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Write You - Million Dollar Idea Maker
An extranet is a web-based tool that provides a secure environment for the organization and exchange of documents and information among a defined group of users.Extranets are often used to support team collaboration in circumstances where the team members are geographically dispersed or are drawn from variety external organizations. Examples include a group of departments within a company that collaborate on a common project, or service companies that collaborate with a variety of outside clients, customers and partners.Access to the extranet requires a valid password with username. The permissions given to your unique username by the network administrator determines which part of the extranet you can have access to. Thus, an extranet allows you to share important documents, exchange information and conduct online collaborations in a secure environment, free from spam and un-authorized access.Spam-Free Environment An extranet has the same look and feel of an ordinary web site hosted on the World Wide Web. T
Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?
Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”
Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.
1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.
2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.
3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.
4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)
5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!
6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.
7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.
8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.
9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivere
Don't risk Your MortgageTaking out a an additional Mortgage, buying a car or making large credit card charges before you close could risk your loan commitment. Lenders run a second credit check before closing to check for new charges.Time to CloseClosing at the start of a month, the lender would need you to "prepay" the interest on your loan from day of closing to end of the month. Therefore, the cash you need to close would be more than if you close at the ending of the month. Talk with your lender about this.Buyers RemorseIt's general for buyers to feel stressed or remorseful during and after the purchase of a home, educating you about the buying process would assist reduce "buyer’s remorse". You would probably forget it soon after you move into your new home.Notify Services & UtilitiesDon't forget to get in touch with services such as: post office, insurance, movers, telephone, utilities, newspaper, etc., a few weeks preceding to you moving out to "c
But just where do the ideas come from? How do the creators come up with the products and concepts?
Surely it’s based on massive research and development, huge capital investment, public scrutiny, market assessment - and that’s just a start.
WRONG! Whilst the above may be true of some products, services, systems, ideas and so on, the absolute best don’t involve any such in-depth planning - far from it.
I’m going to reveal to you the secret of how some of the biggest, best and hottest ideas are conceived. - and how some of the most successful ever product ideas, were positively the simplest.
Don’t get me wrong, product testing and market analysis is still very important, but completely pointless until you have clambered over the initial hurdle of ’thinking up’ a product.
Let’s look at a couple of brilliant examples of a product which is a world-wide name and multi-million dollar profit centers,
Firstly, just about everyone on knows about Duracell Batteries, and how they came from nowhere, and trounced the competition virtually overnight.
Was it because their batteries were better than the competition? No, not really….. Not in general terms. But the marketing people behind Duracell came up with not one, but TWO pieces of absolute sales and marketing brilliance.
Firstly, they looked at the competition, the market-place, the mode and method of battery sales, then compared their product side-by-side with other leading batteries. It seemed that their battery was just as good as the rest, or at least as good as the market leader.
But in the marketing world, trying to sell a product on the basis of “It’s just as good as the rest” - doesn’t really work.
They needed an EDGE.
During comparative product testing, it revealed the Duracell was in fact, better than the leading battery, in a particular way. They had discovered that Duracell batteries lasted longer, much longer than the others….. during ’continuous use’.
EUREKA! That was it! They had found their edge….. The marketing angle….. The secret weapon.
So now, we all know that …. “ Duracell lasts longer any other battery during continuous use “…..
They had found a NICHE in the battery market……. ‘continuous use’.
Why is this so important? Simple. Most people who use products which require batteries, seldom actually use the product (and therefore the battery) for long periods, i.e. continuous use - but rather use them in shorter, regular periods - like flash-lights, electric door-bells etc.
But that was of little importance - they marketed heavily on the ’lasts longer… ’ concept - with the funky little Duracell Bunny going on, and on, and on… and on……..
Duracell were not misleading anyone - they were completely truthful in their advertising, and with it, became a virtual household name overnight.
BUT - they also wanted a second scoop of the market, and devised yet another unbelievably simple, but so effective concept….. of gigantean proportions. What was it? Sell the batteries in PACKS! Simple but Brilliant!
Many readers may not recall, but before today’s multi-packs of batteries, they were simply sold loose, separately, individually. If you wanted just one - you went to the local store, and purchased just a single battery.
Now, Duracell decided to sell in multi-packs, and that was the only way to buy their new batteries. No singles. Period. Instead of selling one at a time, they sold FOUR At a time. Battery for battery, against the competition, they blew them away.
