There is a newspaper and coffee stand that just opened 5 minutes walk from home. On their first day of operations, I went down to buy my welcome-to-the-neighbourhood coffee.
I asked for decaf. No decaf.
I asked for semi-skim milk. No semi-skim.
I asked to pay by Apple Pay. No phone payments, only card.
But… I walked away with an on-the-house, whole milk, caffeinated coffee. I promised I’d return and pay.
It was a very physical reminder of something we talk about often when building digital products: ship before you’re ready.
The early adopters are forgiving. They want to see you succeed. They’re willing to put up with a lot, and are empathetic when you’re still figuring stuff out. In fact, seeing the rough edges build affinity and loyalty in a way that isn’t possible once a business or product is established.