It’s officially summer and if you’re sitting in the office, you probably wish you weren’t. They say a change is as good as a rest, right? Ok, maybe not, but still, today is the day to change things up!
You may have a notebook somewhere with a list of ideas you’ve had to improve your business, home, or life in general. Or maybe something is just emerging in your brain. Either way, new ideas take time to research, ponder, and plan. Why not start that today?
Yes, you’re busy but remember our article about the Eisenhower Matrix that separates urgent from important? (If not, you can find it here.) Nurturing new ideas is important, so weigh the suggestion with that in mind.
Start with some research. You may find that your idea has already been developed and implemented somewhere or that the products or services you need are readily available. You might be able to take advantage of that at an affordable price or make a few adaptations at a much lower cost that initial development. At the very least, you can find out if others are looking for something similar.
If what you’d like to do involves laws or regulations of some sort, be sure to find a reputable source of information. (Do not trust an AI overview!)
With new knowledge in hand, think about the steps you’d need to take to implement your idea. An excel spreadsheet with a column for step number and one for the task works great because it’s easy to add or reorder the steps.
A mini-cost benefit analysis will help you decide whether or not it’s worth it for you to continue pursuing the idea. What will it cost? Remember to include your own time. What are the benefits? Benefits include more than profits or savings. Rectifying a problem that impacts you frequently can be worth a lot!
It might not seem as appealing as a day off, but, who knows, your idea might end up giving you many more vacation days!
