You aren’t starting a product. You are starting a company.
Ideas are pretty common, just like light bulbs.
I thought I’d start doing something new each week and sharing a little of my experience creating new start up companies. Hope it’s interesting to you.
Over the last two years, I’ve probably met a dozen people that are looking for a developer to implement their big idea. Here’s the usual pitch:
Work for free (or close to) and build my idea, and share in the reward when it is the next big thing.
Here is why these offers are horrible:
Most big ideas die a miserable, lonely, impoverished death because they don’t get enough energy, time and/or money. You see, when you start a company, you are not creating a product. You are starting a company.
There’s a lot more to a company than a product or service. In fact, your product/big idea is what you make and sell. There’s a good chance that if you do things right, your company will make and sell lots of big ideas.
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If I had known how many non-marketing things I would be involved in, I am not sure I would have been so excited about starting a marketing company.
Lorraine Ball recently posted..Small Business Brochure Tips
I wonder if the phenomenon of “do it for free” and get payment on the backend is more Indiana than anywhere else?
Seems it is more an issue of capital than anything else.
Paul Lorinczi recently posted..Dan Wheldon Post-Indy 500 Press Conference- Part 3
It is common everywhere. The challenge is if a person has not money then even if you built it for free how are they going to market, conduct biz dev activities, etc?
There is a difference between being lean and having nothing.
Kevin –
“how are they going to market, conduct biz dev activities, etc?”
That’s the problem. It is amazing how many people I’ve met have a container load of the next big thing in their garage, but no money left to promote or sell it.
@ Paul Lorinczi – yes, it’s an issue of capital, but also an issue of not recognizing the real value in the developer’s expertise and time. That, too, is a farm-country thing
I’m not a developer but I would think there’s a lot of people out there with good developed ideas that actually have the capital to pay. I agree completely what a horrible idea this is to give of your human capital on something that ‘s not positive it’s going to work.
Hello! Very good advice on this article!