The multi-packs have another great side-effect. Some products which require batteries, need perhaps just one, or maybe three batteries, leaving an odd number of batteries left in the pack for future use. Next time the consumer needed to replace the used batteries in the product, they went to the drawer, and noticed perhaps that there were ’some’ Duracell batteries left, but not enough. So the consumer had to purchase more. And if they had already looked at Duracell’s, and had some Duracell’s left to use up, what are they likely to buy?
You get the idea.
This is a perfect example of taking something which already exists, and remodelling it, re-branding it, re-marketing it, finding a niche for it - and away you go.
Look at the music industry. It’s rife with similar concepts, which make millions. Bands, groups, singers, performers…. often do ‘cover versions’ - that is they will copy a song or track previously done by another artist.
Sometimes music is a ‘fusion’ - a mix of existing styles, but blended together to create something new. How about ‘sampling’? Taking a beat, rift, chord, chorus, few lines, track….. From another artist, and remixing it to create something different.
All they have done is to use something that already exists, make a few changes, amendments, alterations, improvements - and RESELL IT.
Unless you can reinvent the wheel, or perfect ’cold fusion’ - the World is jam packed full of existing markets, products, systems, services, concepts, ideas and customers - all of which can be used as your drawing board to get started.
First of all, where to locate great concepts?
Look around. What do you like? What do you dislike? Can it be improved? Can you take a hot product and improve it? Can to take a mediocre product and develop it? Can you take a completely useless product, and turn it in something better? Listen to what others say.
Can you re-package something? Bundle it? Deliver it differently? Re-brand it? Find a different, untapped market for a product which already exists, but is focussed on a different customer-base?
Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?
Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”
Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.
1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.
2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.
3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.
4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)
5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!
6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.
7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.
8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.
9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivered
Many corporate managers have been introduced to a corporate management system called the sBalanced Scorecard. Developed at the Harvard Business School by David Norton and Robert Kaplan in the early 1990s, the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) represents the newest and most prolific performance measurement system since Total Quality Management (TQM) and Management by Objectives (MBO). A growing number of organizations are achieving great financial success through the BSC framework, thereby solidifying the BSC a "here to stay" rather than just another passing fad.According to studies, the BSC is being implemented in nearly two-thirds of North American corporations. Indicative of the system's growth, many of these implementations are less than six months old. Thus, as a manager, if the system has not yet been encountered, it most likely will be in the near future.What does this mean to managers?FIRST, recognize the Balanced Scorecard for what it really represents. Essentially, the BSC is a measurement fram
Firstly, they looked at the competition, the market-place, the mode and method of battery sales, then compared their product side-by-side with other leading batteries. It seemed that their battery was just as good as the rest, or at least as good as the market leader.
But in the marketing world, trying to sell a product on the basis of “It’s just as good as the rest” - doesn’t really work.
They needed an EDGE.
During comparative product testing, it revealed the Duracell was in fact, better than the leading battery, in a particular way. They had discovered that Duracell batteries lasted longer, much longer than the others….. during ’continuous use’.
EUREKA! That was it! They had found their edge….. The marketing angle….. The secret weapon.
So now, we all know that …. “ Duracell lasts longer any other battery during continuous use “…..
They had found a NICHE in the battery market……. ‘continuous use’.
Why is this so important? Simple. Most people who use products which require batteries, seldom actually use the product (and therefore the battery) for long periods, i.e. continuous use - but rather use them in shorter, regular periods - like flash-lights, electric door-bells etc.
But that was of little importance - they marketed heavily on the ’lasts longer… ’ concept - with the funky little Duracell Bunny going on, and on, and on… and on……..
Duracell were not misleading anyone - they were completely truthful in their advertising, and with it, became a virtual household name overnight.
BUT - they also wanted a second scoop of the market, and devised yet another unbelievably simple, but so effective concept….. of gigantean proportions. What was it? Sell the batteries in PACKS! Simple but Brilliant!
Many readers may not recall, but before today’s multi-packs of batteries, they were simply sold loose, separately, individually. If you wanted just one - you went to the local store, and purchased just a single battery.
Now, Duracell decided to sell in multi-packs, and that was the only way to buy their new batteries. No singles. Period. Instead of selling one at a time, they sold FOUR At a time. Battery for battery, against the competition, they blew them away.
The multi-packs have another great side-effect. Some products which require batteries, need perhaps just one, or maybe three batteries, leaving an odd number of batteries left in the pack for future use. Next time the consumer needed to replace the used batteries in the product, they went to the drawer, and noticed perhaps that there were ’some’ Duracell batteries left, but not enough. So the consumer had to purchase more. And if they had already looked at Duracell’s, and had some Duracell’s left to use up, what are they likely to buy?
You get the idea.
