Your idea is crazy and so are you!

I love quotes from successful entrepreneurs. Here’s one from Reed Hastings, founder of Netflix and before that Pure Software.

Most entrepreneurial ideas will sound crazy, stupid and uneconomic, and then they’ll turn out to be right.

I have to admit I thought eBay was a crazy idea: you mean I’m going to send strangers money and then wait and they will actually send me back the item I bought from them!?

Actually the original idea behind Netflix sounded crazy to me: sending DVDs through the mail when I could just pop over to my neighborhood video store? But of course that success was the bridge to Netflox’s true mission: streaming movies and TVs to consumers.

So if people tell you your idea is crazy, stupid and uneconomic don’t be surprised. And don’t be discouraged. If your idea made perfect sense to everyone, like running water or toothpicks, chances are many people would have created businesses out of it already.

Author: Mentorphile

Mentor, coach, and advisor to entrepreneurs, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. General manager with significant experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Focus on media and information. On founding team of four venture-backed companies. Currently Chairman of Popsleuth, Inc., maker of the Endorfyn app for keeping fans updated on new stuff from their favorite artists. View all posts by Mentorphile