Comments on: You Don’t Have To Be The Next Big Thing

By: sbspalding

sbspalding — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:20:10 +0000

Exactly. As strange as it sounds, innovators must be able to introduce customers to pain they didn't know they had.

By: MortenBlaabjerg

MortenBlaabjerg — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 03:17:05 +0000

Producing something new to a new market is what Steve Blank calls “Customer Discovery”, of which vital elements are customer input and “pain”. I.e. does the product solve the customer's pain? How do they know? How do you sell something nobody knows what is, even if it solves an important problem, and there are people willing to pay for it?

By: sbspalding

sbspalding — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:42:04 +0000

Right but imagine the Electric Light bulb as an example. If you already have people who understand gas powered lamps, use them, and see no need for change — a part of your job is not only creating the electric light, but making people understand that this technology will change their lives.

Another example would be the Steam Engine, which was considered a toy before people realized that it could be used to create Freight trains.

If you are improving over an existing technology, need already exists. If you are building an entirely new paradigm, you need to “create”' the need, or at least help people discover it.

By: Top Rated

Top Rated — Fri, 23 May 2008 06:37:52 +0000

I can understand building a product to fill a need, but what do you mean by “not only creating a product, but also create a need”. I always thought as an entrepreneur we're here to fill needs.

By: zohai

zohai — Fri, 23 May 2008 05:39:54 +0000

Yeah. I guess that having a idea only doesn't cut it. You'll need to look at the demand of it. So make sure that the ideas you have is tested with the market by surveying first. That'll be a good start =) Cheers.

By: sbspalding

sbspalding — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:15:10 +0000

Yea, the Ford Prius is the next big innovation in imaginary Hybrid Vehicles. It gets 200 mpg and has a built in submarine. It should be on the market in 2022.

Good catch mate, fixed.

By: MiGrant

MiGrant — Thu, 22 May 2008 08:59:14 +0000

FORD Prius???