Your Business Idea Is Not Special.
“I’m going to quit my job and start working for myself.
…just as soon as I come up with a fantastic idea.”
Does this sound at all familiar?
The reason many people do not start their own businesses is because they’re waiting for a perfect and unique idea to hit them upside the head.
If only the right idea could come along I’d make a fortune, they say.
If only I’d been the first to think of that bagless vacuum cleaner, wind-up radio or erectile disfunction remedy, they think, then I’d surely be a millionaire by now.
Well… allow me to share a secret.
Other successful business folk aren’t going to like me for this, but here goes…
Your business idea really isn’t that important.
A given business idea is rarely inherently good or bad.
(Well okay. Sometimes they can be bad, but it’s rare. The worst I heard involved tapeworm. You don’t really want to know.)
Provided that an idea isn’t totally unethical or logistically impossible, it’s likely that you could make it work. If you wanted to.
You can turn most ideas into profitable businesses if you want.
People want a lot of different stuff, some of it rather mundane. The availability of bagless vacuum cleaners does not stop people from wanting to buy milk.
When we look in hindsight at successful businesses, it can be tempting to attribute their success to a really smart and unique original concept. If we dig deeper though, we see that the “magic” is usually in the implementation or the marketing.
It’s usually the doing, rather than the thinking, that makes the difference.
Your local farmer didn’t need a great idea to make his business work. He just did what works and he did it well.
Soft drinks existed way before Coca Cola took over the beverage world.
Search engines and web portals existed way before Google did it bigger, better, faster, louder and more efficiently.
So, Mr. JJ, I have a question… You tell me that most business ideas could be made to work. You tell me that the magic is in the implementation and the marketing, not necessarily the concept itself. It all makes sense, but isn’t that a weird thing for you to be saying, given that you’re creating a Market Testing Kit thingy to help us figure out whether out business ideas are likely to succeed or not?
Ah, yes. Good point.
You see, markets aren’t really created equal.
It’s actually easier to build a successful and business farming the land than inventing bagless vacuum cleaners.
Good online market research is about finding proven and predictable markets which offer the greatest chance of success.
It’s about finding the right place to start your farm.
So first, we’re going to come up with some ideas…
Stay tuned for a business idea brainstorming extravaganza!
JJ Jalopy.
P.S. Go here to find out more about the forthcoming Market Testing Kit and sign-up my advance discount Email list.
P.P.S. In a previous post I promised a poem for the next person to sign up to my advance discount mailing list. The winner was Philip from San Francisco. I apologize in advance…
There was a young man from San Francisco
Who had an idea for a business at the (ahem) disco.
Was the market legit?
He used his Market Testing Kit
And he throughly worked out the risk-o.”
I’ll get my coat…
12 comments so far
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Comment by Anthony Lemme
10 September 2009
That is what so many people do…wait for the next big thing. Meanwhile, back at the ranch someone is doing some intelligent work and getting things done. Great points. Great poem?
Anthony
http://www.anthonylemme.com
Anthony Lemme´s last blog ..Speak Peace with Nonviolent Communication
Comment by Steve Chambers
10 September 2009
I’d place money on the fact that you would be better off marketing a bad idea well then flubbing up the promotion of a good idea.
It’s human nature to think that the better product, service or idea would win out. Most of the time it’s in the marketing, not the technology.
sTEVE cHAMBERS, b2b sALE tRAINER
Comment by JJ Jalopy
10 September 2009
@Anthony – Getting things done is the key really, isn’t it? A concept for a book about wizards is worth nothing. The first Harry Potter book – in its completed form – was worth gazillions.
The question mark at the end of your compliment killed it somewhat!! I was quite proud of the poem actually!
@Steve – Damn straight. When you think about it, marketing is really the only thing that makes money… Love your use of the word flubbing, by the way. Much underused!
Comment by John Ho
10 September 2009
JJ,
“Your Business Idea Is Not Special.”
Yap, you’re spot on.
What make things work is NOT the idea, but its IMPLEMENTATION.
Ideas are relatively cheap, it is the process of gettting them translated into practical and commercial ways that is hard.
John Ho
John Ho´s last blog ..“Numerology Expert Says Success In Life & Humantarian for Those Born on 10th September”
Comment by Darryl Pace
10 September 2009
Awesome post! That was funny enough to be considered one of your classics.
As for business ideas, yeah, I’ve heard, and I believe, that marketing is King!
Health, Fitness for Busy People — Darryl Pace
Darryl Pace´s last blog ..Welcome!
Comment by Lisa McLellan
11 September 2009
I love the first line about quitting your job once you come up with a fantastic idea!!!! That’s priceless!
Lisa McLellan
Babysitting Services – Babysitters and Nannies
Comment by Lynn Lane
11 September 2009
JJ,
No need to get you coat.
You are sooo right. I know and have heard some of the worst Speakers on the planet, yet they rake in the ca$h hand over fist. The Reason? They have great marketing.
” Perceived Value ”
That’s it brother.
Lynn Lane
http://www.Warriorofsuccess.com
Lynn Lane´s last blog ..Are you wasting time yourself?
Comment by Baby Boomer Dating Success Coach
12 September 2009
Hi JJ,
indeed, also, just START. Start with something you are good at. And then tweak over time. Observe the market. Where are people spending money? Where is there a hungry crowd a few degrees away form what you are doing. Shift your business over to serve them.
Great business blog post as ever, JJ. spot on!
Best regards,
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert
Comment by Vancouver Life Coach
22 September 2009
Totally agree. It is about the packaging, the flash and the gimmick. The perceived value far out weighs any true actual value of a product or a person. We give credit to those who spend more time on their outward appearance even though they might be no smarter or able than the plain dresser.
But at the end of the day, the flash person will probably be able to get more done because of this misconception. So does it not become a truth?
Just food for discussion!
Cheers
Comment by JJ Jalopy
4 October 2009
@All – Cheers. Have a drink on me.