An idea can strike anywhere, anytime.
Not to make an allusion to a samurai warrior lurking in the shadows waiting to make its move, but a great idea can come to mind in almost any environment. I find they often come when I least expect it. It's easy to say "I am going to think of a great idea today", harder to actually do it. The idea may strike you while reading the paper, talking with friends or becoming endlessly frustrated with an everyday inefficient task. To create that fertile, thought-provoking ground, it takes an objective view of the world around you, opening your mind up to the idea of "what if?" and not being afraid that you might ruffle a few feathers along the way. Sometimes it takes something as simple as walking a new way home to inspire fresh, creative thoughts. The co-founder of our great idea we are attempting to put into motion makes a habit of always carrying a small notebook in his back pocket. It is an easy way to recall thoughts, emotions, and ideas when they hit. Some of the greatest ideas ever imagined have been lost due to the limitations of human memory.
Write it down.
As those notes are reflected upon, it is then easy to edit and evolve that initial idea as your circumstances change. You may have been sitting near Lake Michigan when that idea popped into your head, but now you are home without the euphoria of a beautiful sunset, Coldplay blasting through your earbuds and butterflies swirling around you; does that same idea still fill you with passion? See how you feel about that idea the next day or the next week. Are you still as passionate about it? Are there ways to improve it? To make it into something marketable? To make it into something desirable? Who are you targeting? As new meditations arise, writing down new thoughts about the app/website/product is a great starting point. Don't be afraid to think big or outside the box of conventional wisdom. You can always scale the idea back later. In all likelihood you will fill notebooks with outlines of many potential startups, however when you find one that creates passion and confidence within you, it is now time to get feedback.
Talk to somebody.
Bounce the idea off people you trust. I wouldn't go around making your friends and family sign NDAs, but get some initial feedback. You may hear a lot of groans (especially if the word "entrepreneur" means unemployed to your parents/spouse/dog) and harsh critiques, but you may also begin to see angles you did not see before. You may also realize the limitations of the idea. My first "great" idea was a grocery store for single people. It was called "Singles". Everybody needs groceries at least once a week and most people have a desire to meet that special person. Easy. Let's have single people mingling in the produce section getting to know each other while performing the mundane task of restocking the shelves at home. Best case scenario? You go home with fresh avocados, apples and a phone number. The down side? Creepers galore. So maybe not a serious idea, but I got great feedback, some great laughs, and learned how to think through an idea, only bolstering my knowledge of what sets apart good ideas from great ideas (and dangerous ideas). It is best to get feedback from would-be users/customers before spending months and years developing a product that in the end didn't have a niche to begin with. Don't be stuck with empty grocery store people are afraid to shop in.
Develop the idea.
Now that you have confidence in a new idea, begin to see it through. Draw sketches and build a vision for the growth of the idea. Think of who it will impact, what problem is being solved, who you are competing with and the return on investment it might create. These are all questions that need to be asked at every step of the startup journey. Even the best idea can be steered off course by poor execution. Remember to continue to write down ways the idea is changing and the new questions that have to be answered. Continue to talk to friends, potential users/consumers, other entrepreneurs to get feedback and help. If you are in it alone, consider finding a co-founder, whether technical or non-technical. It's no joke, two heads are better than one. If you are new to the world of startups and entrepreneurship, immerse yourself in the culture. Get a Twitter account, get a company email address and get business cards. All free or pretty cheap ways to network. Follow great resources on Twitter - personal favorites being @technori and @techcrunch - and read as much as you can from web resources like www.entrepreneur.com, www.mashable.com, and www.inc.com/start-up. Once you reach the point of technical development and begin seeking outside funding, knowing the right steps and having an established network will make all the difference. Seriously, knowledge is power, as much in the startup business as in the rest of life.
With all that said, prepare yourself, that lurking samurai warrior dishing out amazing startup ideas might be ready to attack at any moment.
-The PopList Humans
@PopListApp
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