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| This big idea changed how we light our lives credit: here |
You're sitting around, watching a rerun of your favorite "The Office" episode when suddenly you're smacked upside the head with an idea so brilliant you completely zone out your favorite Dwight-Jim moment. Your wheels start turning; first you see the big picture and then finer details of how everything will work start coming into play. You see multiple uses for your idea, a niche that needs to be filled and how the idea will evolve to fit needs in the future. All worked up, The Office completely forgotten, you check online, pensively scanning Google to see if you are late on the scene. A rush of exhilaration overcomes you when your results turn up nothing. This feeling dissipates as an overwhelming sense of urgency fills every square millimeter of you- you've got to get this idea into fruition before anyone else snags it out from under you...
And this is where, an hour later, you find yourself starting blankly at The Office episode you restarted, completely defeated.
I can't tell you how many ideas I've seen come and go because I was clueless as to the next step: making them reality. This was probably to my benefit on the majority of ideas- looking back, many of them were a little on the "not-likely" side (to put it politely). However, I've had time to reflect on my ideas for years and some of them may potentially have been winners.
So how do you take your next big idea from a flash in the pan to a legitimate product or service?
The first place I start is Twitter. I've built up a circle of trusted friends on there- people who I admire for living out their dreams. These are the doers of the world- people like Emily Hill, Stephanie Hansen, Ryan Kendrick, Stephen W. Weiss, Andy Ryan... to name a few (this list would fill a post if I listed all the incredible people I know on Twitter). I ask them questions, bounce ideas off them and receive some great feedback. If you aren't on Twitter (gasp!), search through your friends on Facebook; chances are you will have at least a couple of entrepreneurs there who will be happy to give you some tips on making your dreams reality. If you don't have either, you may want to consider joining us here in 2011. ;)
Next, look for places on the web and in your community that help people exactly like you. Chances are you have a college or university nearby that has a business program; many times the business department will serve the larger community through workshops, seminars, and even programs offered for free. These services are often provided through the students but lead by their professors who many times are professionals in the business world. Other resources to check out are the Small Business Association (many free services) and a host of tips, tricks and articles posted for free online by well known magazines such as Entrepreneur, Fast Company, etc.
Speaking of magazines and online sites, many will have online forums. If you don't already have a Twitter account, forums are a great way to engage with others about your topic. Find one or two that look well-visited and active and post your question there. Make the subject line interesting (unique) but descriptive for a better chance at getting a discussion going. Tip: always check to see if your question had already been answered by using the forum's search option.
Finally, just dig in. The more you start working on your idea, the more likely you'll make it a reality. If you aren't sure where to go next, start researching materials. Draw sketches. Make your business plan. Work on your logo. Create a website. Register the name with your state's business administration. Stay active in your idea. You'll find that the more you do to keep it forward in your mind, the more opportunities will present themselves in helping you on your way because you're in tune with what you need.
Have you successfully pulled off a great idea? How did you do it? What resources did you find indispensable? Or have you had a great idea pass by? What kept you from making it a reality?
