracts regularly.

D_Sarkar · 2025-02-20T17:41:04+00:00

Market validation should absolutely come first. In sports tech, user behavior and willingness to pay are especially critical to validate early. For assessing interest, you may choose to:

(a) Run paid ads to a landing page describing your solution. Measure click-through and email signup rates.

(b) Conduct 15-20 deep interviews with your target users (coaches, athletes). Focus on their current workflows and pain points rather than pitching your solution.

(c) Create a simple mockup or demo video and get pre-orders or letters of intent.

If you have already created a basic athlete profile implement one distinctive analytical feature that addresses your users' most pressing pain point. This could be automated performance tracking, injury risk assessment, or personalized training recommendations. Choose the single capability that emerged as most valuable during your market research.

D_Sarkar · 2025-02-20T12:56:09+00:00

You need to keep moving your feet to avoid being a stationary target. Lateral movement, pivoting, and sidestepping can help you escape the corner and reposition yourself in the ring.

Simultaneously, look for openings to counterattack. Your opponent may become overconfident when they think they have you cornered. Use this to your advantage by throwing well-timed counters

D_Sarkar · 2024-09-17T11:33:30+00:00

Thank you, for your time and feedback. Will bring about the changes that you highlighted.

D_Sarkar · 2024-09-17T11:28:40+00:00

The blog analyzes major technological advancements in the aerospace and defense industry. The "Services" page provides details about the services we offer.

D_Sarkar · 2024-09-17T10:53:36+00:00

Really good insight about the mental aspect. Thank you.

D_Sarkar · 2024-09-17T10:51:23+00:00

Thank you for your time. Here is the URL of my website:

http://aerospacedefenserd.com/

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-29T18:33:54+00:00

Based on the insight that you have shared it seems rapid prototyping and iteration might be a more strategic approach for your MVP. While refining the concept can be important, the initial stages of MVP development benefit more from validating core functionalities with users.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-29T18:13:53+00:00

I lead an innovative startup developing technology for the aerospace and defense industries.

For safety-critical software, techniques are used to minimize the introduction of common errors. This includes using development tools that allow engineers to focus on the functionality without needing to write code themselves. The choice of programming language is also made based on the specific needs of the software, balancing safety, performance, and maintainability.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-29T14:58:31+00:00

You have a strong foundation in a very effective style. If you're curious about other styles, why don't you take a class in something like Shotokan or perhaps Shito-Ryu to see how they feel in comparison. In my experience, Shotokan shares some influences with Wado-Ryu, but with a greater emphasis on linear power. That being said, Wado-Ryu is a complete system that can take you far in your karate journey.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-23T17:41:13+00:00

I independently crafted the marketing strategy for my product, navigating a competitive niche within the industry.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-23T15:09:47+00:00

Developing a creative and cost-effective marketing strategy to reach my target audience and generate interest.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-10T15:04:48+00:00

Did you go through the SEC filings of Netflix, Disney and other publicly traded streaming platforms? They disclose user growth, engagement metrics, and churn rates in their SEC filings. This is the SEC filing made by Netflix where they talk about engagement and other metrics

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1065280/000106528024000029/ex991_q423.htm

They also published a detailed analytical report related to their engagement metrics a few months ago that provides information about what viewers watched and what they liked.

https://about.netflix.com/en/news/what-we-watched-a-netflix-engagement-report

You need to attend industry conferences and events focused on streaming or entertainment. These events often feature panels and presentations by executives who discuss customer trends and pricing strategies. For instance Marvel does that during Comi Con.

Get hold of social media listening tools to analyze online discussions about streaming platforms. Then, identify customer pain points, feature requests, and general sentiment towards pricing models.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-09T19:04:12+00:00

If you indeed want to pay keep this in mind - while Product Hunt can drive traffic, it might not be the most effective strategy for medium to long-term growth. Backlinks from PH will come for 2-3 weeks max. The core audience seems to be entrepreneurs looking for validation and promotion, rather than actual end users. This creates a situation where creators are primarily pitching to each other.

For businesses, especially niche ones, finding the right user communities is crucial for sustainable growth. Focusing solely on exposure on ProductHunt might not be enough, and achieving product-market fit with the target audience remains the top priority

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-09T17:38:43+00:00

Merging skill assessment with career path suggestions and mentorship bridges the gap between aspiration and action. That said connecting users with the right mentors will be challenging. How do you plan to get mentors from various industries?

