Did you stumble across some brilliant concept for a business while singing in the shower this morning?
Let's say you found this huge problem affecting everyone in your circles, and you think you have a million-dollar formula for a solution.
Now what? Unless you're the reincarnate of Steve Jobs, chances are your idea isn't a breakthrough.
But that's okay because your idea is a very small piece to a very large puzzle.
Most mentors and venture capitalists will argue your ability to follow through is what makes the difference.
Solid ideas with poor execution won't end up anywhere near their potential.
Bad ideas with poor execution likely won't make it out of the starting gate.
Are there some ideas positioned to perform better than others when executed?
Yes, and you'll reduce the odds of some serious disappointment by avoiding these four pitfalls when choosing your business idea:
1. Choosing something you know you'll have trouble following through on.
If you can't get yourself to be passionate about your idea, you're going to have a tough time progressing.
You're effectively choosing to make the process of building your empire more difficult.
If you think the first 10 percent of work is hard, don't even think about that last 10 percent.
When your ideas don't invoke a sense of excitement, you might be a want-repreneur.
So if you can't follow through on things, work on fixing that problem first.
2. Your time and your work: no business automation.
As you get ready for bed, you feel a little sniffle coming on.
You take a Vitamin C tablet with a tall glass of water, and call it a night.
Then, you wake up the next morning feeling like the girl from "The Exorcist."
What's the problem with calling in sick? Absolutely everything, if your business needs you to be there.
Here are a few examples of one-man shows that wouldn't work too well if the person called out sick: food stand owners, kiosk salespersons, cell phone repair shops, landscapers and pool cleaners.
Brainstorm options like using technology to automate work or hiring contractors and staff.
It should be safe to assume most founders are on the grind to break free of the 9 to 5 routine.
It doesn't make sense to work on a business that falls apart the moment you take a vacation or have an emergency.
3. Choosing something you know you don't have money for.
Try not to make things more difficult in the beginning. If you know you're going to have trouble finding capital for an idea, then choose something else.
Creating more hurdles will only increase the chances of point number one becoming an issue.
For those who have a proven track record of founding successful businesses, this need not apply.
People who have proven themselves are much more likely to find investors, and they usually have what it takes to see an idea to the end.
4. Expensive customers: high acquisition cost.
This is something that needs to be measured over time, but the general gist is this: You have to spend X amount of money on ads, press or other marketing for a customer that pays you Y.
If your X is bigger, your sales won't be enough to cover the cost of finding customers and converting them.
You're going to be a sinking ship, unless you find a way to tweak your idea. For starters, try shrinking X or raising Y.
All people these days think they're entrepreneurs.
If you want to better your chances and prove the haters wrong, do your homework.
Most ideas out there are twists on one or more older concepts.
Avoid these four pitfalls when forming your own.
Make sure you follow through on execution, so your business idea can thrive.
