Too many ideas but not enough time?

If you’re anything like me you have an endless stream of ideas and what’s often called shiny object syndrome where you bounce from one idea to the next without giving any idea the attention it deserves.

I’ve recently begun to self-impose some rules which have helped me combat this issue

• Wait at least X weeks before starting any building 

• Socialise the idea with at least X other people (ideally with your customers but anyone will do as the purpose is to broaden your considerations)

• Due diligence - some areas to consider:

  • Market/TAM - How large could the opportunity be? Is this a growing space?

  • Competitors or Alternatives - What could customers do instead of buying your solution? A very real option could be "do nothing and put up with the problem" or "ignore the problem"

  • Distribution - Who will you be targeting? How will you reach these people?

  • Think through Brian Balfour's 4 fits framework

What about starting then pivoting? You can still do that, waiting a few weeks before starting isn't going to make much difference for the vast majority of opportunities. I'm a big believer in pivoting and soaking in problem areas, however, picking the right place to start can save a lot of pain.