Product Idea 101

The theory that great ideas sell themselves is tragically flawed. Far too often we place more value in the merit of an idea, and little to the value of the execution thereafter. We have all seen relatively low value ideas turn into huge successes, all because the execution in marketing and branding made it larger than life, something everyone had to have, at least for a short time anyway... Take the Snuggie - A flimsy fleece poncho stylized by some grandparents in recliners trying to look like Obi Wan Kenobe sold millions. The Slap Chop - Funny, quirky spokesman guy (on meth, as well) humors us into submission and a debit on the card. Not the greatest products overall, but boy, did they execute.

Many folks visit LUSB with the same question - 'What do you think of my idea?' I cannot in good conscious opine on the matter anymore because I have been proven wrong by such uber-necessary items such as Silly Bands and Crocs. It is not for me to decide, it is for the inventor to decide that he or she truly wishes it to succeed. Then, and only then, will they execute properly and deliver a success story. Persistence is key, execution is critical, and in the end, determination will make the difference.

On the other side of the story, there are many great ideas that folks have brought along to us or others that never saw the light of day. Either a lack of follow through, a diversion at the first complication, or a general laziness and misdirection can drive some great ideas into oblivion, never to be seen by the market.

If there is some advice we can give - Get sound advice from those that have been there before, partner with strong manufacturers and developers, and drive your sales and marketing as hard as possible to land where you want in the market. There will always be many that will tell you of the possible failures, and how you won't make it, or what a stupid idea you have. Don't take it to heart, let it fuel your fire to make the next great widget nobody really needs to live without....

Surf Dreams

We visited the beach this weekend, a departure from our normal weekends of work and college course studies. It was welcome relief, and the kids were thrilled to get into some surf and sand. I was able to revisit something I hadn't for over 20 years.

Surfing was something I tried when I was about 17. I did it once or twice, maybe three times - something like that. I can only remember that I did get up, and rode out pathetic little waves about the size of my pinkie finger, bent in half, maybe. Couple of those and I remembered thinking I had surfed. I do remember having a ton of fun with it, but never really going back to explore it further. As my sons and I banged into waist high waves this weekend I remembered how much fun it could be, and I realized I wanted to try again. So, anyone got a 9'+ board they could let me borrow for a few? Just want to get back out and try it again, and this time let my kids give it a go as well. Oregon coast, look out!

Politics Will Be Driving This Home!

http://www.bcg.com/media/PressReleaseDetails.aspx?id=tcm%3A12-104216&goback=%2Egde_2521594_member_127064303

If the momentum can hold, would be good for us all. Now all we have to do is retrain the average consumer to be a bit more judicious at Walmart, if that's possible!

UFO's, and other Cryptids

The UK decided to offer us minions a few documents that may suggest alien life exists. Now, I haven't read any of them, but my bet is that there's nothing to admit there are, or aren't, such life forms abducting us humanoids, slaughtering our cows, or artistically transmitting secret encoded messages to us through a corn field crop circle. I sincerely love to watch those conspiracy shows. I like the guy with the shadowed profile and the computer altered voice. He, himself, sounds like just such an alien. Isn't that ironic?! Nothing says secret government cover up like the blurry guy with a tracheotomy.

While we're at it, where the heck is Bigfoot? He's got his own crew of fruitcakes walking around looking for him. He's got a TV show, beef jerky, fan clubs, laws protecting him, and even bumper stickers. I can't wait to read his x-files when they get released. Hopefully we'll get another far-away, granular, softened image of him walking through the woods. As Mitch Hedburg said, 'maybe Bigfoot really is blurry.'

I guess I'll be a skeptic until I see one in the flesh. Of course, if I do, I'll run like a Chupacabra after breakfast, so I won't be much good at retelling the story. Unless, of course, my alien abduction is captured on my GoPro.

Sequestration

Well, Congress has some soul searching to do. Cut the defense budget and face a sizable layoff, or move to bypass the legislation and keep defense dollars where they reside. So the balancing act plays out Jan 2, but the calling card is delivered on Nov 2 when private companies in the contracting world must announce potential layoffs. If that occurs, will it sway the election? I think we all know that the move will be politically motivated more than principled in a desire to reduce spending. Neither the incumbent can afford to face a major layoff 4 days prior to election, nor can the challenger face his constituents should pink slips be distributed. Once again, compromising the tax payer will be the result for political gain. Hence, the frustration among many in this country with our elected leaders.

Politics is like a river. The people stand on the bank, watching the flow pass by. The politically ambitious get close to the water, toe in, checking the temp, then a push from the crowd and they are swimming. What is apparent however, is that they are more a product of the current of the stream, and less about their ability to change its direction. Dig deep Congress, maybe you will prove me wrong this time...

Run Like The Wind Bullseye

I hate running. I started this crap about 10 years ago when faced with the fact that I no longer had a Bally's near me. Somehow I was able to escape their 'contract of death' and found myself free from the confines of foot fungus saturation. I was liberated. Then I thought, 'heck, you should try running.' Great idea. Something I could only do upon hearing the ice cream truck or having a bully chase me was now going to be my daily exercise routine? Nice. When I run, I look like a fire hydrant with hose falling off of it. An ergonomically incorrect torso with whacky, flailing arms like those inflatable guys you see in front of the pizza place. I have been sent letters from Kenya begging me not to ever visit. I once walked onto a high school yard and the track got up and ran away. Running and I, well, we haven't always been friendly. The first day was brutal. I left the house at about 6AM, walking the first 1/2 mile. I began a jog. I'm pretty sure I went about another 1/2 mile or so before the pain in my chest overtook my ambition to keep running. I slowed to a walk, convinced I would never make it beyond the 1/2 mile mark. I left on about the 4th day with a better feeling about this running stuff. I was now able to run about .6 of a mile, far better than the original outing. This kept up for about a week. Then it clicked. Somewhere in my pea-sized cranial activity I must have blocked the agony because I ran 1 whole mile. Now, understand that I was measuring my distance using landmarks and gut feel. I think the third tree on the left behind the school next to the pink house was close to a mile, right? Anyway, my finite calculations assured me I had made some progress. By the end of the third week I could run 1 mile consistently. Wow. Fast forward a few months. I am officially a runner at this point, except I don't have a stride, pace, or form. I am clay in the hands of the running gods. I look like a turd attempting to escape some bowels. It ain't pretty. But I am a runner, and I will run. At this point I made it almost 2 miles. So thrilled with my accomplishment I buy a new pair of running shoes. I even had my pronation checked. Fortunately, that does not involve a probe in an orifice. By the first year, I could run 6 miles. Then I would lie down for 6 hours, and proceed to complain for 6 days about my pain. My joints hurt. I read 'The Chi of Running.' Thanks for the help. This is progress, however, and I am on fire. Nobody mistakes me for a marathoner, but my thoughts are drifting there... Add in a dog. this is always a treat. Just about the time you hit your stride, he's going poop. Great, break in the action, I'm stalled and have to carry a bag of turd for a 1/2 mile. Hope the recycled plastic holds. Then we proceed to interfere with each other's gallop. I trip, step on his paw, he squeals, I fall. Repeat. I'll bring him next time, too. I haven't ever run competitively. Well, we did the Shamrock Run in Portland a few times. That's fun. I took my sons last year. They could have beat me, but they hung around in a fit of sympathy. They're 13 & 11, swim 6k miles a week, and look like bean poles. Must have been the milkman, because I don't a see a fire hydrant in any of them. I still run. 3.5 miles last night. 8:30 pace. Not fast, not terribly slow, but enough to keep the gut in check and the muscles semi-firm, edging towards flabby. I love to run.

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