Getting off to a successful start

Over the years, we (and, we are sure, you) have had hundreds of conversations with people that go something like this …

“I’m thinking of starting a business, I just need an idea”

“I’ve always dreamed of having my own health club”

“I’ve got this great product, I just need to work out how to sell it”

During these conversations you soon begin to feel that the conversation will never amount to anything more than just a conversation. Then, very occasionally someone comes along and says …

“I’ve been thinking about the idea of …… can I share it with you and see what you think”

Something draws you into the exploration of how it might work or how it might be better. Through the conversation you shape their thinking and before you realise it they are moving on to what they are going to do next to make something happen. You realise that it is these conversations that amount to something. So, what is it that distinguishes those who actually start businesses from those who do not.

If you have hundreds of conversations you start to realise that whilst curiosity killed the cat it made the ambitious business owner.

All the people that have gone on to set up a business had a belief that there was a better way to do something and the only way to get it was to do it themselves. In doing so they were starting with a question not an answer, a problem not a solution, a customer need not a product, a real issue not a dream.

The dreamers simply became disappointed the moment reality came in to view.

So if you  are thinking of starting a business here are some questions that you might want to answer.

1. What problem are you really trying to solve?
2. For who are you trying to solve it?
3. How can you solve it in a way that is better than what is already out there?
4. Who do you need to speak to next in order to develop the right question?