Ever Ask Yourself What Would Happen If?

"What would happen if," you ask yourself, and, at that point, you have opened your creative mindset to see a new horizon. But the process you are taking yourself down may not result in anything beneficial; which is why folks who have great ideas don't get them to the action phase- they stay stuck in neutral gear. "What would happen if," becomes, "aw it probably wouldn't have worked anyway." If you've ever found yourself thinking such, and, eventually not doing what you were dwelling on, this column is for you, it will show you something about that thought, you may never have heard before. If you've never had such a thought, you're probably not being honest, but let's say you are and you've just never thought such, then this column is for certain going to be rewarding in the time you spend consuming it. And; it won't give you indigestion.

The thought you dwell on about a business, wanting to own one, wanting to start one, even when it's not unique, probably especially when it's not unique, is a great thought that you should consider, here's why. Every great business has to start somewhere, and that place is in the mind of the person who first sees it as worth attempting. Most business professors teach the concept of need- meeting a need- in fact one of the most successful entrepreneurs around pushes a concept that he calls FANFI- find a need and fill it [See Conference Guru Entrepreneur profile], which worked well for him, but the question needs to come home to you; will it work for you? Can you apply it in your life, you might see the need, but you can't fill it; at least, not from where you are. Does that mean that your vision should be negated? You are the one having the thought, it is your idea, it's likely not singular, but why negate its worth?

Everyone is aware of the fact that our globe is becoming increasingly smaller due to better communications, more open communications, and more available free data. What many dreamers are not taking note of is that many people have the same dream, see the same vision, and believe the same need exists to be filled. This singular phenomenon isn't new, it has always existed, but in competition, rather than, cooperation. If you choose to hoard your idea, the percentage of times it will not be accomplished is immeasurable, but if you choose to share your idea with others of like mindedness, the percentile on it becoming a reality, increase dramatically. The reason for this is the nature of shared information. Let's make it mathematical and see if it formulates into something that is believable? Let's say your idea is worth one point - and not shared, it remains such, you can't find financing for the idea, you can't develop the product, you can't do the service, and eventually your idea withers away, at that point, did it change value at all? No, it still has the same value of one! Now let's share the idea with someone, so you have the idea, that is one point, and they have the idea, that is one point, how much is the idea point value now? Exactly, it just became 2. You know another individual who can use this idea, you think, so you share it with them, what is the value of it now? 3 because you and your friend in the network are now sharing an idea which someone else also knows. With each additional contact the point value of the idea increases. But the really cool part is coming- and it has a precaution as well, so read on.

Like mindedness doesn't always mean ethical and fair toward you. Put another way, how can you add value to your idea, share it, and yet, not get ripped off? Test the waters with a written statement of your idea. Rather than simply having a statement, when you share your concept inform the other part that you've written it out, and, are considering yourself as the point of origin for the business concept, would they be willing to share with you under such conditions? Let them know you intend to be fair, but if they decide that what you are talking about isn't for them, you'd like them to send others your way, instead of trying to make the idea for the business fly without you. You will find this hard to believe, yet, when you start out this way, you will find people who will say, "I was thinking about that, man alive, sure, but I've written mine down also, let's see how they are different, maybe we can combine our ideas and share." Notice that term share, how much was your idea worth by itself? How much is it worth now? Are you gonna get ripped off? Unfortunately the answer is going to have to remain, maybe; because there are a lot of unethical folks around, but, in the long run if you try this, and don't let your idea die on the vine of life, you will find that success does come to those who answer the question "what would happen if," by doing what they believe in.