I once hatched an idea with a great buddy of mine. It was back in Zimbabwe at the height of the AIDs epidemic in the mid-90s. Then, it was extremely hard for people to bury their loved ones back in their home villages because they couldn’t afford coffins or transport them from the city using buses or commuter transport.
Over many beers, we believed we could build flatpack coffins from strong cardboard or light wood. As excited as we were about the idea, we were talked down by friends and family. After all, we were only 20-something-year-olds with little capital and silly ideas. Finally, someone else filled this need, no doubt made a viable business out of it and solved a desperate problem, and we got on with our day jobs.
It’s natural to be anxious about pursuing an idea that might fail. Worried that your reputation might be tarnished if things don’t go as planned? The fear of looking stupid is a common concern, regardless of our job titles or positions. A small percentage of people feel the fear and get stuck in any way. They have idea after idea and keep at it even if they don’t work out.
However, most of us prefer dreaming or fostering ideas while staying certain, playing it safe, and sticking to what we know, wishing we had the time/money/resources/patience/guts to take a chance.
Wouldn’t living a life with more excitement and adventure would be great? Plus, who knows, your “crazy” idea could be the next big thing or, at the very least, be much fun bringing it to life.
Here are a few business examples where people took a risk, pursued their idea, and had the last laugh. Remember the Apple Newton, the first PDA? It was introduced in 1993 and was a complete flop, leading to the infamous quote, “If you see a stylus, they blew it.” Fast forward to 2007, and the iPhone was introduced, revolutionising the smartphone industry and becoming a massive success. Steve Jobs could have easily given up after the Newton failed, but he didn’t. Instead, he kept pushing forward; we all know how that turned out.
Another example is Airbnb. Co-founders Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia first proposed renting out air mattresses in their apartment during a conference; they were met with scepticism and ridicule. But they didn’t let that stop them. Instead, they pursued their idea, and now Airbnb is valued at over $70 billion!
While these ideas are at the big end and the risk is huge, there are many examples of local businesses that take off. If there’s a lesson here (and I’m also writing to give myself some advice while I build Agile Minds), don’t be afraid to pursue your idea, even if it might fail. Take risks, learn from your mistakes, and keep pushing forward. Talk to people who will move you forward and not tear you down. You need to start at least, even if it’s evenings and weekends.
If you still need to figure it out, why not reach out to me for a chat?