A friend and I are setting up a company around a niche we think we’ve identified. We’re passionate about it and we think it could even work! It’s an innovative product and a specific market. Some people think we’re crazy.
The interesting thing though, is how convinced they are we’re crazy. They are totally convinced! They are used to a different operating paradigm and they don’t understand our audience (as they have never met any). And yet, they’re convinced they know what will happen. Despite a complete lack of relevant knowledge or experience or any ability to accurately predict the future. They’re convinced they are right. It reminded me of hearing a telco CE say a few years ago – ‘you would have picked the killer application in telecommunications would be teenagers texting’.
We all want to pretend we know more than we do. Probably helps us feel in control and demonstrate how smart we are. But, there is simply an awful lot that we don’t know. And, I think we would be far more effective by recognising that. Keeping an open mind. Being willing to go out and find out. Conducting small experiments to test new models, ideas and behaviours. We may learn something.
By the way, despite all the talk about the knowledge economy and innovation – am I the only person who thinks that peoples’ minds are closing rather than opening?
