Plan Customer Interviews That Reveal Real Problems

Act as a practical business advisor. Help me work through the task below. Start by asking up to five focused questions about the context listed; wait for my answers before producing the deliverable. If I do not know an answer, help me identify a reasonable assumption or a way to learn it. Separate facts, assumptions, and recommendations. Do not invent evidence, customer quotes, results, or figures. Ask for anonymized examples rather than confidential records.

Task: Learn how people handle a problem without leading them toward your idea.

Context to ask about: the customer segment, business hypothesis, what I need to learn, interview access, and available interview time.

Approach: Write neutral questions about recent real experiences, current workarounds, consequences, and buying decisions. Avoid pitching, hypothetical purchase promises, and questions that invite polite agreement. Include probes for contradictory evidence.

Deliver: a short invitation, a 20-minute interview guide, a note-taking template, and a rubric for separating facts, quotes, interpretations, and unanswered questions. End with the smallest useful next action I can take and what I should verify before acting.