Now I get asked alot, mostly from teenagers, on how to become successful. Obviously, their reasons for the questions is a quick buck. However, what about those who really want to become successful, innovative, create new revolutions, democratize, etc. It is on this note that I write this post. Now in my mind, I see three main components regarding creating a success, whether it be a product or service. The three points that I see our problems, ideas/passions, and solutions.
Problems
Now we all have problems, whether it be paying too much for gas, trying to connect with old schoolmates, faster computers, whatever it may be, we all have problems. It is this first component that produces the most immediate success. Simple. Find a problem and solve it. When you look at a problem, desiring to solve it, you need to look at a few facets. You need to look at things such as who that problem effects, what effects does that problem have, why people want that problem solved, and what is the best way to solve that problem that makes both you, and those with the problem, happy. With that in mind, a real world example can be seen in my implementation of this model in the creation of ArisTech Media. I saw the importance and power of the internet, of what it offers, and how it helps in regards to efficiency and productivity. However, I saw a problem; small-to-medium size companies, who need this help more than anyone else, did not possess the resources, knowledge, wisdom, tools, skills and experience to properly, accurately and successfully implement the full potential of everything the internet had to offer relating to their specific needs. It was this core problem in a demographic of rising start-ups that I created a simple solution: develop a company that possess the resources, knowledge, wisdom, tools, skills and experience in the areas of the internet and computers and implement that in easy to use ways and informational resources through tailored solutions, to small and medium sized business, focusing on the Southern California demographic. Simple, yet a detailed problem with a simple, yet detailed solution. That is the easiest, and most proficient, way to implement innovation and hopefully, if done right, produce successful, for you and your business, and most importantly, for that problem.
Idea/Passion
The second most used route for innovation and success is that of a great idea or a passion for a certain area. I know many people who come up to me conveying an idea that they have for a business or a passion for a certain area that they think would be good to develop a business model on. It is these people that are really most enjoyable to work with, especially in a venture capitalist mindset. A key historical example of this type of thinking is that of Johann Gutenberg, the inventor of the printing press (movable type). Gutenberg had a passion for books and an idea of making them in a different way. And the way he went about that idea and passion was creating a printing press that revolutionized the world, but most importantly, that made his idea reality and increased his passion. I am in talks now with a young entrepreneur in Washington D.C. who has a passion for social entrepreneurship and has some pretty good ideas on how to make social entrepreneurship a more viable route for people (looking at a VC round of funding from ArisTech Media). His passions and ideas are fueling the whole process and is essentially what is going to make a successful business. But note, as with everything, it takes time and patience. If you don’t have either, then you won’t have complete, if any, success, especially as an entrepreneur.
Solutions
The last component of innovative success are solutions. This is mostly true in the tech world, where you come up with a solutions or idea, but it really has no problem…. that you can see. It is areas like this that patience and time is really tested and needed. A prime example of this is with the post-it note. Spencer Silver had created a substance that he hoped would be stickier. However, since it wasn’t, he stuck it on the shelf. However, as Art Fry, friend of Spencer and co-worker was flipping through his hymnal during church, he thought that Spencer’s glue would be ideal on the back of paper. Thus, with the help of their employer 3M, the post-it note was created. Both Spencer and Art had a great solution, but had no apparent problem. However, with a good amount of thinking and research, they found a problem for their solution, and thus, a great success.
Looking at these three types of successful innovations, it only goes to show you that with hard work, patience, time and a drive to be successful and innovative with your ideas, that anything is possible. With all three examples, reality shows us that by being diligent, creative, and persevering, that success is only around the corner.
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