Your Great Idea is Not Perfect and Neither is Mine

LA BarCamp was this past weekend. I was able to stop by on Sunday for a few hours and hang out and meet some really cool people. Mad props to Heather Vescent and the rest of the LA BarCamp team for putting on a great event.

People, often including myself, tend to take criticism of their new business ideas very personal. After all, you have spent countless hours and sleepless nights creating the perfect vision and plan of execution. So, you may ask, why should I care what some person (whether it be a friend or stranger) thinks about my idea? The answer is because that person may be a future customer, and a successful idea must make sense not only to you, but also to the people who buy your product or use your service.

The reality is that entrepreneurs often get tunnel vision when developing a new idea and become resistant to differing opinions. That is why it is important to create a strong team of people who will speak their minds and add fresh ideas, not just agree with your every move. A great business idea and plan is really just a framework. You know there is a market with a need and you know exactly how to fill it; the hard part is making it all happen. Things are never going to go according to plan, and the ability to adapt and embrace new ideas is what makes great companies.

Along those same lines; when somebody tells you about their idea, be honest with them. While it’s easier to be nice and not speak your mind, you are doing them a huge disservice by not providing them with helpful and straightforward criticism.

LA Barcamp/March Madness

Our friends/partners at LA BarCamp are hosting their semi-annual event -- BarCampLA-3 next weekend (it runs overnight from 10 am on Saturday March 23rd to 7 PM on Sunday March 24th). It’s all about participation, sharing new ideas and a love for technology. You can read the details at:

http://barcamp.org/BarcampLA-3

One of my most favorite times of the year is the three weeks known as March Madness. Of course my productivity goes to shit for the first four days (it’s hard to concentrate on work when you have four do or die games going on in the background, at the same time). What really makes it special is that these kids aren’t getting paid (at least they’re not supposed to) and give everything they’ve got because it’s win or go home. Unlike the NBA, it’s rarely the team with the best player that wins it all (Texas, with the consensus National Player of the Year Kevin Durant, was eliminated today). Rather, it’s the team with the 7 or 8 solid players, who come together to win six tough games during the tournament. Leadership, Teamwork, Skill, Perseverance, Determination, Coaching, Innovation, and a little luck; that’s what it takes to turn a great team into a champion

Why Saturday is Just Another Day for an Entrepreneur

A quick note – Twiistup.com is live. We are still working on a making the site look good, but we wanted to go ahead and get the information out to the public. It should be a fun and valuable experience for anybody interested in Technology and Innovation in Southern California; so check it out.

Now for my rant -- I mean my very informative post …

Let them look forward to the weekend. Who is them you ask? They, the rest of them, Joe American; you know, normal people. I’ll be content with today. You see, for me, Saturday (and for that matter Sunday) is just another day of the week.

While most people go into work from 9-5 (or 9-6, whatever) Monday – Friday, an entrepreneur can’t really afford to take off a day, just because it happens to be a Saturday. I’ve talked a lot about creating positive momentum for your idea, and nothing stalls momentum quite like the weekend. Now, I’m not talking about working every hour of every day of your life, its fine to take days off and do other things. But, why should everybody else control what day that will be. Maybe it’s the non-conformist in me, but if people are going one way, I kind of like to go the other.

When you start a new business, you may often find yourself taking on a larger/more established company. Sure, they may have 100 times more money than you and a thousand more employees, but they also have to deal with the mess that it all creates. Your edge is that you’re always innovating, always thinking of new and better ways to serve the customer. no matter what day it is.