https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1lja0no/saas_founders_stop_asking_users_the_wrong_things/

Early-stage SaaS founders often miss this >> a small book that changed how I talk to users.

Not a founder myself; I’m from the marketing side. But after watching dozens of SaaS teams, I see the same trap: they think they’re validating, but they’re actually collecting polite lies. Family says wow. Friends say cool idea. Even early users nod and say yeah I’d use that. Then ghost. It’s a pattern: polite praise, vague feedback, no follow-through.

The Mom Test captures this trap better than anything else I’ve read. It’s about how asking the wrong questions makes people lie to you**>>**not because they’re bad, but because you made it easy (or awkward) to lie.

Key Takeaways That Hit Me

Don’t ask Would you use this?

Ask When’s the last time you dealt with this problem?

Don’t explain your app in the question.

Just ask what they actually do today.

People saying that sounds cool is worthless.

But someone describing a workaround they already use? That’s gold.

I’ve watched founders burn months building what people said they wanted. Then no one uses it. The truth is: most of us suck at asking honest questions. This book won’t magically fix your startup idea, but it will fix how you ask questions and talk to users**>>**and that alone can save months of wasted effort. Worth a read. It’s short. Honest. Zero fluff. Just real advice that makes sense once you’ve seen people get burned.

Visual Summary

Below are three images that capture the essence of The Mom Test and its practical application for SaaS founders:

1. Applying The Mom Test in Customer Conversations

2. Effective Customer Discovery Framework