[hogFeast]

I think the problem with the author's POV is posing the problem as a choice between making for yourself or making for no-one (by trying to please other people).

Trying to please other people is how a market economy functions. You do not produce the things that you would ideally want to produce but the things that other people need.

I think the issues you raise are totally correct, and don't just apply to entrepreneurs. Most developers will, if given the choice, build complexity into products. They will develop things that are fun to develop, not fun to use. And when people want to build a new business, they will usually try to build things that are fun to build...not many people want to build things for water treatment plants or waste disposal operators, that isn't fun or cool.

So I think there is a way in the middle. You should be guided by your own want (but that want should be the product, not building the product) but business is about serving customers. The puzzle over market fit is strange to me...if you aren't building something that other people need, that isn't a business. You have to respond to the market, other people as much as be guided by your own beliefs.

Side-note: you see this in almost every walk of life. Craftsmen prefer old techniques that are fun but result in lower quality. You see it in medicine. Investing is an interesting one too...you only get paid if the world comes round to your view but some people will actively shut out the opinions of other people...that ends badly 100% of the time because you are shutting out the only information that will stop you from making a bad decision (eventually).

[galaxyLogic]

The problem with other people is that a) You really don't know what they want b) They want different things.

But if you build for yourself you a) know what you want b) There is only one you