All businesses have an idea underpinning them. The owner of a plumbing business has the core idea that by combining his or her technical skills with certain organisational skills, a valuable service can be delivered to customers.
In nearly all cases, the core business idea is not a new idea. However, a business is more than just one idea, it is many ideas joined together. The plumber might also have the idea of offering a specialist product, or communicating with customers in a certain way, or providing a higher level of professionalism in some specific way. It is likely that none of these ideas are completely original, but they can be combined in a nearly infinite number of ways. This is one of the reasons being in business is such an exciting, creative endeavour.
Business ideas might involve new businesses you could start, but once you are in business, the focus should be about improvements. These improvements don’t have to be radical or revolutionary. After coming up with the improvement, think of it from the customer’s perspective, with the question: “Will this change provide the customer with a greater sense of order in their lives?”
Many potential business owners wait patiently for a great idea to strike them. This one idea will make them a fortune and until this idea comes there is no point in doing any business. Such an approach is doomed to fail. It is far better to start the business with the best idea you can come up with, then add further ideas to the business as it gains momentum.
It is wrong to think that great business ideas are for gurus or creative geniuses to conjure up. Every business owner has the ability to come up with useful business ideas, or to combine existing ideas in useful ways. The trick is to train yourself to be constantly thinking along these lines and regularly recording ideas you have.
Given the importance of ideas to business success, a system for capturing and developing ideas can be a secret weapon for the business owner.
Richard Branson, the British entrepreneur famous for starting the Virgin Group of companies, was known to always carry a little notebook in his back pocket. In this notebook he would write down ideas that occurred to him through the day. Another approach, which I take myself, is to set aside 20 minutes at around 5pm each day to review the workday and note down any improvements and ideas.
Whatever your preferred method of ‘idea capture’, the steady supply of ideas will start to drive momentum in the business, as well as a positive feeling of motivation. You will start to look forward to recording your ideas and may even have to restrain yourself from coming up with too many ideas!