I'll start with a confession. "Define" is not my favorite part of the process because we jump from freely associating (fun) to analyzing our idea in much greater detail which feels more like work. Define is also tough because it is the first step at which an idea we think might be a winner can get turned on it's head when we realize there are challenges we never dreamed making the idea infeasible based on our existing knowledge and experience. The result can often be frustration and disappointment. On the brighter side, ideas which hold up to the scrutiny of the "Define" phase already have a better chance of succeeding and we aren't wasting time on ideas which are less likely to thrive. FYI, most ideas don't get past "Define" so prepare to go through several of them.

I firmly believe that writing out a description of your idea is the most essential activity in this phase. By doing so you will force yourself to consider things which don't come to mind if you are just "thinking" about it. Don't just think about the idea and don't be lazy, you must now write it out. I usually shoot for about two pages of text. Writing it out will also help you figure out how to explain your idea to other people clearly and concisely. If you can't do that, you don't understand it well enough yourself to move forward.

A more fun part of documenting your idea is mapping it out with a tool like MindJet MindManager. It's easier because it allows us to think about things in a non-linear fashion which is far more natural. Once you are comfortable and efficient with using a tool like MindManager you might be able to eliminate the two pages of text above and loose a little of the work aspect. The mapping part can actually be fun.

Once we have a well documented idea, we now have to research it. I stick to the Internet and bookstores primarily but also actively talk to people I know or look for experts in the area whom I know or can figure out how to contact. You would be surprised how often people will happily talk to you about what they know, it usually makes them feel good though a word of caution: When you pen your first letter or email to them, do so thoughtfully, be brief and specific. Most of all be humble and polite. You are asking them for help on your idea after all. Don't ramble on about your idea or they'll know you are going to do the same if they talk with you on the phone or in person and probably won't want to bother.

When you are doing your research make sure you log everything. Bookmark links, dog-ear pages of magazine or books, write down what you find, where you found it and if it's a periodical include the date of the publication and volume/issue numbers and title/page of the article. There is nothing worse than loosing track of some really great info. If you interview someone record the conversation (with their permission) so you can more easily refer to it later. All the research can take time though it doesn't necessarily have to. It really depends on who you already know, how easily you find references and how much you already know yourself. It can take from as little as a day to months. Either way, don't skip this step! BTW, it is for occasions like this that real networking comes in handy.

At the end of "Define" you'll have a good idea as to whether or not you have a good idea. If it starts to look like it might not be the right idea but you aren't quite convinced either, look at it from a few different angles and start getting input on it. You don't want to dismiss and idea too early but you don't want to be married to a bad idea either. All of the research and thought can spring board a great idea forward much more quickly than if you just try to hack it; so instead "Define" it and be rewarded.

(Idea Lifecycle Frameowrk, Phase 2. click to enlarge)



















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Labels: execution, frameworks, ideas