Consulting is an underrated way to fund a product idea or R&D project. It offers two key benefits: you don't owe anyone anything, and it can help validate ideas and find clients.
True, it might take longer, and you may face distractions. But real-world feedback is invaluable.
My experience is based on software and inexpensive hardware, so keep that in mind. Initial costs are low and marginal costs are nearly zero.
To stay focused, hold a regular "grounding ceremony" and integrate your vision into your consulting work.
Treat your idea or product like a client. Allocate budget and time for it, just like other projects.
Keep your vision in mind and revisit it often. Breaking it down into small, achievable steps helps to test hypotheses.
Decide on the best output format for these steps, like blog posts, demos, or pitches. Be mindful of your marketing abilities.
Demos work well for me. They're quick solutions to specific problems that validate a single idea or a few.
Sometimes, the problems most people face aren't what you expect. Your solution might need to change based on real-world needs, which helps you find product-market fit.
After a few iterations, your work becomes easier as your experiments and visions begin to blend. Progress comes from learning from mistakes.