Idea to IPO

The E-Z method for starting a business. Ha. We’re only half-kidding. Your ideas are only limited by your imagination and the motivation to bring them to life. So how do you take an idea from dream to reality?

Dream Big

No one ever said, “Dream modestly”. There is no limit to the imagination behind an idea. Can you picture the look on someone’s face in 1950 if you could tell them that in the future they would not only be able to use a telephone without a wire but that the phone would also be a camera, a TV, and a way to order coffee? It takes a certain mind to look beyond what already exists — or to see how something could work better. Business ideas are all around us, you just need to find one and move forward with it. Quickly. It’s better to be done than perfect. So don’t listen to the voice in your head that says, “That's impossible”. If you can dream it, you can do it.

Tell a Story

"Sometimes reality is too complex. Stories give it form." —Jean-Luc Godard

You don’t have to be 4 years old to love a good story. We all search for them everyday: in the news, on Netflix, or asking a friend for the latest gossip. Stories can simplify complicated things: feelings, emotions, ideas. Now, the details of your business idea may be the most groundbreaking in your field but don’t forget that not everyone understands the intricacies of, say, cloud migration technology. A better way to draw someone in is through a story. But how do you tell your story?

Start with a broad stroke. Did your business idea come to you in a dream? A near-death experience? A late night conversation with a sibling? Whatever it is, make it compelling. And, as some great writers have said, never let truth get in the way of a good story :)

Ask for Help

For every successful business person there have been many people who have helped along the way. The most important part is when to ask for help. You may be great at coming up with excellent business ideas, but what separates the good entrepreneurs from the great is the ability to recognize when they can’t do it by themselves.

Don't Fear “No"

A warning: when you are at the point of putting your idea out to the world, a lot of people are likely going to scoff at it. Particularly if it is an idea they aren’t familiar with. Most people are uncomfortable with things they don’t understand. But let us remind you of the look on the face of the person from 1950 when someone described a smartphone to them. Don’t lose confidence. In this case, ‘no' is a word that stems from fear —‘yes’ comes from passion.

Build a Culture

Once your business idea is up and rolling, build a culture around it. That not only means internally, but among your customers. Make people feel as though they are part of something. Bring them along for the ride. It is so easy (and relatively inexpensive) to reach specified targets via social media and to engage on both macro and micro levels.

Above all, treat your business idea with respect. Don’t hold on to it too tightly. Let it move. Let it change. Let it grow.