The founder of IkigaiApp plans to ask these 5 questions in customer interviews: 1. Tell me about the last time you felt stuck about what direction to take in your work or life. What did you actually do about it? 2. What have you already tried to figure out your direction (books, coaching, journaling, personality tests, apps)? What did you get from it, and where did it fall short? 3. Out of your passions, your skills, and what people would pay you for, which one is hardest for you to pin down, and why? 4. If an app helped you with this, what would it need to show you in the first 10 minutes for you to keep using it? 5. Would you pay for something like this? What would you compare the price to? Answer each question briefly as yourself. Then say which question was hardest to answer honestly or felt too vague, and how you would reword it.

Paulette Hesselneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was trying to define a new KPI for a feature. I spent hours reviewing industry benchmarks and internal data, then scheduled a call with a senior PM to discuss potential frameworks and get their perspective. 2. I've read books on product strategy and used Notion for journaling my thoughts. I also explored some personality tests early on. While they offered some self-awareness, they didn't provide concrete steps for career direction. 3. For me, pinning down 'what people would pay you for' is the hardest. I understand what I'm skilled at and what I'm passionate about, but translating that into a market-validated offering feels like the biggest leap. 4. If an app could help me with this, in the first 10 minutes, it would need to clearly visualize potential market needs or unmet desires that align with my existing skills and passions. Seeing tangible examples would be key. 5. Potentially, yes. I'd compare it to the cost of a good online course or a few coaching sessions, maybe in the range of $50-$150 per month, depending on the depth of insights and actionable guidance.

Simulated interest: 60/100

Oscar Harberneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was about six months ago, trying to balance client demands with my font library project. I leaned harder into my journaling app and spreadsheets, creating a strict schedule to carve out dedicated 'passion project' time. 2. I've tried various things: books on productivity and Ikigai, a brief stint with a life coach, personality tests, and my current journaling app/spreadsheet combo. The books offered inspiration but not actionable steps. Coaching was helpful but expensive. My current system is good for tracking, but sometimes lacks proactive guidance. 3. Pinning down what people would pay for feels like the hardest. My skills and passions are clearer, but translating them into a consistent, in-demand service is the perpetual challenge. 4. In the first 10 minutes, it would need to show me a clear path to identifying unmet market needs that align with my unique skill set and passions. Visualizing potential revenue streams or unique value propositions would be key. 5. Possibly. I'd compare it to other subscription productivity or journaling tools, maybe in the £10-£20 per month range, depending on features. Question 3 was the hardest to answer honestly because it's the core of freelancing – identifying that sweet spot between passion and profit. I'd reword it to: 'Which of your skills or passions do you find hardest to monetize effectively right now, and why?'

Simulated interest: 50/100

Vaishnavi Acharyaneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was during a strategic planning session where we debated a new hire vs. external consultant for a critical project. I initiated further data analysis to compare costs and timelines, and facilitated a discussion to align on priorities. 2. I've explored various books on leadership and career paths, used a few journaling apps, and recommended personality tests to my team. While insightful, they often lack actionable steps for ongoing direction. 3. Pinning down what people would pay for, in relation to my own skills and passions, is the hardest. It requires a deep market understanding that's difficult to gauge precisely. 4. In the first 10 minutes, it would need to clearly show me a personalized, actionable roadmap based on my specific situation, not generic advice. It must feel highly relevant. 5. I would consider paying, comparing it to the cost of a specialized workshop or a few coaching sessions. The value would depend on its tangible impact on clarity and decision-making. Question 3 felt the most challenging to answer honestly because it requires quantifying market demand, which is complex. I'd reword it to: 'Considering your skills and passions, what problem do you enjoy solving that you believe others would find valuable enough to pay for, and why is that connection difficult for you to define?'

Simulated interest: 60/100

Burak Dillaneutral

The last time I felt stuck was about six months ago, trying to refine our Q3 marketing strategy. I spent a weekend deep-diving into competitor analysis and customer feedback, then scheduled a dedicated session with my team to brainstorm. We landed on a new approach that significantly improved our conversion rates. I've tried various methods to figure out direction before – journaling, a few online personality tests, and even a brief stint with a business coach. While they offered some initial clarity, they often lacked actionable steps or didn't account for the specific nuances of my business. Pinpointing what people would pay for is the hardest for me; it's a constant balancing act between perceived value and actual market demand. If an app could help, in the first 10 minutes, it would need to clearly visualize potential revenue streams based on my current offerings and market trends, perhaps with a quick ROI projection. I'd compare the price to a good book or a single coaching session, maybe €50-€100, but I'd need to see a very clear, immediate benefit before committing to a subscription. Question 4 is the hardest to answer honestly. It feels a bit vague. I'd reword it to: 'If an app could help clarify my business direction, what specific, actionable insights or visualizations would you need to see within the first 10 minutes to feel confident it's worth exploring further?'

Simulated interest: 40/100

Rosalie Arnaudneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was about a month ago, trying to decide which communication specializations to focus on for my job search. I spent hours browsing LinkedIn profiles of people in roles I admired and reviewed my master's thesis projects to see which skills I enjoyed using most. I also discussed it with my mentor. 2. I've tried personality tests (like Myers-Briggs, years ago), read articles on career paths, and a book about finding your passion. They helped give me some ideas, but none really connected the dots between my specific skills, my interests, and what's actually available and valued in the market. 3. For me, it's 'what people would pay you for'. I can identify passions and skills, but translating those into concrete, in-demand professional services feels like the biggest hurdle. 4. In the first 10 minutes, I'd need to see a clear, personalized roadmap. It should highlight specific job titles or project types that align with my profile and show me *how* my current skills (even from my part-time role) are relevant, and what the immediate next steps would be to bridge any gaps. 5. I'm not sure I would pay for something like this right now. My income is quite modest, and I'm trying to be very careful with my spending. Perhaps if it offered a very clear, tangible path to a higher-paying full-time role, I might consider it, but I'd compare it to the cost of a short specialized course. Question 3 was the hardest to answer honestly. I would reword it as: 'Considering your current skills and interests, what do you find most challenging about identifying specific career opportunities that could realistically lead to stable employment and income?'

