[mgkimsal]

It's not necessarily bad advice to some people, but the majority of people I know that are focused on a new project are spending way too much time on code.

"Just one more javascript function to add..." and so on keeps them from ever meeting with anyone - potential customers, local like-minded entrepreneurs who could offer support and introductions to others, etc.

If someone recognizes themselves in this piece as the person who is always networking/pitching/schmoozing and never working on the product/project/service at all (tech or customer development), then yes, heed the advice. Otherwise, simply strive for a balance. But... don't fall for the "it's gotta be perfect in my eyes before I show anyone" (or even "it's gotta be or look really nice before anyone can see it"). Just... show it around.

While it's true first impressions count, after you show someone, there's millions or billions of others to make a new first impression on later with an improved system/service/product. But you won't know how best to improve it without getting the feedback from initial showings.

[wheels]

I think the point is that networking events aren't usually chock-full of potential customers. They're often an early-adopter circle-jerk and unless your customers are early adopters, you get diminishing returns on such things.

You need to build up a network, and so getting out and pitching to folks is a necessity early on, but remember that networking events are mostly just practice for pitching to the people who actually matter.

I'd suggest also that a lot of people are convinced that their target customers are early adopters because it's easier to imagine that their customers are like themselves. This is often wrong, sometimes dangerously so. Do some soul-searching (Are these really the people that are most likely to give us money? Do they even have any money? How much?) if you find yourself in that spot.

There are a lot of "entrepreneurs" that get caught up in the social aspects of being an entrepreneur without actually going out and getting traction on their business. It turns into an ugly form of cargo-cultism quickly.