Turn Your Brainstorm Into A Business

When 35 year-old Edwin Land was strolling through the streets of Santa Fe, N.M. with his three-year old daughter Jennifer, the child asked him why it took so long to develop a photograph. At first, Land dismissed the question with a wave of the hand but then came to realize that Jennifer had handed him a brainstorm waiting to be turned into a business--which he did with a flourish. Forever, Land would be known as the creator of instant photography and the founder of Polaroid.

We all have ideas, brainstorms, that pass through our minds only to drift away into the ether. In many cases, it's not because they weren't worthy -- perhaps extraordinary and even disruptive -- but instead because we didn't take hold of them and shape them into a business. Instead we may work away at jobs that provide little rewards and even fewer opportunities to break out, change the world, build personal wealth.

The ideas do not have to be Polaroid/Facebook/Amazon big. They can start off as little gems with unlimited potential. It's best to forget about the scale of the idea at the outset and to focus on giving the brainstorm tangible form.... a life of its own. For a stillborn idea is not only a lonely burst of energy, but worse, the loss of what might have been.

Everyone has ideas waiting to be leveraged into businesses. And almost everyone has roadblocks that stop us from launching them. But it may be time to tackle the challenges and test the waters. If you want to give it a run, consider the following steps:

*If you're not sure your idea will pan out in the marketplace, join the party. No one ever really knows as long as it remains "an idea." Commit to giving it a life.

*If you're afraid of quitting your job at this point, don't. Start the venture part time, see what the market says, and then decide your next steps.

*The need for seed capital may be an issue but don't let it stop you. Scale back the scope of your trial balloon, prove it can fly and the money will find you.

*Risk is a reality you may not be used to. If you work for someone else, they are rolling the dice. If the chance of losing anything is far too great for you to contemplate, stay focused on your job. But accept the fact that chances are good you'll never be an entrepreneur.

And that someone else will likely bring your brainstorm to market.