The S.T.A.R.T. Test: How to Spot Momentum Before It Exists

 I’ve had three conversations this week with people who say they want to launch something. Different industries. Different ideas. Same situation. They’re circling the start line, asking what’s next.

I’ve also been in hiring mode for one of my ventures. Sorting through resumes, sitting in interviews, talking to candidates who want to be part of something early-stage.

What I’ve noticed is this: whether someone wants to build their own thing or join a team, there’s one defining trait that separates the people who will move forward from those who won’t.

They start.

That’s it. That’s the filter.

They try.
They publish.
They ship.
They test.
They stop waiting for the right conditions.

One of the conversations that stuck with me most was with a peer who’s been sitting on an idea for a while.
They’ve talked about it,
refined it in their head,
even gotten encouragement.
But they’re still waiting.

Their reason? “I don’t want to put it out unless I know it’ll scale.”

You’ve probably heard that too. Or said it.

I call this place Entrepreneurial Purgatory.

You’re stuck in the loop of preparation, research, and hypothetical planning. You’re talented, capable, and resourced. But you haven’t shipped anything.

You are at risk of becoming what I call a wantrepreneur: Someone who likes the idea of entrepreneurship but stays in pre-launch mode.

And in hiring, I see the same behavior pattern show up in new clothes. High potential, low initiative.

People don’t get blocked by failure. They get blocked by false gatekeeping: rules they’ve invented about what needs to happen before they’re allowed to move forward.

That’s why I started using the S.T.A.R.T. Test.

It’s a set of red flags I look for when mentoring someone, evaluating a hire, or reflecting on my own patterns.

If someone is stuck, this framework almost always reveals why.

Use it to spot hesitation.
Use it to spot traction.
Each trap shows a constraint.

Breaking through any of them is a signal worth paying attention to.  THEY are the ones that have potential to be rockstars.
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The S.T.A.R.T. Test

A simple lens for identifying whether someone will move forward or stay stuck. Use it to evaluate potential founders, team members, collaborators, or more importantly yourself. 

S – Stalling with Strategy

Trap: Overplanning, research addiction, and analysis paralysis.
Root Fear: Fear of making the wrong move, so no move is made.
Behavior: Building spreadsheets, reading playbooks, never taking action.
Fix: Set a 48-hour deadline to decide and move. Action creates clarity.

Why this works: Starting makes space for progress. Momentum comes from motion, not mastery. Done creates direction.

T – Tweaking Endlessly

Trap: Perfectionism disguised as productivity.
Root Fear: Fear of judgment and failure.
Behavior: Constantly refining, editing, polishing instead of publishing.
Fix: Define Version 0.1. Ship it. Iterate only after real-world use.

Why this works: Version ONE is better than Version NONE. Real-world feedback beats imagined scenarios. Launching beats lingering.

A – Alienating Yourself

Trap: Imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and opting out before you even begin.
Root Fear: Belief that you don’t belong, aren’t ready, or aren’t qualified.
Behavior: Comparing yourself to others, staying quiet, hiding your gifts.
Fix: Build intentional belonging. Claim your space. Own your message. You’re allowed to be here.

Why this works: Visibility builds credibility. Owning your message attracts alignment. Belonging starts with showing up.

R – Rationalizing Delay

Trap: Overengineering and premature optimization.
Root Fear: Fear of wasted effort and lack of ROI.
Behavior: Won’t start until scale is guaranteed or backend is perfect.
Fix: Ship the MVP, then talk to 10 real prospects. Validate the idea so that you can launch and grow.

Why this works: You can't scale what isn't validated. And you can't validate in a vacuum. Talking to users reveals what actually matters, protects your time and budget, and gives you a foundation to grow. The path to scale always starts with proof, not polish.

T – Talking, Not Building

Trap: Mistaking momentum for movement.
Root Fear: Fear of actual execution and rejection.
Behavior: Brainstorming, tweeting, discussing ideas without producing.
Fix: Commit to a 7-day build sprint. Create something tangible. Show your work.\

Why this works: Ideas don’t count until they ship. Making something real changes what you believe is possible. Execution builds momentum.

Final Thoughts

If you're someone who builds, leads, hires, or invests, you already know this:
Potential doesn’t ship products.
Ideas don’t create traction.
Movement does.

The people who build things consistently aren’t fearless. They just move anyway.

When you use these five lenses, you’ll spot the difference between someone who’s stuck and someone who’s may be forever in pre-launch mode. That includes yourself BTW!

Hopefully this is helpful for leaders evaluating opportunities. I'd love to know if any of these ideas resonate with you.\