Ideas are cheap
I bet you've heard this one before. But ideas are not always cheap. As usual, the importance of this message is in the detail, which obviously, the short, memorable message does not have. What it should say instead is that coming up with an idea is relatively easy (even if sometimes random) and does not mean you have the ability, the team, the funding, the approach, the chance, and so on, to turn it into a successful business. As Ash Maurya often says, the idea is just 1/9th of your business plan. Although I think he mostly says that about the solution but by analogy it has to be true for the idea as well. Either way, I hope you get what this means now.
For a long time, I struggled with ideas, and I was puzzled and fascinated how others can generate them. I was hungry for knowledge so I was reading books and blogs and whatnot, trying to build more information about startups, and how to be a better founder. Eventually I learned how to generate many ideas and I can share my approach with you. I won't be writing a book (or 3!!) because I can relay the message in a sentence. There's really only two steps to this.
Step one - give up critiquing your ideas. When you come up with an idea, simply write it down. Do not try to evaluate it and decide how good it is. You will have time for it later. Evaluating an idea too early is likely to kill it and it may never happen. If you look into some ideas that took a really, really long time to be realised - like the computer mouse or video conferencing, you will see that at the time these ideas first appeared, they were rejected, and perhaps sounded ridiculous. But eventually, at the right time, someone made them and they are now very popular. Simply have a list where you can write your ideas and let them sit there (I use Notes on my phone and laptop). Eventually, at some point, one of these ideas might be your next million dollar business. You'll be surprised!
Step two - You can't generate new ideas if you're always busy with something else. Take breaks. Go for a walk. Mediate. Play a game even. When you give you brain some space it will learn to give you ideas. At least, that's how it worked for me. And over time, from a person struggling to come up with any ideas, I have turned into a person maintaining 2-3 lists of 50+ ideas in each. There was no magic to it and I certainly wasn't born with the skill! Just give it a try, what's to lose?
For a long time, I struggled with ideas, and I was puzzled and fascinated how others can generate them. I was hungry for knowledge so I was reading books and blogs and whatnot, trying to build more information about startups, and how to be a better founder. Eventually I learned how to generate many ideas and I can share my approach with you. I won't be writing a book (or 3!!) because I can relay the message in a sentence. There's really only two steps to this.
Step one - give up critiquing your ideas. When you come up with an idea, simply write it down. Do not try to evaluate it and decide how good it is. You will have time for it later. Evaluating an idea too early is likely to kill it and it may never happen. If you look into some ideas that took a really, really long time to be realised - like the computer mouse or video conferencing, you will see that at the time these ideas first appeared, they were rejected, and perhaps sounded ridiculous. But eventually, at the right time, someone made them and they are now very popular. Simply have a list where you can write your ideas and let them sit there (I use Notes on my phone and laptop). Eventually, at some point, one of these ideas might be your next million dollar business. You'll be surprised!
Step two - You can't generate new ideas if you're always busy with something else. Take breaks. Go for a walk. Mediate. Play a game even. When you give you brain some space it will learn to give you ideas. At least, that's how it worked for me. And over time, from a person struggling to come up with any ideas, I have turned into a person maintaining 2-3 lists of 50+ ideas in each. There was no magic to it and I certainly wasn't born with the skill! Just give it a try, what's to lose?
2nd top reason why startups fail
If you're reading this, I am sure you've heard that (depending on the source you read) 80% or 90% of startups fail because they build a product (or service) nobody wants. The exact percentage is irrelevant here. This truly is the top reason for startup failure. Which is why you need to get my starter package so I can help you validate your idea. But this is about the 2nd highest ranking reason. Which is "not starting at all". Yes, not even trying to validate your idea will most certainly result in you building nothing, and then most likely someone else building your idea and enjoying the benefits of it. Pretty much like the guy who built my idea to rent parking spaces. Only joking. I never acted on it, so it's fine.
The Lean Stack approach
I have been an entrepreneur for more than 12 years now, and I struggle to identify a method or an author who had a bigger impact to my approach and my success and learning than the LeanStack method by Ash Maurya. Which is why it is my go to choice for helping fellow entrepreneurs making a start, validating their ideas, creating a rollout plan and executing that plan to success.
LeanStack is how the Continuous Innovation Framework (CIF) started. As Ash says, the CIF is a collection of frameworks that help entrepreneurs navigate the difficult journey of starting a business. The CIF builds on a multitude of other ideas and frameworks like Lean Startup, The scientific method, Business modelling, Lean manufacturing, and others.
I have spent more than 10 years studying this method. I've had many failures, many learnings and some successes. At any point in time I usually work with 3-4 different startup founders to help guide them through the process.
LeanStack is how the Continuous Innovation Framework (CIF) started. As Ash says, the CIF is a collection of frameworks that help entrepreneurs navigate the difficult journey of starting a business. The CIF builds on a multitude of other ideas and frameworks like Lean Startup, The scientific method, Business modelling, Lean manufacturing, and others.
I have spent more than 10 years studying this method. I've had many failures, many learnings and some successes. At any point in time I usually work with 3-4 different startup founders to help guide them through the process.
How I can help you
I have designed several different options to help you get started and guide you through the CIF process to ensure that you are solving a problem that's worth solving and that your idea is validated before building a solution. I also have workshops and 1-2-1 guidance plans to help you grow your business and focus on the longer term by building an organisation with the infinite mindset. Here's how to get started (coming soon)
