Yes, I’m an opportunist. And now, according to CoFounderLab.com*, I’m a certified opportunist based on my BOSI aptitude score. (See image below)

I don’t deny it.  I seem to be pretty good at starting things but know that I need to get better on the finishing end.

The problem is, it’s really exciting to be at the ground floor of an idea or project and possibilities of what it could become are things I fantasise about day in and out.

It’s not that I don’t work hard to achieve my goals but constantly chasing new ideas and leads, it is likely making myself work harder than I need too.

Some of these ideas are pretty solid, so I try to write them down in my “awesome ideas” journal. The problem child ideas are the ones that are good “marketing tools” for my main projects. I think that if I build them, I will be able to reach more people overall.  These are ideas that I think will help grow my overall projects but in their own way.  The problem is, they are sometimes time-consuming to create and can be a bit of a gamble. They are mini problem solvers and should be viewed as separate projects as users have to see the value.

Distractions from other new ideas, opportunities and prospects are just adding to my todo plate and pushing back my main focus project, which is:

Release a lean online business that will solve my ideal customer’s problem.

Meanwhile … just attended the Chicago Lean Startup Circle Meetup

Presenter:  Todd Wyder = Amazing, successful entrepreneur who I wish I could be mentored by or simply eat his brains or something.  He is, among many things, the co-founder of this: Chicago Lean Startup Circle

A few main takeaways from Todd’s presentation:

  • Startups are not companies, they are temporary companies.
  • Business plans and metrics of “companies” don’t apply to startups, mainly because they are all BS until you have major growth.
  • Startups must solve problems; the customers ideal problem.
  • Most startups don’t get venture capital money; they bootstrap based on growth.
  • Ask your customers about their main problems, not if they like your idea.
  • A great software product is a tool that does one thing well. Swiss Army knives are good but if you had the actual screwdriver you would rather use that.

If there’s one thing that I want to keep in mind as I continue to launch my new products and receive feedback.  Perfection is great but listening to the visionaries who have been successful in business (especially digital) they profess lean startups principles and minimum viable products.  Most of the perfectionists I know are successful in craft but maybe not so much in business.

*Use this link to get 20% off a pro membership on cofounderslab.com.  If you signup, I get $20.  Disclosure of material connection to a website that I highly recommend and I am a pro member myself.