Find a Winning Idea

There are a million ideas out there. The problem is that only a few of that million are really any good. The numbers are smaller are even smaller if you want the idea to be profitable. I find ideas all the time and love most of them right out of the gates. Sober second thought and a vetting process takes the luster off many of them pretty quickly.

Sort Your Ideas

The first step when you find something you really like is to write it down and leave it alone for a few days. I love the way our minds continue to work even when you are not consciously thinking about it. If you still love your idea then next thing I do is apply a rigorous filter to it. Ask yourself some hard questions and be honest.

Sample Filter Questions

·         What are the goals for this idea? (don’t forget minimum and stretch goals)

·         What resources are required to reach your goal in dollars?

·         What people are required to reach your goal?

·         How long will it take to reach your goal?

·         How big could this idea possibly get? (Dream Big - I love this one!)

Now What?

Create a form with these questions on it that you can use over and over again. Write down your answers and tweak your form. It is therapeutic to write these things down. The one person you really have to sell your idea on is yourself. If you are still bought in after all of this its time to find someone you trust and respect. Ideally you should find someone with some expertise in the field. Take your filter sheet with you and pitch the idea to them. Be ready to accept honest feedback. If after all this you are still bought in then go for it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it.

Don’t forget, if innovation was easy, everybody would be doing it.