LifeDev

This is the fourth article in the series Ideas From Start to Finish.

Ahh change.  Some love it, others fear it. Regardless of your preference, it’s still an extremely vital part of the development process of any idea. Unfortunately, it can be hard to be open to change when it comes to our ideas. However, if an entrepreneur can be open to change in the development process, it will greatly benefit the project. But you don’t have to take my word for it.

A shining example of being open to change in the web world is Ludicorp, who originally created the online photo sharing site Flickr. Ludicorp initially started Flickr as an MMOG game, but soon found a better way to view photos with flash. And the rest, as they say, is history. In 2005 Flickr was sold to Yahoo! for stacks of cash, and Ludicorp laughed all the way to the bank.

From Ordinary to Extraordinary

While there are plenty of other “accidental success” stories around, they all follow the same pattern. While developing and ordinary product, the entrepreneur(s) changed course and made something extraordinary. By being open to change, the developers were able to have the fortitude to scrap the initial idea and create something completely different.

Here are some reasons you might need to change directions with your idea.

• Better Opportunity- Sometimes working on an idea leads to an even bigger one.
• Restraints- Restraints are the easiest reason to accept. Sometimes there’s just not enough money, skills, manpower, etc. to finish the problem.  But they can also lead to faster, simpler, and more efficient solutions to your idea. Maybe there’s a simpler way to build it. A cheaper way. Etc., etc., etc.
• It Just Won’t Work- Ugh. Nobody likes this reason, but sometimes your great idea just won’t work. While it’s tough to swallow, it’s a great way to force you to try something different. Failure is just another one of the facts of being an entrepreneur. Not all of your ideas are going to work. Fortunately, there’s always bankruptcy. ;)

While we might hate the thought of it, sometimes it’s better to scrap the initial idea for a better one. I once heard a great parable about what an entrepreneur who was open to change should look like: A good sailboat. If you’re open to change, you’ve got your sail at full mast, ready to change directions wherever the wind blows you.

So let’s raise those sail high, fellow dreamers. You never know what tomorrow might bring.