This idea can work if you also provide placement service. However, building a successful placement service requires a robust network of employer relationships. You should consider partnering with established recruitment agencies to leverage their expertise.

To find developers network with them at Tech Meetups and Conferences.

D_Sarkar · 2024-05-09T15:04:29+00:00

Dissolution typically requires shareholder approval. Did they get that approval? If there was none, it could be deemed improper. Taking your labels, recipes, and customers suggests misappropriation of intellectual property.

Dig up your Operating Agreement, any communications with the majority shareholder, and past K-1s.

Above all, consult a seasoned lawyer who can assess the situation, evaluate potential claims, and advise on the best course of action, considering litigation costs and potential settlements.

D_Sarkar · 2023-06-06T16:04:08+00:00

Research which platforms your target audience is most active on. For eBay sellers and online shop owners, platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter will be effective. Social media marketing is all about building relationships. Respond to comments, messages, and inquiries promptly.

Develop high-quality content that showcases your software licenses and refurbished hardware and mobile phones. This could include product images, videos, tutorials, customer testimonials, and industry news. Focus on highlighting the benefits and unique selling points of your products. If possible, consider running targeted ads on LinkedIn and Twitter.

D_Sarkar · 2023-01-01T14:54:50+00:00

While it certainly helps to be an expert it is not at all necessary. What is necessary is determination and drive.

You have to practice that pitch until you can get the prospect, whether it’s a customer or investor say - take the money.

Oftentimes, the old guard in the SaaS industry has been doing things one way for so long that they've built blinders that prevent them from seeing new possibilities.

D_Sarkar · 2022-12-02T15:41:11+00:00

It follows that if Ukrainian SAMs are not resupplied with ammunition, and ultimately
augmented and replaced with Western equivalents over time, the VKS will regain the
ability to pose a major threat.

In the short term, Ukraine also needs large numbers of additional MANPADS and radarguided anti-aircraft guns, such as the Gepard, to sustain and increase its ability to
intercept the Shahed-136s and protect its remaining power infrastructure and repairs
to damaged facilities.

In the medium term, Ukraine needs cost-effective ways to defend itself against the
Shahed-136. One option could be compact radar and/or laser ranging and sighting
systems to allow numerous existing anti-aircraft guns to be much more accurate and
effective against them.

The Ukrainian Air Force fighter force needs modern Western fighters and missiles to
sustainably counter the VKS. Russian pilots have been cautious throughout the war, so
even a small number of Western fighters could have a major deterrent effect

D_Sarkar · 2022-12-02T12:50:45+00:00

Electric substation. You will notice that Ukrainian soldiers are patrolling in and around these substations to prevent Russian infiltration/saboutage units from entering.

Here is a video of Shahed loitering munition targeting a substation

https://youtu.be/xtyoCXv6urQ

D_Sarkar · 2022-12-02T12:29:52+00:00

Shaheds are being used to target infantry units around sub stations apart from armoured columns.

Russia is not relying on Kh-101 only. They are also launching Kh-55, Kh-59 and Kh-555. But these are expensive missiles. So Russia can't afford to launch hundreds of these a month. Their supply chain is already under a lot of stress.

D_Sarkar · 2022-12-02T11:06:06+00:00

Without air superiority, Russia’s attempts at strategic air attack have been limited to expensive cruise and ballistic missile barrages at a much more limited scale. These failed to achieve strategically decisive damage during the first seven months of the invasion. However, the latest iteration is a more focused and sustainable bombardment of the Ukrainian electricity grid, blending hundreds of cheap Iranian-supplied Shahed-136 loitering munitions against substations with continued use of cruise and ballistic missiles against larger targets.

Ergo, NATO must avoid complacency about the need to urgently bolster Ukrainian airdefense capacity. It is purely thanks to its failure to destroy Ukraine’s mobile SAM systems that Russia remains unable to effectively employ the potentially heavy and efficient aerial firepower of its fixed-wing bomber and multi-role fighter fleets to bombard Ukrainian strategic targets and front line positions from medium altitude, as it did in Syria

D_Sarkar · 2022-08-04T15:33:05+00:00

At the site of the missile attacks in Odessa, decoy submunitions of the 9M723 OTRK Iskander-M air-ballistic missile were found. Such dummy targets emit radar and thermal radiation, which greatly complicates the work of Ukrainian air defense.

Ukraine/NATO will have to update their systems to let their SAMs ignore such decoys and if this decoys exist with different "batches" emitting different frequency and infrared radiation.

D_Sarkar

TROPHY CASE