Three weeks ago, I stood on the edge of quitting.
The doubts were loud, relentless, and hard to ignore.
“Maybe businesses don’t actually care about AI visibility.”
“Am I too early with this idea?”
“Should I just move on and build something simpler, less risky?’
The idea of walking away kept creeping in. After all, quitting is easier than facing the risk of failure and uncertainty. But something deep down stopped me in my tracks. What if I was wrong? What if this doubt, all-consuming as it seemed, was just a part of the process?
I decided to give the project one more push before making any final decisions. Here’s what happened next.
Testing the Theory
Armed with skepticism but also curiosity, I decided to test 100 businesses for their visibility in AI-driven searches. My goal? To see if AI optimization was truly as big a deal as I believed it to be, or if I was fighting a losing battle.
The results? Jaw-dropping.
Out of 100 businesses, 97 were completely invisible to AI assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant. That meant when someone asked, “Find the best [business type] near me,” they weren’t even in the running to be recommended. These weren’t small, struggling companies either. Many were established businesses pouring thousands a month into Google Ads and SEO, yet to AI, they didn’t exist.
The real shocker? The 3 businesses that were optimized for AI visibility were absolutely dominating their industries. Their reach was broader, their recommendations cornered the market, and their growth trajectories were staggering.
It was in that moment I realized two things.
- First, I wasn’t too early with this idea. If anything, I was right on time, potentially even ahead of the curve. The world of AI-driven search is evolving fast, and businesses that fail to adapt will miss out.
- Second, I wasn’t just building a tool or a product. This was a wide-open opportunity to empower businesses to gain an edge in a $1.7 trillion market, where competition (at least for now) is minimal.
Lessons Learned
The experience taught me more than just technical insights or business strategy. It was a crash course in perseverance, mindset, and trusting the process.
1. Big Ideas Don’t Always Feel Obvious
When you’re in the trenches, it’s easy to doubt yourself. That’s especially true when you’re working on something new or unproven. Big, industry-shifting ideas rarely feel certain and certainly don’t arrive gift-wrapped with a guarantee. They often feel messy, ambiguous, and overwhelming. That’s normal.
What I learned is that feeling uncertain is not a sign to quit. It’s a sign that you’re tackling something complex, and complex problems take time to crack.
2. Test Everything
What turned my doubt into determination wasn’t gut instinct or blind optimism. It was data. Testing those 100 businesses gave me tangible proof that AI optimization was a massive, untapped opportunity. Numbers don’t lie.
If you’re doubting your work, find a way to test the premise. Research. Experiment. Test again. You might not always get the answer you want, but you’ll figure out whether you’re on the right track.
3. Doubt Is Part of the Journey
Every single person taking on something big has felt the same doubts I experienced. The key is to push through them. Stick with your vision a little longer. Those doubts often fade when you start seeing momentum.
Where the Project Stands Now
We’re currently 75% complete with building this AI visibility platform. What felt impossible just weeks ago has transformed into something tangible, exciting, and absolutely within reach.
The goal is clear now. This isn’t a project just to help businesses stay competitive today. It’s about future-proofing them for where the market is headed. AI-driven search is rewriting the rules of industries like real estate, healthcare, travel, and more. Businesses that adapt now will dominate tomorrow.
It feels surreal to be this close to launching. Knowing that this platform has the potential to make such a huge impact has completely reignited my passion.
A Message for Those Facing Doubt
If you’re someone working on a big idea right now, struggling with self-doubt, or feeling the weight of uncertainty, hear this loud and clear: don’t give up.
The doubt won’t last forever. What you’re creating could change everything—for you, for your customers, or for your industry. But you’ll never know if you quit now.
Focus on taking one step at a time. Test your ideas. Refine your process. Trust the work, even on days when trusting yourself feels hard.
And remember, it’s the tough moments—that almost-breaking point—that often lead to breakthroughs.
The Road Ahead
The work is far from over. But the momentum we’ve built, the insights we’ve gained, and the progress we’ve made have turned what once felt like a dream into something inevitable.
And honestly, it’s a reminder that anything worth building requires patience, persistence, and a willingness to stick with it—even when doubt tries to steal the spotlight.
To anyone out there reading this who’s facing their own version of “almost quitting,” this is my challenge to you: stick with it. Your breakthrough might be just one step away.
Keep going. Great things are rarely easy, but they’re always worth it.