The 5 Stages of a Breakthrough Idea
Do you talk yourself out of
potentially great ideas? Don't worry, that's all part of the cycle. Here's how
a breakthrough really happens.
This question always brings a smile
to my face. When my coaching clients discover a critical breakthrough
idea in their business, their initial reaction includes a lot of
excitement and hope. Then the doubt and fear set in. But breakthrough thinking
isn't born of doubt and fear, it's born of the ability to let go, remove
limits, suspend judgment, and believe in your unique vision.
So the answer is, you never know if
it will work. But if you allow the cycle to happen without sabotaging it with
doubt and fear, your idea can stand a chance.
When JoAnne took her product to
market she was thrilled when a major retail chain picked it up. And it did
well. But when she came into coaching JoAnne quickly realized what a fragile
position she and her company were in. With 100 percent of her earnings
generated by one retailer, JoAnne's company was only one step away from
disaster. So we went to work, exploring all of the possibilities and
opportunities that may lie ahead for her company. Getting her product placed
with other retailers helped, but JoAnne quickly learned that it would take more
to secure her brand in the marketplace.
That's when we thought of
co-branding. What if she approached popular brands that distribute a compatible
product and package JoAnne's product right along with it? This could put her
company on a whole new playing field. And you know what? It
worked--eventually.
But JoAnne and her breakthrough had
to go through the cycle of patience, endurance, and persistence. If you're
aware of the highs and lows before taking the plunge you'll be more likely to
follow it through right to the end. So here you go. These are the five stages
I've witnessed as entrepreneurs allow their breakthrough ideas to evolve,
taking them to the next stage in life and business.
Elation
Some entrepreneurs spend years
searching for the solution to their stagnant sales. For some, these ideas and
solutions eventually appear. And when they do, the thrill of discovery elicits
the hope and anticipation of soaring profits, financial relief, and the taste
of success. Enjoy this phase because these feelings feed your energy and
passion, both necessary components of success. If you move from the elation
phase directly to the doubt and fear phase your idea is doomed and you will
remain in the search phase forever.
Exploration
How many ideas have you negated
because you're certain they won't work, yet you fail to thoroughly explore
their viability before dismissing them entirely? Sometimes your initial idea
isn't the one that pans out, but by committing to your research and further
exploration it's possible that it will morph into something that does work.
Don't give up before you give it a fair shot. Make sure that you have proof (in
the numbers, the market, or whatever presents itself) that the idea is not
viable.
Doubt and Fear
The entrepreneurs who do allow their
breakthrough ideas to develop often get cold feet as things begin to fall into
place. At some point they must make an emotional and financial commitment to
change--and that's scary. So they begin to talk themselves out of the
commitment; usually by believing that they are too busy, too broke, or too
(fill in the blank) to pursue the next steps. This is where you need support.
Mentors, coaches, and peers are critical at this stage. Surround yourself with
people who believe in you and break through the fear by taking one small step
at a time.
Failure
We tend to form expectations and
beliefs around how things should unfold and what they should look
like. As you develop your idea and reach out to manufactures, prospects, or
your audience to take it to the next level you are likely to experience some
disappointments. This can feel like a failure point,
but if you remove the blinders and open your mind to the possibilities your
idea can evolve and flourish. JoAnne was rejected by several brands when she
began her initiative, but what she learned in those discussions was invaluable.
She went back to the drawing board and in less than a year her
product lined the shelves of hundreds of retailers, bundled with a major
brand's product. Failure is failure only if you give up.
Breakthrough!
It may look nothing like the idea
you set out to develop but your persistence and flexibility has finally paid
off. Don't see this as the end, but the beginning of the next level of
growth. Not all breakthrough ideas mean skyrocketing profits, so don't gauge
your success entirely by the dollar. What have you learned? Who have you met?
Who have you become in the process? A true entrepreneur will always head back
to the drawing board to develop the next big thing, but make sure to do a post
mortem on the entire life cycle of this breakthrough first. You'll gain
knowledge and awareness that will assist you through this cycle time and time
again.
BY Marla
Tabaka http://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/the-evolution-of-a-breakthrough-idea.html?cid=em01014week46e
No comments:
Post a Comment