June 18, 2010 Would you write a check?
Building your ideas into a sellable product or service always takes a bit of discernment. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself FIRST, would I personally spend my money on this? Or better yet, who and how many people would line up to buy my product? Is my product worth something to somebody?
Photo: [flickr]

If you have to tweak your idea to be more “check worthy”, go for it. Once you feel your idea is pretty good and some folks would buy it, try and find who your customer would be (target audience). From an advertising model to a product or a service, do a bare minimum presentation (powerpoint or flash) and send it around. Don’t talk about everything your idea does, just focus on the message of “solving THE particular problem.” If your idea is easily stolen, you might want to get an NDA in place before spilling your candy to strangers.
So lets say you have a good idea. You didn’t have to spend REAL money (tons of cash that you count on or you had to raise.) You have a nice color presentation in your hand. Now its time to do the 3425 revisions ;) The way you do revisions is quite simple really. Get as cynical as you can, find the most smart cynical people you can, and blow holes in your idea. “What is wrong with my idea?” – you ask (yourself / others). Find out all the negative reasons why it wouldn’t work but most importantly ask WHY. “Why don’t you like this and that about my idea?” This will you help you revise your idea and take you to the funding phase where you are prepared for potential investors to blow holes in it too.
Stuff you can do for free: Tips.
- 01 Interview family, friends, and bored people (you dont know) at Starbucks with the MOST important question “Would you write a check for this?” (If your conversation doesn’t require an NDA)
- 02 Get cynical! Go find some Debbie Downers to brainstorm with. Ensure them the world is ending as to fire up their cynical engines. Ask them “What is wrong with the world?” and “What is wrong with my idea?”
Want to comment? Comments: 2


2 comments so far
Is that why you always came to me with your ideas?
I’d write a check for your ideas…if I had any money!
All your ideas are brilliant!
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