Simulated interest: 40/100

Andrés Dávila Armasneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was trying to reconcile our Q3 budget due to currency fluctuations. I spent three days manually correcting spreadsheets and creating new formulas to track exchange rates. 2. I've tried various project management tools and endless spreadsheets. They help with task tracking but fall short on providing a holistic view of career progression or personal strategic planning. 3. Pinning down my 'passions' is the hardest. My skills are quantifiable, and I know what clients pay for, but aligning them with a personal passion feels abstract. 4. In the first 10 minutes, it would need to show me a clear, actionable path based on my current skills and perceived market value, with concrete steps for improvement or opportunities. 5. I would compare it to a subscription for a specialized professional development tool. It's hard to say without seeing it, but perhaps €15-€25 a month if it truly saved me hours and provided strategic clarity. Question 3 was the hardest because 'passions' feels vague. I'd reword it to: 'Of your current skills and potential revenue streams, which aspect of your professional development is most challenging to define and act upon, and why?'

Simulated interest: 60/100

Rita Flatleyneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was trying to align our internal development program goals with departmental needs. I ended up scheduling a series of meetings with department heads to map out required skills and future needs. 2. I've looked into various online courses and workshops, and while they offer specific skills, they often lack a holistic approach to career direction. Books are helpful for concepts, but applying them is the challenge. Personality tests offer insights, but not a clear path. 3. Pinning down what people would *pay* for is the hardest. My team's skills are broad, and identifying a specific paid service we can offer reliably, beyond our core HR functions, is difficult. 4. In the first 10 minutes, an app would need to clearly outline a personalized path to self-discovery, showing concrete steps and potential outcomes that feel achievable and relevant to my career. It needs to demonstrate tangible value quickly. 5. I might consider paying for something like this if it offered significant time savings and clear, actionable insights that our current spreadsheet system doesn't provide. I'd compare the cost to professional development conferences or specialized HR software, perhaps in the range of a few hundred dollars annually, but it would need strong justification. The hardest question for me was number 3; it's challenging to quantify the marketability of subjective passions and skills in a way that translates directly to revenue. I would reword it to: 'Considering your current skills, passions, and market demand, what specific services or contributions could you realistically offer that others would find valuable enough to pay for, and what are the main challenges in defining that?'

Simulated interest: 65/100

Saul Gislasonneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was trying to map out my career path beyond senior engineer. I spent a lot of time creating detailed spreadsheets, mapping skills to potential roles, and analysing job descriptions. 2. I've tried reading career development books and some online articles. They often felt too generic, lacking practical steps for someone in my specific technical field and role. The advice rarely felt actionable for a senior engineer looking for strategic growth. 3. Pinning down *what people would pay me for* outside my current technical scope is the hardest. My current value is clear, but projecting future market value for a more strategic role is speculative. 4. In the first 10 minutes, it would need to show me a clear, personalized framework for identifying transferable skills and potential leadership pathways, with concrete examples relevant to SaaS architecture or product strategy. 5. Potentially, yes. I'd compare it to a good technical course or a specialised workshop – maybe in the €50-€100 range for a one-off, or a few euros a month if it offered truly ongoing, high-value insights.

Simulated interest: 60/100

Mina Jonkerneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was probably a few months ago when a client was really resisting a career change. I encouraged more self-reflection, journaling, and exploring smaller steps first. 2. I've tried books on Ikigai and strengths, some personality tests, and a few journaling techniques myself. They offer good insights but often lack a concrete path forward or feel a bit generic. 3. Pinning down what people will *pay* for is the hardest for me. My skills and passions are clearer, but translating that into a service people will commit to financially is an ongoing challenge. 4. In the first 10 minutes, it would need to show me something I haven't considered, perhaps a unique perspective on my skills or a novel way to connect passion to market demand. It needs to feel immediately applicable. 5. I might consider paying, but I'd compare it to the cost of a good book or a single workshop. It needs to feel significantly more valuable than those options for sustained use. Question 3 was the hardest to answer honestly; it feels too focused on the transactional aspect of career exploration. I'd reword it to: 'What aspect of aligning your passions, skills, and potential market value feels most challenging to clarify for yourself?'

Simulated interest: 50/100

Lodovico Fusaroneutral

1. The last time I felt stuck was trying to balance the strategic growth of my side venture with urgent client demands. I ended up dedicating specific evenings and weekend mornings to the venture, carving out that time deliberately. 2. I've tried books on productivity and project management, and some online courses. They provide good frameworks, but often lack the personalized application needed for my specific situation. Apps can be too generic. 3. Pinning down exactly what people would pay for my venture's tools is the hardest. My skills are clear, and I know my passions, but the market validation for a new tool is always the tricky part. 4. In the first 10 minutes, it would need to show me how it uniquely helps me consolidate my planning systems – work, venture, and career – and visualize overlaps or conflicts I'm missing. 5. I would consider paying. I compare it to other productivity software or perhaps a subscription to a specialized business newsletter; perhaps in the range of €20-€30 per month if it truly solves the integration problem.

Simulated interest: 70/100