Business: Startup and Grow


Strategy- Can You Validate?


Typically, I come from a place and a time, I suppose, where some planning may have been necessary, but eventually you had to get down to “the doing”.  People in the Capital Region believe in a lot of planning.  Nothing wrong with that, except when you talk the idea to death, its dead.  Two ways you talk an idea to death.  First you share your idea(s) with people who do not want to see you succeed;  consciously or subconsciously, it’s the same thing.  That is energy lost, and confidence defeating- both things you will need plenty of  to get that business off the ground.  Second, you share with folks who have no base of experience from which you can learn, nor do they possess the educational or creative feedback you require.  Soon enough, you sap all of the momentum from the idea, and its glitter and glamor fade away.  What was a brilliant idea, becomes a “oh well that would never have worked out anyway” idea, and you shelve it or forget about it altogether.  Some endeavors are more conducive to longer planning while others simply don’t require as much planning.

There are business counselors, developers, and consultants who sit down with people and offer viable, creative and motivational strategies and advice, on not only what your idea is, but how to make it better.  That’s what I get to do most days.  I meet with people with a dream or idea for owning their own business.  First I sit and let them explain the merits of the plan, and in a very supportive and enthusiastic way, I get them to defend the idea and its merits.  That’s a great way to test the ‘thoroughness” of their understanding of the plan.  After that, I offer suggestions on how to improve or innovate the idea so it is unique in some way.  This is the type of fertile soil you should always plant your ideas in, if you expect growth.

I love the idea of a small business enclave or summit where strategy sessions could include individuals who all share the goal of starting a new business; harbor an acceptable amount of fear regarding their ideas; and would not only benefit from, but contribute to the pool of ideas for everyone else. Maybe that’s an idea to work on.  Stay tuned!  And no, I am not naive, I know people appropriate others’ ideas, and some even attempt to poison the well.  But that should never be enough to spoil a good idea.  Leave the haters behind, and get ready to do what you have conceived of doing, and do it best.

Taking the plunge is not always fool-hearty.  I will add this- these are difficult times to conceive of leaving your current job to start a new business.  There is greater wisdom in figuring out a way to start the business from where you are; after hours, weekends, whatever.  But whatever you do, it is better to keep your idea to yourself until you find someone to advise you more properly than to look for validation of your idea from your “friends”.  The potential harm is greater than any benefit you might receive.

Tonya Crew

One Response

  1. Tonya, I feel like these are really valid points you are making. I’d never thought about how over-talking an idea, or even talking about it to the wrong people, can wear it out and kill it. Even though I’d never realized this before, it is so true. I think you put it perfectly when it said “its glitter and glamor fade away.” This basically means you are no longer excited about the idea, and since today it is risky to leave your job for a new business idea, you better be darn excited about it, otherwise you won’t do the hard work necessary to make it succeed.