The Big Idea

I hate small ideas. Ok, hate is a pretty strong word -- dislike is more accurate. But, what really gets my juices going, and puts me into action, is the Big Idea.

There is nothing particularly wrong with small ideas, along with products and services for local and regional markets. They can fill an important need and in fact be quite profitable and attractive for investors. It’s just a matter of preference, and my passion lies in projects that have at least a national consumer base; if not a global one. It’s more than the potential to make lots of money (which of course has a lot to do with it), but also the chance to make a difference and shape the future direction of consumerism and society.

What do I consider a Big Idea? For consumers, it has to have a significant national base. It’s hard to quantify (in percent of the total US population) what constitutes this base. So, what is my opinion of a significant consumer base? Men, Women, Dieters, TV Watchers, Internet Users, Drivers, Sports Fans – these would be examples. Groups like Teens, College Students, New Drivers, and the AARP Crowd might fit too, but could also be seen as niche plays. In addition, your new innovation (product or service) needs to fill a need for this group. It does not have to be an entirely new concept (true inventors are often too far ahead of their potential customers), but must add value for the individual. Value may be freeing up time (or making that time more efficient), creating an entertainment experience, passing on important information, and so on. If you can fill a need and create value for a large number of members of a significant consumer base, you may just have the next great Business Idea.

I hear you saying, you’re crazy -- that Big Ideas don’t just happen overnight, they often evolve from successful small ideas. While it may be true that big companies start small and build into large ones, often its growth potential is only realized by the Big Ideas and Vision of the founder(s).

My view is why settle for small ideas when you can Dream Big.