Would you Be Better off Just Staying in the Box?

July 24, 2007

Creative thinking is important in entrepreneurship, and you’ve probably already been told that you have to think out of the box when coming up with a business idea.  Unfortunately, some people seem to think that this requires inventing totally ridiculous products that even their own mother wouldn’t buy. 

Does this sound like you?  If your ideas even vaguely resemble those of some of the contestants on the Tycoon TV show, maybe it’s time you put the lid back on the box and kept it firmly shut.

Tycoon is hosted by Peter Jones, the entrepreneur of Dragon’s Den fame.  Before starting the show, in an interview with Forbes, he said ”There’s a sense that business reality TV is the new rock and roll.”  It’s too bad that his contestants thought that meant it also involved the excessive use of illegal drugs before pitching their ideas.  

The worst one on last nights show had to be the woman who wanted to turn the ashes of her customers or loved ones pets into a photo frame.  Didn’t she ever hear of death with dignity?  It’s almost as bad as the idea I heard a few years ago of having your body preserved when you die and stuck inside a glass coffee table.

Remember, when you’re trying to come up with an idea for a new business, you have to come up with something that people will actually want.  No business can survive without customers, and coming up with a crazy idea or invention, without doing any research could land you on www.fuckedcompanies.com

Don’t worry though - even if you’re as mad as a hatter and can’t imagine ever coming up with a rational idea, because some crazy business ideas do take off.  For example, take Byron Reese who wanted to be Santa Clause.  Who would have thought anyone could have made a fortune from writing letters to little kids?  Reese set up http://www.santamail.org in 2001 and in 2005, he sold $1 million dollars worth of his Santa letters.

Even if you’re totally brainless, and can’t come up with a bad idea, never mind a good one, you could still succeed in business.  Jade Goody had to be the least intelligent person ever to star in a reality TV show.  She held the spotlight for her stupidity - actually believed Saddam Hussein was a boxer, and asked silly questions including, “Do they speak Portuganese in Portugal? I thought Portugal was in Spain.”  However, despite appearing to be as thick as a brick, making racist comments on TV, and setting up a beauty salon called “Uglies” she is now a multi-millionaire, which just goes to show you can do anything if you’re determined.

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Posted by cathlawson | Filed Under Ideas 

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