“I’m the assistant to the traveling secretary. I’m going on the road trips with them! I’ll be on the plane… I’m working in Yankee Stadium! This is a dream, I’m busting, Jerry, I’m busting!” — George Costanza
I’m excited… like George I’m busting. A friend and I have a business idea that we think simply can’t fail. Like of the best ideas out there, it just fell into our lap. We’ve sat down and crunched the numbers about 30 different ways and each time, it’s profitable… very profitable. Our costs could potentially be low. The value we add would be great. The barrier to entry for other competitors is not huge, but it’s enough. That’s about all I can say for now – I’m not going into specifics while we are in stealth mode.
I haven’t felt like this since college. A good friend and I would stay up all night dreaming about business plans. We thought about putting on a mini-Woodstock at our college. We figured there would be no way we couldn’t clear a lot of money. We later found that there were a lot of difficulties in running a concert – we simply didn’t have the industry knowledge to know how much work there was. One of our other ideas was a premium vodka bottle – with cheap vodka inside – sold at a premium price. Our theory was that the bottle would convince people that the vodka inside was actually better than it was. I’m not sure it was the best idea, but you see a similar thing in the wine industry sometimes.
The result of this new business opportunity has me extremely excited. It’s amazing how much energy I’ve found. It’s night and day versus the time I was working full-time looking at another 35 years of the same routine each day.
Maybe the idea will flop. There is always the chance that our potential customers won’t understand the value we can provide. We believe we can build a very compelling case with oodles of independent research. Even in this worst case scenario, I’ll look back to what I’m feeling now and realize how successful it was. The power of a dream is priceless.
Photo Credit: Elfeda
I know exactly how you feel. The main difference is that I was much younger and actually went along with it, only to fall flat on my face :)
Now I’m older (and hopefully wiser), and I’m sitting here laughing at the error of my ways. The good thing is that I’m a competitive person and that has only fanned the motivation of the entrepreneur in me :)
So now the question is, how long do we have to wait to find out what it was ;)
I would guess a good 6 months. If there were a great barrier to entry, I’d be a lot more open with it. I think I’ll be using my Lazy Man name and persona with it. There’s a chance some diligent work could turn things up sooner than I announce it.
Looking forward to hearing about it. I guess I’ll have to hunker down for the 6 month haul.
Aren’t dreams fun? :)
Congrats and good luck! I know that feeling… ride it as long as you can…
One nitpicky comment on your word choice that I feel is worth pointing out.
you wrote:
“There is always the chance that our potential customers won’t understand the value we can provide.”
If your customer doesn’t understand it, then your not providing any value. Put the onus on yourself to create value for the customer, not on the customer to understand it.
A better way to say the above woudl be:
“There is always a chance that we misunderstand what our customer wants/needs and in the end don’t create anything of value for them.”
Good Luck!
Looking forward to reading about your success. I love the feeling. Good luck.
Curtis, that’s not nitpicky at all. I think my original statement is what I intended…
It is extraordinarily difficult to determine exact metrics for success. Let’s invent a hypothetical business where it were possible to back in old movies and replace product placements. So you offer M&M’s the ability go into all copies of E.T. and replace Reese’s Pieces with M&M’s (they are probably the same candy company, but pretend they are rivals). M&M’s agrees.
You perform the work (I know it’s impossible, but for sake of argument assume that is it). Six months later when M&Ms has to renew their subscription (you have do your magic each month and it’s very difficult), how do you show value it created their company? What if M&M’s ran another promotion for a different movie? The only way I can think is try to get a mammoth focus group together and hope some have re-watched E.T.
This analogy is some of the difficulty that we would face. There is obviously some benefit versus doing nothing, but quantifying it is challenging.
Good luck
Congrats! how fun. I wish you guys the best.
Oooooh, that is seriously one of the BEST feelings out there – right next to find “the one”, and “having/making babies” ;)
The last time i had that feeling (the one you’re posting about) i started my PF blog! it all made sense:
– spending hours a day reading about finance? check.
– spend hours a day thinking about finance? check.
– use my college degree (graphic design)? aww yeah!
I have faith in your Lazy Man – keep riding the creative wave!
You know, I really don’t like it when people tell me “I know a secret, but I can’t tell you”.
Why do you bother to tell me you have a secret in the first place?
Anyways, good luck with the idea.
Mike
This post is not about the secret, it’s about the feeling of optimism and how it can bring in your step.
Can’t wait to hear about it! Go deep!
Ha, my problem has always been having too many ideas. I try to pursue all of them, so they all get semi-attention and none of them go anywhere. I’m working on my ability to choose one and FOCUS.
Good luck Lazy!
Good luck!
What a learning experience is in store for you. Can’t wait to hear how it all pans out for you- it’ll be a wild ride for sure.
Congrats on making the big decision.