Stalking Lessons?

I’ve been known to take my time with projects, some may even call it procrastinating. I’d like to think it’s a long gestation period. What am I talking about? Back in my undergrad years I had a professor who said that he knew I would start my own business one day. That was when I was studying engineering. And then in grad school I had a professor who thought I should start my own business. That was for a business class. I half believed them and half scoffed at the idea. As I’ve shifted careers and employers, I would mull the idea around but always put it back on the shelf. Frankly, I’m not a big fan of business development (ironic as that’s what my job has started to morph into), and yet without customers, there is no business. No income. No health insurance. No security. So that’s where I always got stuck.
Well, last fall a business idea popped into my head. It was so brilliant I was afraid someone would beat me to the market and I remember having a sleepless night about what to do next. Except it was just a rough idea – I was missing a few key components that would make it work. I couldn’t quite figure it out. It was still a blurry idea at best, kind of all over the place. So I pondered it some. And then someone else executed my idea! I had missed the boat. The repercussions (oh google, how I love that you know what word I’m trying to spell) of waiting too long.But I kept thinking about the idea. I realized that the new business that started up was in the same ball park but over in left field. My idea was a different approach to the market and frankly ballparks are really big, right? I knew I had something, potentially better. I’d run ideas by my brother while we waited for our plane home after visiting mom. I’d jot notes in the margins of my calendar on my commutes. I even googled possible company names out of curiosity. I’ve talked, vaguely, with friends in the industry about the idea. And time after time, I’ve had the idea reinforced by demands from clients and work.


And yet I’ve been dragging my feet this last week. Why? Well, three things:

1. Ownership. I need to start this up on the side, hobby style, as it won’t be profitable for awhile (actually that’s part of what I’m still trying to figure out). But I just reread my paperwork I signed for my job and they get to own everything I create. It’s really geared towards the software side of things since that’s what we do, but it’s broad enough I think my idea would fall under it. I’m not competing with them for business so have no worries about working on the side (plus I won’t be bringing in revenue at first).
2. New skill. I have the bulk of the knowledge but need to either learn a new skill or hire/bring someone on that does. More likely I’ll learn it. Which means a lot of learning. Not sure if I’m up for that. Old dog/new tricks kicks in here.

3. Timing. Second to the market is a harder position than first to the market. I think this could be better, but it will take more work to bring customers. Maybe I have missed the boat. If not, the window left has got to be small. Pressure is on and if I go fully after this idea, it will be a time sink.


But the thing is, this is the business for me. As well as I can tell of the unknown that is ahead of me. Now’s the time. And I’d hate to disappoint those old professors. So I’m not giving up on the idea yet. And that’s where the stalking comes in. I’ve been mulling and thinking and sleeping on the idea and it’s gone left and right and zig-zagged all over the place. But I realize that there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. I know of a great business model in a different field. And I think the person who created the business lives in the Boston area. So there are a few things I can work on for this wonderful idea before I run into the first two obstacles listed above. One is flushing out a business plan and understanding what challenges truly lay ahead. What the best approach is and learning the missteps of others. I just need to get a meeting with this person. I’ve never met her, our circles don’t overlap in any way professionally. I do have a way to email her, but haven’t figured out a way to distinguish my email from the thousands of others she gets weekly. In a way it kind of feels like I’m at the beginning of a potential relationship with a guy. You know, when you do that quasi-virtual stalking hoping to stumble on a new photo or something. Writing this, I think the best idea is just polite persistence – for the meeting, not the boy.
So my homework – buy domain names and get an interview. Not expensive although a bit challenging. Apologies for the vagueness, but the idea is so brilliant I’m worried someone will lift the idea off this post. I just know my readers are malicious like that! We’ll see where I am in a month. Hopefully my stalking will pay off. And I do think this is more than just this month’s flavor. Maybe it’s spring talking.
Cartoons courtesy of www.toothpastefordinner.com. One of the guys I dated got me hooked on the site. And then I forgot about it (and can’t remember which guy)!