Being someone who constantly has ideas entering my mind, I need a filter.
A close friend of mine quoted a fellow start-up founder he’d been speaking with:
“I like to succeed quickly, and fail quickly, because it’s cheaper either way.”
With this in mind, I’m in the process of developing a semi-formal idea filter ready for when inspiration comes. It’ll help remove unnecessary head noise. I’m talking early idea conception, not so much the business planning stage, of which there are already helpful tools.
The filter currently includes:
- Is it an idea that will need to rely on a heavy sales pitch? If so it probably already has competition.
- Does it have a viable market? Unless it’s art or a hobby, it’ll need to be financially viable.
- Will new technology deem it obsolete when the sun sets? (sunset tech-industries have a closer horizon)
- Do I care enough about the space I’ll be getting into to get through the hard times?
- Will anyone join me? What resources will i need other than my own?
- Is the problem i’m solving real or just my obscure problem?
Of course there are hundreds more, this is a nice brief start.
I’ll be continually adding to the filter. On that note this helpful post just came along.
Please feel free to add suggestions yourself.
All ideas about ideas and idea filters aside, even if one gets through the filter, it’s a hard road executing.
