2 minute read
Pursuing an Idea Tenaciously by Michael Tavani
DAY 23 PURSUING AN IDEA TENACIOUSLY
By Michael Tavani
Advertisement
Co-Founder of Scoutmob.
@tavani
Pursuing a good idea tenaciously can come easy to people. It doesn’t have to feel forced or like “work”. There are many hurdles in starting things (company, project, non-profit, etc) and the idea definitely shouldn’t be one of them. In fact, for most entrepreneurs and creatives the idea is the fun and easy part. Here are a few thoughts that stand out to me...
1. Hardest part = take the plunge. Once you have the idea, it’s now time to decide how much time and resources go into it. Most people are hesitant to disrupt their life to pursue an idea. Unfortunately, most ideas will never turn into reality with only a few hours dedicated to it weekly. There are always people working full-time on a similar idea. Jump in. It’s usually not pretty but you’ll figure out how to operate the parachute on the way down.
2. Ideas vs Execution. The idea gets you 1% of the way to a success. Execution, the hard work and devil-in-the-details part, is the other 99% that determines whether you have a success.
3. Tell your idea to everyone. Since it’s all about execution, there is no worry that someone else will steal your idea. You’re always protected that they would still have to execute to make it happen and that part is not so easy. You’ll get a lot more value by sharing what you’re working on with everyone you talk to. You’d be amazed at some of the advice, introductions, partnerships, and things that come out of it.
4. Get a product out quick and get real, live feedback early on. Too many times entrepreneurs beat themselves up about their product when they could go right to the market and get that feedback for free and much quicker. Go with an MVP (minimum viable product) until you feel confident that you’ve nailed the product and come out with the most delightful product you can.
5. Delight users because average loses every single time. In today’s online world, your competitor is always just a click away. It is imperative to make something people want. Something users are compelled to share and evangelize because they truly love the service.
6. Now is the best time in the history of the world to start something. The costs and barriers to entry have been lowered to just needing a computer, an internet connection, a good idea and a passionate champion. The biggest truth I’ve learned in starting Scoutmob is that there is nothing better than being in the game. I pinch myself every day thinking that I get to work in this time and on this stuff.
