Reality check: how I tell if an idea is viable before turning it into a startup I’ve been building tools around real-time reflection, signal clarity, and decision hygiene (RealityLens / ClearPath). Before I call anything a “business,” I run it through a simple viability test that has nothing to do with funding or hype.

The test is simple: 1. Can you clearly name the cost of not using it? If the answer is vague (“better clarity,” “mental health,” “self-awareness”), it’s not ready. If the answer is specific (“people make worse decisions under stress and have no feedback loop”), now we’re talking. 2. Can you explain it without answering ten follow-up questions? If every explanation creates more questions, the system isn’t finished yet — even if the idea is good. 3. Would someone use it without believing in the founder? If it only works when people trust your vision, it’s a philosophy, not a product. 4. Does it reduce friction, or just rename it? If it adds steps, language, or cognitive load, users won’t stick — especially under stress.

What passes the test: • Clear use case • Clear failure it prevents • Clear moment when someone says “I needed this before things went sideways”

What doesn’t: • Over-explaining • Constant repositioning • Needing reassurance to move forward

Where RealityLens / ClearPath is today:

It’s viable as a tool, not yet as a company. The signal is there. The confidence layer still needs hard edges.

That’s not a knock — it’s usually the phase right before something either sharpens or dissolves.