I continue to find it amusing when folks come to me and say they have a great idea they would love to share (to get my advice on) but they need me to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) first. The amusing part is that they truly believe I (or any one else for that matter) will care enough (or know enough) about the idea to “steal” it and execute it. Execution is hard work, and I save it for ideas that are really good ones (aka “my ideas). And that’s the rub with most ideas, isn’t it? Execution.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. In and of themselves, they are pretty worthless. Sure they feel good in your head, and visualization of the future (once the idea is a reality) leads to all kinds of great emotions. But it is all fantasy…mental masturbation of sorts. Feels good but it’s not the real deal.
So how do you get your idea in the world? You make it real as quickly as possible and see if anyone is willing to write you a check for it. The “quickly as possible” statement from the last sentence is the key here so let’s discuss a few techniques to compress the time lag between idea and launch.
1- Don’t be afraid to share the idea
Expose your idea to as many folks as possible. They will ask you questions that will cause you to consider aspects of your idea that you could never anticipate on your own. The more folks you discuss your idea with the more refined it will become.
2- Create a prototype
Using duct tape, baling wire, band aids, matchsticks, and glue, your cat, etc., create a crude prototype of your idea. Of course there are more advanced rapid prototyping systems out there and if you have them at your disposal, have at it. But don’t use your lack of resources as an excuse to not get started. A crude prototype is often enough to get someone to write you a check.
3- Expect the unexpected
My very first business got started because I went to visit a potential client with a crude prototype of an idea I had for a waste mitigation product. I ended up selling them something else they needed even more (which I created a prototype in one day that solved their real problem). And that product led to a much larger business than I would have had with my original idea. My advice, never get stuck on your original idea. Be open to the possibilities. But always use your original idea as a launch point for having great conversations with potential clients.
A secret to success? Compress the time between having an idea, making it real with a prototype, and getting feedback. The internet is awesome for this. You can test ideas quickly and learn more in a day than you could in a year just a while ago. So don’t be afraid to share your ideas. Get the market feedback you need to make the decisions you need to launch or refine. Do it today!