This is a perfect example of taking something which already exists, and remodelling it, re-branding it, re-marketing it, finding a niche for it - and away you go.
Look at the music industry. It’s rife with similar concepts, which make millions. Bands, groups, singers, performers…. often do ‘cover versions’ - that is they will copy a song or track previously done by another artist.
Sometimes music is a ‘fusion’ - a mix of existing styles, but blended together to create something new. How about ‘sampling’? Taking a beat, rift, chord, chorus, few lines, track….. From another artist, and remixing it to create something different.
All they have done is to use something that already exists, make a few changes, amendments, alterations, improvements - and RESELL IT.
Unless you can reinvent the wheel, or perfect ’cold fusion’ - the World is jam packed full of existing markets, products, systems, services, concepts, ideas and customers - all of which can be used as your drawing board to get started.
First of all, where to locate great concepts?
Look around. What do you like? What do you dislike? Can it be improved? Can you take a hot product and improve it? Can to take a mediocre product and develop it? Can you take a completely useless product, and turn it in something better? Listen to what others say.
Can you re-package something? Bundle it? Deliver it differently? Re-brand it? Find a different, untapped market for a product which already exists, but is focussed on a different customer-base?
Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?
Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”
Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.
1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.
2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.
3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.
4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)
5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!
6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.
7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.
8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.
9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivere
Many not-for-profits provide valuable programs within the communities that they serve. Often these services are provided to individuals and families who may not be able to afford these needed services. Therefore, in order for the not-for-profit to raise the needed financial resources they have to engage in an aggressive fundraising program.Some of these fundraising efforts can include asking for outright donations, the writing of grants and conducting special events. Often these special events include golf tournaments, walk-a-thons, dinners, raffles, auctions, etc. One additional fundraising event is the selling of items in which a certain part of the proceeds go back to the not-for-profit to help with the provision of services. One such effort is raising money through the selling of fundraising cookies.Fundraising cookies, as a revenue generating idea for non-profits, can prove to be a great fundraiser. This is based on the benefits derived to all those involved and the popularity of selling fundraising cookies...
Duracell were not misleading anyone - they were completely truthful in their advertising, and with it, became a virtual household name overnight.
BUT - they also wanted a second scoop of the market, and devised yet another unbelievably simple, but so effective concept….. of gigantean proportions. What was it? Sell the batteries in PACKS! Simple but Brilliant!
Many readers may not recall, but before today’s multi-packs of batteries, they were simply sold loose, separately, individually. If you wanted just one - you went to the local store, and purchased just a single battery.
Now, Duracell decided to sell in multi-packs, and that was the only way to buy their new batteries. No singles. Period. Instead of selling one at a time, they sold FOUR At a time. Battery for battery, against the competition, they blew them away.
The multi-packs have another great side-effect. Some products which require batteries, need perhaps just one, or maybe three batteries, leaving an odd number of batteries left in the pack for future use. Next time the consumer needed to replace the used batteries in the product, they went to the drawer, and noticed perhaps that there were ’some’ Duracell batteries left, but not enough. So the consumer had to purchase more. And if they had already looked at Duracell’s, and had some Duracell’s left to use up, what are they likely to buy?
You get the idea.
This is a perfect example of taking something which already exists, and remodelling it, re-branding it, re-marketing it, finding a niche for it - and away you go.
Look at the music industry. It’s rife with similar concepts, which make millions. Bands, groups, singers, performers…. often do ‘cover versions’ - that is they will copy a song or track previously done by another artist.
Sometimes music is a ‘fusion’ - a mix of existing styles, but blended together to create something new. How about ‘sampling’? Taking a beat, rift, chord, chorus, few lines, track….. From another artist, and remixing it to create something different.
All they have done is to use something that already exists, make a few changes, amendments, alterations, improvements - and RESELL IT.
Unless you can reinvent the wheel, or perfect ’cold fusion’ - the World is jam packed full of existing markets, products, systems, services, concepts, ideas and customers - all of which can be used as your drawing board to get started.
First of all, where to locate great concepts?
Look around. What do you like? What do you dislike? Can it be improved? Can you take a hot product and improve it? Can to take a mediocre product and develop it? Can you take a completely useless product, and turn it in something better? Listen to what others say.
Can you re-package something? Bundle it? Deliver it differently? Re-brand it? Find a different, untapped market for a product which already exists, but is focussed on a different customer-base?
Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?
Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”
Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.
1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.
2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.
3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.
4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)
5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!
6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.
7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.
8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.
