Using “original” ideas to start a business is a sure route to a flop

English: Fish & Chips Restaurant in Broadstair...
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Would you consider using an “original” idea to start a product or service or small venture of your own?

If you look around in your local business community, how many businesses do you see started from an “original” idea?

Probably none.

There is a reason for this:

It’s far better to tweak an existing idea than come up with something original that no one knows about and that you are going to struggle to sell. Continue reading “Using “original” ideas to start a business is a sure route to a flop”

Come on! It can’t be this easy to get ideas can it?

Ideas for recycling

A reader asked me this question after reading “Creativity sucks. Or does it?” last week:

QUESTION: I read your blog post on “Creativity sucks” and wondered whether you are for imitation rather than generating original ideas. What gives?

CHESNEY: First off, I don’t want to offer any stuffy definitions about original ideas and imitation. Let’s be clear: Imitation doesn’t mean wholesale or complete copying of someone else’s idea. You still need to generate ideas to come up with a product or service that is different from those already introduced or you will just be giving customers what they can buy elsewhere. You need a distinct point of differentiation.

What I tried to get across was that imitation can involve creativity. Duplication or direct copying is not. Let’s face it; imitation is not about mindless copying of others ideas, products and services. The fast follower needs creative imagination to come up with a product or service that is similar but different what’s already on the market. Continue reading “Come on! It can’t be this easy to get ideas can it?”