Refining an idea is where its true potential emerges, but that doesn’t mean you should wait for perfection to start.
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The first spark of an idea is thrilling—it’s the beginning of something new, filled with potential. But if there’s one lesson I’ve learned in my decades of entrepreneurship, it’s this: the first draft of an idea is rarely the one that leads to success. The magic happens in the testing, refinement, and revisions that come through continual improvement.
Below, you’ll find some of my tips for going from humble inception to sustained success. This method will help you push your first draft further and commit to making it the best version of your vision.
Once you have an idea, dive into your vision. The first spark of an idea, while exciting, is only the very beginning of the concept becoming a reality. It’s easy to dream, but acting on a dream is a different story. It’s key to make the time to further refine your vision, conduct research, and try testing, to ensure the successful fruition of almost any idea.
When the seed is first planted in your mind, prioritize exploring the idea. While planning, do as much research as you can. Is there a market for what you want to do? Who is already doing this? What quantity would you have to sell and at what price point? The further you dive into your idea, the more perspective and knowledge you’ll gain, increasing your chances of success.
Bounce your ideas off others. Even further perspective can be gathered from those around you. Whenever I have a business idea, I start bouncing it off everyone I can. By picking their brains and considering their questions and concerns, I gain further clarity on whether or not the idea is worth pursuing.
I’ve had people ask me before, “Stan, don’t you think others are going to take your ideas if you speak about them so freely like this?”
But I recognized early on that most people like to talk, but they don’t like to act. They’re just there to have an opinion, which, frankly, works for me, since I’m very interested in hearing what they have to say.
Be ready and willing to pivot. When I was a young man living in Philadelphia during the Bicentennial, I had a business idea that involved selling hot dogs to tourists who were in town for the celebration. I spent the winter before the 1976 tourism season creating my plan and bouncing it off everyone around me.
As I continued my research, it became apparent that selling souvenirs, rather than perishable items like hot dogs, might be a more successful venture. I chose to pivot my initial strategy and started testing the idea by executing it on a small scale.
Always look for ways to adapt. Rigidity does little to nourish an idea. You must be open-minded to find the best path forward. As we all know, the only constant in life is change, so, as entrepreneurs, we must accept this and be willing to adapt. Awareness is a leader’s best tool for understanding the shifts that lie ahead and how to navigate them.
I refer to this future-focused mindset as being able to “see around corners.” If you’re paying attention to what matters, you can more easily predict what’s in store in the coming months, years, or even decades. Industry patterns, market trends, current events, the needs and attitudes of your team members, and advancements in technology—leaders who keep their finger on the pulse of these and many other factors are more likely to make informed decisions.
The first step is to begin. While planning is important, you can’t let it get in the way of action. You can always revise as you go; just be smart about your progress. Refining an idea is where its true potential emerges, but that doesn’t mean you should wait for perfection to start. The process of testing, revising, and adapting is what transforms a rough concept into a polished success. Never settle for the first draft, because the best ideas are the ones that change and grow over time.
