There is a prevailing belief that the magic formula for early-stage tech startups hinges on how quickly they achieve $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Investors in SaaS companies, in particular, are very guilty of pushing this or its equally loaded corollary, "When will you sign your first six-figure deal?"

But in the rush toward these numbers, too many startups lose sight of their primary intent: These metrics are supposed to be an indicator of product/market fit. We've seen companies reach $1 million in ARR in less than a year, yet not have enough market momentum to get their next million easily. We've seen early-stage companies so concerned about getting those first sales, they don't validate the market and if they're building the right product. We've also watched a focus on new logos make companies forget about keeping existing customers happy, introducing unexpectedly high churn - something startups can't afford.

Those first customers and that first million are supposed to be the bedrock on which the rest of the business grows. Founders must constantly ask what they're learning about their market, product and go-to-market approach - in that order! - so the business becomes a flywheel.

Revenue is a lagging indicator of sales success, so must likewise be prioritized accordingly. That's not to say revenue isn't vitally important and that there isn't a great deal of urgency to it, but focusing on it too much too early can mask big problems that will hurt startups later when the stakes are higher.