Art of the Start

Building out something can be one of the best experiences one can have. As kids, we took great pains building structures using Lego bricks, modelling clay into art which put renaissance sculptors to shame, or making barracks and castles of scale in sand where we were nothing less than kings. These activities gave us a sense of achievement and entitlement. These were some of our first products. Some of you would have gone on to build sand walls around those castles, and moats to fend off intruders. You were the consolidators, empire builders. If you build out that castle and kicked it to the ground to then make another masterpiece, you were in the true sense a serial entrepreneur. Sat on the sidelines and got the other kids to build stuff for you? No comments.

Fast forward to today. Looking to be a pioneer and build out something, or provide a specialised service? Ever wonder what it would be like if everything you ever imagined went on to fruition the moment you thought it out? Wouldn't that be neat. The truth is, you may not the first one to think of said idea. Reinventing the wheel doesn't make sense most of the times, unless the initial wheel was a square block. Gone are the days of the sand-castles, ideas would have to be a tad-more revolutionary.

Ideating and implementing a new idea can be a daunting task, but here are some guidelines to ensure you stay on the safe side-

Why and what are you building out?

Is it your passion? Are you meeting a demand or necessity? Done before? Have you done your homework, trial run to prove results? Answer these to know where you are headed.
Who are you doing it for?

Who is your intended audience? 

Will they benefit from these products or services you aim to provide? Is there someone out there doing something similar for this audience? How are you different from them?

What is your no-compromise feature?

On the path to creating your offering, there will be certain items which you would feel strongly about. Some things which your peers or followers may desist to, but they make certain sense to you. What are these features? Do they strengthen your offering? Are they adding value to the audience needs?

Are you making a difference?

Step back and figure out if your offering is making the world a better place. Is it resulting in some tangible gain for the end user? Is the audience saving time, money, or are they able to accomplish something which they were not earlier, thus adding value to their enterprise or lives?

There will be many other learnings along the way to building those sand-castles in the sky, but there is always a start to the art. What is the art of your start?