Comments on: I have a great idea, but I can’t tell you

By: SoCon09 - welcome back to Atlanta | Introspection

SoCon09 - welcome back to Atlanta | Introspection — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 15:22:12 +0000

[...] working on something we’ve been talking about for a few years now. That’s my theory: Your idea sucks. Glad to see these guys doing something about [...]

By: ukollieboy

ukollieboy — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:46:17 +0000

Hey was browsing and came across this article. I am 29 and have four kids and want to to give them a good life , up until i read your article i had just about given up the idea. Thanks.

By: Mike Blake

Mike Blake — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 14:39:49 +0000

An element I ask entrepreneurs to consider when they ask me about revealing their ideas is if their idea is so easy to replicate, that anyone hearing it can steal it and execute it successfully, is the idea itself really that strong after all?

There needs to be something unique about the entrepreneur and his/her resources that is the catalyst for transforming an idea into a viable business.

We actually had one person ask us a couple of days ago of the perils of revealing his idea to investors at Capital Connections. I guess the only foolproof way to not have someone steal his idea is to stay home. A fat load of value the idea has in that case!

By: Mike Sabat

Mike Sabat — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:50:24 +0000

Good post – two quick things to add.

1. With certain friends, I’m the “business guy” so every time they get an idea they tell me. What I’ve realized about help from others is – you have to take it as far as you possibly can, by yourself before you can really expect someone else to help you. sure I talk with friends about ideas, but my advice is almost always that I’m sure someone else is doing that. Google your idea and find out who else is doing it. This is something easy that anyone can do.

2. I’m working on the next great big idea, who isn’t. I am usually not paranoid, but the closer I get to launch the less I want to tell the idea. Maybe there are less people that can actually help me, maybe I’m worried about not being the first to market. Either way I guess the “That’s a great idea” from people just isn’t as important until the marketing starts.

By: tats

tats — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:01:14 +0000

“You gotta figure out how to get your product going and get some revenue – any amount of revenue – to validate what you’re trying to do.”

Perfect! I’ve been creating for 15 months so far & I’m still going strong, this post carries me a little further -thanks Jeff

By: Roy Russo

Roy Russo — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:37:34 +0000

Any idiot can generate ideas. The trophy goes to those who can execute on them.

I actually credit, you (Jeff), with empowering me to take the plunge. That dinner at Maggiano’s was a good dose of tough-love that was the catalyst that started it all, and we’ve been a steam-roller ever since!

So, Jeff, if you fail miserably with future endeavors and end up a pauper, at least you can look back and say you had a positive impact on LoopFuse. Thats worth something, right?

By: Matt Peterson

Matt Peterson — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:14:09 +0000

Jeff, thanks for the great perspective. It certainly does get the wheels turning about finding creative ways to get the ball rolling.

By: Josh Watts

Josh Watts — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:43:52 +0000

Bravo! You boiled down the essence of entrepreneurship to one sentence – “Entrepreneurs find a way.” To me, being an entrepreneur is being convinced you’re going to succeed (and making it happen) when everybody else tells you you’re going to fail. It’s amazing what happens when you start creating a product – the other pieces you worry about start falling into place.