Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`d be a little wary of the company Garyp suggested. Perhaps that specific
one has some credentials but many of those companies are in the
business of idea-stealing. Some are legit, some aren`t. I don`t actually
know enough about it all but I`ve heard stories.

Anyways, what I really want to say is along the lines of what CraigL
mentioned. You do need to prove the idea before you can sell it. But
before that even, you need to develop a process for yourself to weed out
the bad from the good and the good from the great. And then the great
from the viable/profitable.

I too have lots of ideas for products, services and companies. I not only
record them, I rate them. The best concepts go through more of a
process involving other people`s opinions. Then I decide what I want to
do with them.

Some of that decision making comes natural based on myself, not just
the marketplace. Which ideas can I not stop thinking about? Which fall
within my passions? Do I have the skills to implement such an idea? Do I
know people who can help?

Not all your ideas are great, profitable ideas. But the gems are in there.
Capture that fox!

Disclosing ideas before they are protected [e.g. patent application of some type] is a very risky proposition.  Market feedback is important and valuable.  It can also kill your intellectual property rights.

In most cases, the problem is not that we have too few ideas.  The problem is that we have too little meaningful follow through.

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James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

When I said that I share my best ideas with others, I meant others that I
trust and who`s opinion I value. This is usually some close friends and
family who respect being hush-hush about it. Personal bias comes into
play but it is still helpful to share with others. Good friends will give you
the honest opinion you want and not just tell you that it`s all brilliant.

Patentandtrademark... It is always good to reiterate the importance of
protecting intellectual property so thanks for saying it once again!

Thank you Garyp for the website links to boggleit.  I have been perusing the site this morning and it seems legit.  It appears as though they have a a couple different options to chose from to review your idea.

I can`t believe the value of the advice and feedback I am able to get from the startupnation website.  I appreicate all the input.

Thanks again,

KarenHelena

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There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there`s only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.

Wasn`t it Einstein who said success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration?  He just never said who`s perspiration it had to be.

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Judson Voss Podcast Production and Promotion www.roxxproduction.com Got a Podcast Question? Feel free to email me. visit our podcast on real estate investing www.getrealrei.com

Nor does it really matter - the value comes from those receiving the goods/services.

-------------------------

James Lindon, Ph.D. Patent Attorney
Lindon & Lindon, LLC
Cleveland, Ohio
Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Pharmacy Law, Litigation
[this is not legal advice - provided for discussion only]
Intellectual Property for the Individual and Small Business: Identify, Protect, Enforce, Defend.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
http://www.LindonLaw.com

Great point!  I attended a "Ladies Who Launch" meeting last night (a national organization that supports Women Entrepeneurs) and I have decided that since I am just learning how to start a business that I would start by persuing one of my less risky ideas.  The niche for this product is small but, the target audience well defined and relatively easy to reach.  The start-up costs are minimal and the business could be profitable quite soon after introduction. By persuing this idea I can learn the process of getting a business off the ground.   Once I have had success with this product, I can certainly circle back and persue some of my other concepts. 

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There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there`s only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.

You`ve received some concrete business suggestions about what to do with your ideas. If you find, as I do, that you have lots of ideas in most areas of your life and you want to turn everything into a business, I highly recommend reading a book called "Refuse To Choose" by Barbara Sher. While not a business book, it is about figuring out what do do with your life when you always have new ideas, start things you don`t finish, can`t focus on just one thing. It is the way your brain is wired and there are lots of people like you. The book includes strategies so you don`t have to choose just one thing. It`s available at bookstores and libraries plus Barbara gives workshops and you can get more information on her website.

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Rebecca Quinn Small Business Success Advisor

Thanks for the book recommendation.  I like the sound of it.

Thanks again,

Karen

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There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there`s only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen.

Karen,

You sound a lot like me :) And I would recommend just what you`re doing, starting with one idea and working it through. I`m trying to do this so that I learn the process of following through with an idea, knowing that this experience will help me later when I have time to work on another idea (and then another, etc.).

I`m in the process of finishing our basement, building an office as part of that deal. I realized yesterday that I probably need to have two desks, facing away from each other. One desk will be for my current job, for when I work from home. The other desk will be for my "entrepreneering".

And I use that term (it`s not a typo) to remind myself that taking ideas to reality involves entrepreneuring and engineering (methodically working through the process).

Blessings on your ideas and the work you put into them! Keep us all posted as to what idea you start with.

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Brian O`Keefe
Web Designer & Writer @ YiNZCO
Athlete & T-Shirt Guy @ STR!VE NATiON