Have you ever pushed so hard on an idea that you missed the signal to change direction?

In this solo episode, Rob Walling covers a wide range of topics and dives into three areas every founder should master: how to develop an editorial eye (or “taste”), the difference between persistence and obstinance, and why focus, not diversification remains the hardest, most valuable entrepreneurial skill.

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Topics we cover:

(1:55) – How to develop an “editorial eye” (and why it matters for founders)
(7:03) – When to get out of the way and let true experts lead
(8:07) – Why your product must start with a real problem (not just an idea)
(9:11) – Paul Graham’s The Right Kind of Stubborn: persistence vs. obstinance
(12:03) – Are you attached to your goal or just your first idea?
(13:44) – How great founders adapt to new data without losing momentum
(14:44) – Sam Parr on why “constant switching will kill you”
(16:30) – Focus as a founder’s hardest and most valuable skill
(16:49) – Why “Triple, Triple, Double, Double” isn’t dead (despite VC takes)
(18:34) – The problem with clickbait startup advice

Links from the Show:

MicroConf Europe 2026 – Join us in Reykjavík, Iceland (Sept 21–23) - Promo Code: ROB50
The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick
Paul Graham: “The Right Kind of Stubborn”
Sam Parr (@thesamparr) | X
Harry Stebbings (@HarryStebbings) | X
Rob Walling YouTube Channel
The SaaS Playbook

If you have questions about starting or scaling a software business that you’d like for us to cover, please submit your question for an upcoming episode. We’d love to hear from you!

Subscribe & Review: iTunes

Episode 816 | Developing an Editorial Eye, The Right Kind of Stubborn, and The Power of Focus (A Rob Solo Adventure)

Startups For the Rest of Us

Episode 816 | Developing an Editorial Eye, The Right Kind of Stubborn, and The Power of Focus (A Rob Solo Adventure)