9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivere
Tales have been told of how eccentrics and other people of an inventive mind have stored up treasures in a variety of places - under mattresses, under loose boards in homes, in secret or not-so-secret compartments in cupboards, or simply in a hole in the woods. But it seems with each passing year you hear fewer such tales. For now, there are few old timers around who remember when banks went bust. For every one who keeps their money in an insured bank, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation insures each individual or joint account up to $100,000. A self-directed retirement account is insured up to $250,000. With more money you just simply go to other insured banks or credit unions and open new accounts. National Credit Union Share Insurance Funds insures accounts in credit unions as F.D.I.C. does you money in the bank.Now you are bombarded with advertisements both online and off of bank, credit unions, savings and loan associations, insurance companies, and investment brokers for a myriad kaleidoscope of accounts. Ban
Look at the music industry. It’s rife with similar concepts, which make millions. Bands, groups, singers, performers…. often do ‘cover versions’ - that is they will copy a song or track previously done by another artist.
Sometimes music is a ‘fusion’ - a mix of existing styles, but blended together to create something new. How about ‘sampling’? Taking a beat, rift, chord, chorus, few lines, track….. From another artist, and remixing it to create something different.
All they have done is to use something that already exists, make a few changes, amendments, alterations, improvements - and RESELL IT.
Unless you can reinvent the wheel, or perfect ’cold fusion’ - the World is jam packed full of existing markets, products, systems, services, concepts, ideas and customers - all of which can be used as your drawing board to get started.
First of all, where to locate great concepts?
Look around. What do you like? What do you dislike? Can it be improved? Can you take a hot product and improve it? Can to take a mediocre product and develop it? Can you take a completely useless product, and turn it in something better? Listen to what others say.
Can you re-package something? Bundle it? Deliver it differently? Re-brand it? Find a different, untapped market for a product which already exists, but is focussed on a different customer-base?
Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?
Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”
Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.
1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.
2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.
3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.
4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)
5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!
6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.
7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.
8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.
9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivere
Don't underestimate the power of prototyping. Too often the benefits of prototyping an invention are either played down or completely ignored when "experts" take to the issue. But turning your idea into a product sample is probably the most important part of inventing. And if you're not convinced here are five reasons why you should prototype your invention:1. It makes patenting easier For nearly 100 years, our culture has seemingly indoctrinated us in TV, books and movies to believe that we must patent our ideas immediately, lest they fall to the wayside or be stolen. It's an expensive and complicated process to take a rough idea and turn into a patent, so you wouldn't want to enter that $10,000-plus arena without being prepared, right?Prior to 1880 you actually had to have a prototype built before it could be patented. While it's not required now, a prototype is a great way to show that you built it first. Also, building your idea flushes out the benefits and features that may not have been
Can you add more value, more options, better support or service?
Do you use a product and think to yourself…. “Wow…. That’s great… but if only it did this too….”
Here are the vital tools and tips which you will need to start you off creating your own Million Dollar Ideas.
1. Your Eyes - seems obvious, but always be aware and on the ‘look-out’.
2. Your Ears - keep them open listen to people, those around, what they say about products, especially the things they dislike, as this could be a great start for you, if you can remove the problem with an existing product, you may just have a seller.
3. Your Mind. Keep this open too. And try to think ‘laterally‘.
4. A notebook and a pen / pencil (write your ideas down - don’t forget them!)
5. Go back to number 3 and remember to do this!
6. A ‘sounding board’ - a way of discussing your ideas with a few trusted others.
7. Patience. It may take a little time, the best ideas don’t necessarily come instantly -stick with it.
8. Don’t get down-heartened if some of your ideas don’t pan out. Just start again.
9. Don’t’ spend too much time over ideas. Give yourself 60 seconds (no more) to think of a product, service, system etc., Then Stop. Then spend 9 minutes writing down as much as you can, all the pros and cons of the ‘idea’, how it can be improved, simplified, delivered - just write as much as you can in those 9 minutes. Then STOP. Take a break. A good break. In fact put your notes away till the next day. Then review them.
When you do finally come up with a really hot idea for a product, service, system etc., don’t tell the World until you’ve taken a few steps to protect yourself! Get advice from experts - Lawyers, Business Professionals…… Patents…. Copyright…….. It’s important to get these right, or else someone may steal your idea, register it first and make HIS/HER fortune from YOU!
That leads me on to the last area. Don’t outright steal someone else’s idea, product etc. Breach of Copyright can be serious, Patents are relatively easy register, but a little care is needed - and plagiarism is just downright nasty!
In summary, Million Dollar Ideas can be found in TWO PLACES.
1. Everywhere in the outside world.
2. Inside YOU.
It’s just a case of putting them together. Some of the best ideas, really are the simplest.
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