Have you ever had the perfect business idea? It hit you in a restaurant, at home, behind the wheel etc. Oh this one was big, your ideal moment-you were so deep on this one that you solved plate tectonics. It was going to make you rich and famous, your breakthrough moment even. Then you look up several years later only to find someone else doing it. Chances are this has happened to you to some level somewhere somehow. Fellas, bear with me, I'm going to flash the ladies...with news that is. Ladies, I know you don't know this but men are nothing more than oversized little boys who may or may not grow up! Yes, yes, I know this is something you've often pondered but I will admit there's some truth to it. Well actually, we're sure most of you knew that. If you don't mind however, allow me to paint a picture.
There I was in the pricey Armani suit, Bentley Watch and Bruno Magli shoes as they construction crew broke ground on the project...ahh, what a great feeling after months of planning. As I was standing there probably a bit too close to the bulldozers, I watched the backhoe digger claw enough dirt to bury and hide a small car. Meanwhile, the front scoop was used to break hundreds of pounds of concrete with one fell swoop. Just a few yards away, a jackhammer was pounding the pavement into little rocks while a crane off in the distance was lifting thousands of pounds of materials. I stood there in awe just thinking wowwww, how cool would it be if I could do all of that with my bare hands while other men stood in admiration. Then I began to think although I'm the guy deemed successful here, it sure would be cool to trade places with the construction guys for a spell. Right at that moment, the idea hit me. A Gentleman's Playground (not the glass heels, adult version), but a real manly man's playground, a Tonka truck paradise for all of us who couldn't afford Tonka as kids!
I saw it so clearly, the acquisition of a few hundred acres of land filled with yellow Caterpillar type equipment consisting of tractors, cranes, bulldozers etc. This is a place men could spend hours building huge sand castles with their sons. And then, and then and then right, we could have a café at the top of the hill that serves meals and then we could have a clothing shop that sold like Wrangler jeans and Timberland boots, etc. Man ole man, was I into this as I watched the operation. Then the sun went down and I quietly allowed the vision to just slip away while getting back to the business at hand. Periodically on my long trips, I'd think about this again as something I may explore somewhere down the line but no real hurry. That was until I was asked to come to London for a speaking engagement. I had been to the UK many times but wasn't familiar with this area. As I searched for nearby attractions, I came across my idea in full operation. What the? Yeap, they call it DIGGERLAND and it seems the business is doing quite well because this was their fourth location.
Why do we allow this to happen to us? "I don't have the money, I don't know anybody, I don't know where to start", is what we say but I'm sure if you polled many successful operations, they knew next to nothing on the how, but they never let the lack of resources stop them. We put our plans and dreams on the shelves or we share our thoughts with people who dwell in negativity and they kill our dreams. Our ideas face the experience we never wish on anyone which is born, dead and buried all in the same day. I keep these newsletters too short to fully explore this point like I'd like to but just allow me to say don't allow this to keep happening to you as one time is enough.
At the very least, you can go to your county SBA (Small Business Administration) and with $20 or less depending on where you live register a fictitious name and gain title to the business. While you can't patent an idea, at least you can begin receiving invites to the Chamber of Commerce as President of your new venture. You never know who may be just waiting to partner or help you write a solid business plan. This minimum investment of time and money is generally the biggest seemingly insurmountable obstacle to success and failure. Can you imagine allowing a dream to vanish over $20? It happens all the time I can assure you. While spring is in the air, dust those concepts off and add one more step. Stop making the graveyard the richest place on earth.
Being one to take my own advice, I was spending way too much money on architects who were adding things I didn't want to my dream house so I figured nobody could better design for me what I wanted. I didn't have the pricey architectural software and just assumed I didn't know how to do it although I had two years wrapped into the design. I decided to just go for it and buy the $3k software but to my surprise there was a free 30 day download. After the install, I knew the clock was against me so I worked nonstop for nearly 20 days and created my masterpiece. Some liked it so much they told me I should explore home design. I began thinking if I took the idea further I already had the name for the business. Then one night as I sat in deep thought, I decided I would at least register the name. By the next morning, I'd created a business plan, built a website and made a trip to the county. I may or may not take it further but at least Palatial Designs, Inc. won't be taken by someone else.
Now that DIGGERLAND has rightfully jacked my idea and turned it into an amusement park of all things, I'm going to have to make several business trips to the UK secretly looking for competitive advantage if I ever decide to make my concept happen in the US. I may not be the UK's Prince William but today I'll be the self-proclaimed prince of Prince William County. "Hey Your Highness, when you get back from your honeymoon, we have to talk. I have an idea!!"
Anthony "Von" Mickle
-from the mobile home to where moguls roam
