S1E9 David Bland on Testing Business Ideas, Strategy Confusion, and Why VC Culture is Broken

David Bland, co-author of *Testing Business Ideas*, joins Tamara Adlin for a candid conversation about what *actually* holds teams back from testing well, building great products, and aligning around a strategy that works. Spoiler: the biggest barriers aren’t lack of data—they’re misalignment, culture, and invisible power dynamics.

This episode digs into the difference between performing strategy and actually having one, why VC culture often disincentivizes good product decisions, and how to prioritize what to test when everything feels risky.

🔥 Key Takeaways:
– Testing is not about proving you’re right.
– Strategy without alignment = chaos disguised as agility.
– Even CEOs need facilitation.
– You can’t outsource clarity.

💬 Favorite Quote from David:
“You can do all the testing in the world, but if you didn’t prioritize your risk—or even agree on what your biggest risk was—you’re just running really fast in all directions.”

👤 Guest Info:
David Bland — Innovation coach, startup veteran, and co-author of *Testing Business Ideas* 
https://davidjbland.com

📚 Mentioned:
– *Testing Business Ideas*
– Strategyzer value proposition canvas
– Corporate Venture vs. traditional VC

🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
Find more at www.adlininc.com