BusinessWeek: How can people distinguish between a great idea and a good idea? You make a list of all the things that have to work in order for the idea to be successful. That means focusing on the process rather than the product. For instance, distribution: Where is the product sold to the consumer, and are there middlemen? Who’s selling it for you? What’s the pricing model? Where do you get the raw materials? What’s your marketing strategy, and how will it scale?
Then you give yourself an honest appraisal of whether it’s going to work, recognizing that not one of the people whose help your success depends on cares about your idea unless it helps them make money. I can’t tell you how many people I talk to think they have a brilliant idea and can’t figure out why other people don’t agree.
Vetting Your Idea [BusinessWeek]
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