Have you ever stumbled across an excellent business idea that makes you giddy with joy? You believe it is so profound and Innovative that no one has ever come up with it, so you make a quick search online to be sure. Two minutes surfing the web and your smile is upside down. Your unique idea isn’t so unique. Over 20 businesses are already doing the same thing, offering the same service, or producing the same good.
This can be very discouraging, especially if you have already started daydreaming. You might have subconsciously started to develop elaborate plans on how you would build your business to fill the hole left by the lack of your good or service.
You thought you have invented something new and special, only to realize that your new idea isn’t so new.
Let me get you in on a little secret. Your idea is still valid. The fact that it has been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be your innovation. Innovation is 20% idea and 80% execution. So what if your idea isn’t new and out of the blues, it doesn’t change the fact that it is profound and in demand.
Irrespective of the competition in your chosen field take your idea and own it. Innovate by improving on the basic concept and making it a better version of the generic.
Conclusion
There was already speech before the alphabets were invented and there were already phones before smartphones were developed. Imagine where we would be if Thomas Edison decided not to develop the light bulb because lamps were already lighting up the world.
Don’t discard that business idea. Own it by improving and executing it better than anyone in your industry. That is true innovation.