I just want someone to buy my idea from me…

I just read Marc Warnke on Entrepreneurism is not a Lottery Ticket. He nailed it right on the head. It is not a lottery ticket.

The analogy I use in explaining it to clients is that an idea is like a recipe for barbecue sauce. KC Masterpiece has no interest in your recipe…they have zillions of their own. BUT, if you take that recipe and build a business around it (e.g., catering, restaurant, bottling sauce for stores), THEN you have something that someone else would want to buy. [yes, there are exceptions to this rule, but in my experience it is generally true]

It reminds me of Guy Kawasaki’s post on “Defensibility” wherein he discusses his belief that startups overvalue the fact they have a patent application pending (or patents issued). While Matt/Doug/Me’s wrote a response to Guy’s Defensibility post (which he posted), Guy’s points are valid.

Ideas are not (typically) lottery tickets, patents are not (typically) the most valuable thing a company owns.

Related posts:

  1. TGIF, Cooking for Engineers
  2. Questions from readers…published patent applications vs. patents

3 Responses to I just want someone to buy my idea from me…
  1. Digol Serhei
    November 9, 2008 | 12:13 pm

    Hello , i also have 5 ideas for cars , 1 for technics and one for cigarettes and nobody answer me lets do smth together , please reply me *

  2. paul steer
    January 23, 2009 | 11:03 am

    i am selling an idea for a babys dummy that i know every parent will want one so if u interested please email me at (p_steer@hotmail.co.uk) if u are serious about buying off me thank you

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