It’s happened again. Your partner came to work with another idea for how to find customers.
Before dismissing it with a “Yeah I’ll get right on that when I finish everything else I have to to”, take a minute and define a few things.
Not all ideas are good ones, but all it takes is one good one to make money, so you need a system that will help you size up every notion. Try this one on for size.
Start with the criticism Oreo cookie. Good-criticism-good.
“I like that idea, Cyd. Let’s talk about this for a minute.” (the good)
Now, look for a measurement. (the criticism)
“Say we did this, where would I see it?
Where are we right now?
Where will we be?
What’s the value of the difference?”
“I’m not trying to discourage the idea – I want to get better at figuring out which ideas to run with.” (the good)
It’s a cookie. A technique that brings down the defenses, makes a point and then keeps future ideas coming.
In this case, the trick is trying to establish how success would be measured.
The cookie won’t stop the ideas from being a distraction, but it will provide a “language” that can identify which ideas are worth pursuing.
Good stuff.