Entries Tagged 'advice' ↓

1) Write down your idea - Write down everything about your idea. I mean everything. Include the most minute details about each and every single feature of your idea. I don’t care if its on a napkin or on Word, do it!

2) Tell your friends - Ask them for an objective opinion. Take a note of everything they say. Many of your friends will probably tell you that your idea isn’t viable or that they just don’t see it happening - don’t let that bother you so much. Instead, look at the core reasons why they don’t think it’ll work… Ask them WHY and make sure they give you an answer! I’m actually in the process of setting up a project manager, called ProjectPier, on one of my domains that I’ll use to get my friends to comment on my ideas anonymously. It keeps me in check and makes sure I don’t get too ahead of myself because sometimes that happens too. Make sure you ask for their insight too, what they’d like to see in it - maybe you forgot something.

3) Research - Conduct intensive research on the area that you’re focusing on. There’s sure to be something out there with some sort of likeness to your idea. Research your target, why they need your product/service and how it will help them. Place a heavy focus on what’s already out there, and how your idea is different. Check this site out for a more in depth writeup on conducting research for your business idea.

4) Create a business plan - If you’re still captivated about your idea after telling your friends about it, create a simple business plan. This is basically taking everything you’ve written and organizing it clear categories and headings.

5) Design a Mockup - If its an internet startup, create a mockup of how the site will be laid out using Photoshop or even something basic like paint. Include all the different pages and functionality that you want your website to have. Later, this can be used to show the designer exactly what your website is all about as it gives them a complete grasp of its layout, functions and design. Here’s another great resource that explains how to create an excellent Photoshop mockup of your website idea.

I commute from Long Island to the Financial District every morning by train. The commute is roughly 2 hours on the Long Island Railroad and it’s a huge chunk of my time. Normally, I keep myself occupied with music on my iPhone and usually doze off. But lately, I’ve been getting into the world of podcasts. There are quite a few awesome podcasts out there that are as educational as they are fun. For example, I listen to VentureVoice every morning as well as a few video podcasts by Revision3 (Diggnation, GigaOm, & Social Brew). Harvard Business Video Ideacast is also a great vidcast that focuses on current trends, strategies and social technologies (they’re old, but smart as hell!). Time that I would otherwise spend listening to the same music over and over is now spent learning about new aspects in social media and the internet - and watching Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht joking around and having beers.

Podcasts are turning into the “new newspaper” for train and subway rides. It’s something that’s really great to get into because you’re really making a great use of otherwise wasted time. There are podcasts that teach you languages, programming/website design, and even New York Times Podcasts. So, do yourself a favor, and wake up every morning and start your commute with a brand spanking new podcast. Seriously, it’s worth it and honestly, I even get excited now to get on the train and begin!

Check out the awesome entrepreneurial podcasts on iTunes under the Business, Careers, and Tech categories.  Enjoy, and if you have a podcast you’d like to share, feel free to comment it up!