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Evolutionary Business Design

5 Steps to develop your good business ideas

bright ideas

If you’re a creative person you’ve probably generated more business  ideas than you can ever implement.

In your mind your latest idea could be the best thing since sliced bread, but if you don’t put in enough strategic thinking BEFORE you get started, it could just lead you down a deep dark rabbit hole…

This 5 Step Strategy to Develop New Ideas will help you sort the “good ideas” from the “time wasters that look good on the surface” and show you how to get the outcome you really want.

Try this:

  1. Capture the ideas – it doesn’t matter how crazy they might seem – just get them down in a journal of some sort. Use words, pictures, links… anything that sparks off the original idea and intention.
  2. What is the problem that THIS is the Solution to? You’ll need a framework to assess the idea. What is your greatest need – your “Burning Desire” right now? Is it to make more money, to get better customers, to have better structure in your business? Whatever that burning desire is write it down at the top of a page. “I need to make more money” (remember to state exactly how much money that is – e.g. $500 more in turnover each week”) You’re going to brainstorm the strategies.
  3. Take each idea you came up with and run it by the Burning Desire. If the idea can help you achieve that exact outcome, without spending too much money or wasting too much time, then it’s time to develop the idea. All other ideas have been captured in the journal so you can come back to them later. Work on ONE idea at a time – go deep.
  4. If you have more than one idea or strategy, assess the idea for ease of implementation. Ask yourself qualifying questions: “Can it be done, by me (or can I pay someone else to do it)? What tools, people, skills will I need to make it successful? How long would it take to implement? How much will it cost? What return do I want for my time and effort?” Write it down. Can you do a “test run” before you throw lots of money at it?
  5. Start the test run – run it by people who would use it or buy it – get some feedback. Don’t try to develop the idea and build a new product / service / system until you know there is a genuine need or market for it or that people actually want what you’ve created.

How do I know this works?

Because I’m a super-high Creator. Without structure to assess and implement ideas Creator types can create chaos. I know it seems like “hard work” from the outside but if you take a little time to plan it out first you’ll save yourself vast amounts of time and energy and money – and you’ll end up with a much better creation from your brilliant ideas.

Good luck. Let me know how it goes.