— from founder and author Josh Barker
You didn’t come this far to build something no one wants.
You’re a visionary. You see opportunities before the market does. You see problems and feel the urgency to create solutions.
But here’s the hard truth: most innovation fails—not because the ideas are bad, but because they never gain traction.Traction First is the playbook for founders who are done wasting time building in the dark.
“This book pushed me out of perfection mode and into traction mode. Best decision I’ve made for my startup.”
Traction First is the playbook for founders who are done wasting time building in the dark. It introduces the Market Traction Funnel—a step-by-step system that helps you validate faster, de-risk smarter, and build what customers actually want. No fluff. No vanity metrics. Just forward momentum.
Inside, you’ll learn:
• Why traction beats perfection—every time
• How to move from idea to product through Minimum Viable Models, Learnings, Solutions, and Products
• How to avoid the “build trap” and get real signals from real users
• What it takes to scale inside startups and large enterprises
Get a sneek peak—read the first chapter of Traction First FREE.
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“The Market Traction Funnel gave our team a clear, no-nonsense roadmap to move fast without wasting millions.”
“Finally—a way to tell which ideas actually gain momentum. Traction First is now required reading for my leaders.”
“I thought perfection was the goal. This book showed me traction is everything—and it changed how I build.”
“Finally, a book that cuts through the noise. Traction isn’t theory—it’s the lifeline every startup needs.”
“The Market Traction Funnel gave me a clear process to rally my team. It turned chaos into momentum.”
“When I see founders applying these principles, I know they’re serious. This book should be on every pitch deck prep list.”
— Founder, Idea to Market Traction & Growth Accelerator
Out of that failure, Josh developed a process to help others avoid the same mistakes — and that’s when his role began to evolve. He wasn’t just building companies; he was reshaping how others think about traction, product-market fit, and sustainable growth.
That’s what real thought leadership looks like: turning hard-won experience into insight, and insight into lasting impact.
Since then, Josh has coached and guided hundreds of ventures across dozens of industries — helping them clarify direction, accelerate momentum, and bring the right ideas to market at the right time.
Josh is currently the founder and CEO of City Innovations, a Product Innovation and Corporate Venture Studio that helps startups and enterprise-level ideas achieve rapid growth using proven Silicon Valley techniques.
— get the book for your Kindle