Ideas Made Real. Part 1: 3 Easy First Steps for Progressing Your Ideas



The Red Rabbit Studio: Helping Entrepreneurs


This is the first of a 3 part post that will discuss progressive ways for developing your idea. The first part will keep it simple with 3 easy to do steps that rarely cost any significant money or time but will be foundational to the future success of your idea.

In the 12+ years that I have operating my studio to help people develop their ideas, I've come across many of the same obstacles over and overt again. My goal here is to help everyone get their ideas around these obstacles and into the world and to see a greater chance of success by developing them in a patient, concerted way.

Here are 3 of the first steps for you to take towards developing your idea:

1. List all the friends and family who may be willing to help get the ball rolling for your idea.


Friends and family can be both a positive source for progressing your ideas. They can help you find capital (money) for the first steps in getting your idea moving, such as
prototyping a product, research, printed material for marketing and getting a website built if you need it. Maybe some of them can do the work for you, helping the costs stay low while giving them something they can be a part of.

The Red Rabbit Studio: Your Friend

Always be careful with working with friends and family as money can also be a source of negativity that can ruin a relationship. Approach friends and family with caution and don't take a 'No' personally, maybe they want to avoid the negatives as much as you want to get your idea going.

When it comes to developing your idea, it is often best to seek out people who offer products/services that you can pay for to avoid any issues related to the relationship, after all, it's what they get paid for.

2. Put your idea on paper and mind map it.


A mind map is a diagram used to visually organise information and is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the center of a blank landscape page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added. Major ideas are connected directly to the central concept, and other ideas branch out from those.


Mind maps are powerful tools that can expand rapidly, giving the idea a wide range of related concepts and directions. Some of the 'nodes' created with a mind map can yield surprising results, helping you to find opportunities that otherwise may have been over looked.

I suggest the following guidelines for creating mind maps(source):

  1. Start in the center with an image of the topic, using at least 3 colors.
  2. Use images, symbols, codes, and dimensions throughout your mind map.
  3. Select key words and print using upper or lower case letters.
  4. Each word/image is best alone and sitting on its own line.
  5. The lines should be connected, starting from the central image. The lines become thinner as they radiate out from the center.
  6. Make the lines the same length as the word/image they support.
  7. Use multiple colors throughout the mind map, for visual stimulation and also for encoding or grouping.
  8. Develop your own personal style of mind mapping.
  9. Use emphasis and show associations in your mind map.
  10. Keep the mind map clear by using radial hierarchy or outlines to embrace your branches.
  11. Have fun

3. Study those whom are already in the same industry as your idea. Also study successful people and learn the methods they used for own success.

Take a look at the world’s best—athletes, entrepreneurs, executives, and etc.—and you’ll see that they all make studying their competition part of their routine.

The Red Rabbit Studio: Your study partner

Use what people say about your competitors for product/service development. When you analyze what those people say, you'll find one of two things: 1) a thread of discontent and/or 2) a success story. When you look at each of those under a microscope, opportunities for new products and differentiation arise out of thin air. You will also get an idea of how people may react to your own product/service.

With these easy to follow first steps completed or in progress, you can be safe in knowing that you are on the best track forward for the development of your idea. Be sure to check out my studio, where I offer many of the services needed for idea development.


About me:
I'm a full-time freelance brand builder and designer focusing on the ideas and
future success of other freelancers and entrepreneurs.
Contact me and lets have a chat about your idea.
Studio: 778.786.1209

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Author:
Jason Hilton
Owner/Operator
The Red Rabbit Studio
www.TheRedRabbit.com

Digital Marketing | Graphic Design | Growth Hacking