Quixoting® - A Quest for New Ideas

Seems clear to me - what about a see-through car cover?

About three years ago, I sold my 2000 BMW 528. It took about 8 weeks to sell it. In marketing the car I tried all the normal tools out there including Auto Trader, Car Faire, and the old stand-by: park it somewhere for FREE and hope people see it and fall in love.

My biggest frustration?

My biggest frustration was not how long it took to sell, the cost to get it online or even the paperwork to get it transferred properly once sold. It was keeping it really clean inside and out for 56 consecutive days. You always have to be ready, right? And for me ready means sparkling clean so that the potential buyer has no excuse!

Now I used to work for the #1 maker of car care products, Meguiar's, so I know how to get a car really clean in a short amount of time. But once you've decided to sell it, the car is more like a chore than a friend.

So, here's the idea:

What I would have killed for was a clear car cover. It protects the car from dirt, dust and fingerprints while still allowing potential buyers to see the car, inside and out. This way, I can leave the car over the weekend somewhere in a high traffic area and not have to wash it again when I pick it up.

For now, I'll call it the ClearView™ Car Cover.

OK, now it's time to knock some holes in the idea. First of all, has anyone ever seen one of these? Is it possible that it has never been thought of before? I did a quick Google search but didn't see anything. I had a friend once tell me that there are NO NEW IDEAS only variations on current ones. Boy, I sure hope not. If you've seen this idea on the market, let me know!

Assuming it is a unique idea, just for now, what's wrong with it? If it is made of plastic, will the cover melt to the car on a hot day? Would it make the car look less sexy and more like a dental instrument prior to use?

Your thoughts, please. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

(Key-ho-ting) In case you were wondering . . .

Since I have already broken the cardinal rule of web or blog naming (never too long or too hard to spell), I figure I at least owe you a pronunciation . . .

Key-Ho-Ting

For those of you who are phonetically challenged or if you just enjoy "fun with letters":

1. the Q is like a K except it includes an "E" sound (QUI).
2. the X is like an "H" with an "O" added for posterity
3. the T and the ING are, well, "TING".

Now that we have that out of the way, I'm looking for examples of successful websites or blogs that have really long or complicated names. Got any suggestions?

A gold star for the first example.

When your ideas aren't as obvious as you'd like . . .

This past weekend I took my wife away on a special anniversary weekend to Santa Barbara. A beautiful weekend getaway that I'd recommend to anyone, especially those of you in or near the West Coast. We stayed at a very nice hotel just across from the beach - great food and excellent service.

However, the experience that I will remember for its humor was when I filled out the breakfast form for room service. You'll probably recognize the form below (double click on the image to zoom in):

What struck me was the following line:

Please hang on outside doorknob before midnight

Forget that there are no doorknobs in hotels anymore - that is an insignificant detail. What I loved was the fact that they needed to specify which doorknob they were referring to . . . the outside one. Even better, I would love to see the word "outside" underlined, put in bold type or maybe even marked up with a yellow highlighter!

I had a vision of a few things:

1. The focus group where hotel management learn of the problem that unless they specified which doorknob, hotel guests would not get their food and the hotel would miss out on their most profitable food service channel (orange juice for $6.00?).

2. The innocent hotel guest who places their order on the inside doorknob and wakes to no hot coffee, no eggs and no stuffed french toast. Would they then think to themselves: Hmm, I wonder why they didn't take my order?

Of course, my wife just shook her head and, again, wondered aloud how my brain worked.

When you have to work real hard to explain an idea, is it a good one? If an idea is not self-evident, can it succeed in the market? Probably not.

If you have any examples of ideas that are trying too hard, send me an e-mail or comment below.

What to do with your old and new ideas?

Cleaning out your bottom drawer

Everyone has a place for things that they're just not sure what to do with. For you it could be a bottom drawer or an old cigar box. It may include letters from an old girlfriend or a part to an old record player. It may hold a few old baseball cards or a necklace left to you from a great aunt. Why keep them? Well, for one, you may need them someday, right? You may also fear being too impulsive or irresponsible to toss them in the trash or sell them online.

While we all have examples like these in our lives, my biggest source of bottom drawer anxiety is my idea book. It represents my thoughts and ideas since high school and illustrates my creative history like layers of limestone on a cliffside. I am at once immensely proud of having them and forever repressed for leaving them there to gather dust.

What about a brand new idea?

If you're like me you have ideas popping into your head all the time. So, here's the first question: What should you do with these ideas?

The way I see it you have two basic options. You can either share them with others (boy is this risky) or you can write them down somewhere and forget about them (safe and highly confidential). During most of my adult life, I have chosen the latter. Since my ideas make me who I am over time, this safe route is very unsatisfying.

Now for the second question: Why don't we share them or act on them? From my experience, they are either not big enough, are too personal or (this is the scary one) are so interesting that the slightest hint to others will create a storm of activity thereby trouncing my "first to market" status. That is either ego, fear or ignorance talking but regardless fear of letting my ideas out of the bag has kept me from expressing myself.

What do you do with YOUR ideas?

Launching your ideas can follow a number of paths including:

1. Telling the world about your idea on, let's say, a blog.
One could argue this is a bit risky if you haven't thought it through or if you are worried that it is so unique that others may steal it. Your decision there, of course. If you are like me though, many of the ideas aren't always practical or may not be in your field of work anyway! This option is perfect for folks who just need to get their ideas out of their head and into public view.

2. Launching your idea formally either as a business or as a public service
If you really believe in your idea and have the time, energy and family support to make it a reality, go for it! This is the ultimate expression of confidence. It says, "hey brain, you've got something there". If you are going to step off the cliff, you will need some help and guidance and the web is full of great sites to support your effort.

So, this is the time to start shaking off the dust, to open the drawer, organize the contents and begin sharing your ideas with the world. Get going!

Google offers $10M for 5 great ideas . . . OK, I'm listening

Today Google announced that it will award $10 million to fund ideas that promise to better the world. Called Project 10^100 (pronounced "10 to the 100th"), Google and a panel of judges will pick five ideas in February. According to Google, the ideas can be high tech, low tech, complex or brilliantly simple but the idea must have impact.

In an article on CNN it says "Ideas such as the Hippo Water Roller, which Google cited as the kind of concept the company would be interested in rewarding. Developed in Africa, where it is most used, the Hippo Water Roller is a barrel-shaped container, attached to a handle, that holds 24 gallons of water and can be rolled with little effort, like a wheelbarrow, making it easier for villagers on foot to transport critically needed fresh water to their homes."

To submit an idea you must do so before October 20. The website for submissions can be found here.

As I began to roll up my sleeves, spit into my hands and rub them together fiercely, I started to think about how some of my ideas could help save the world. OK, None. I also thought: how does one solve the problems in other countries having not been there before?

The reality is that a lot of my ideas - some posted here in this blog and some on the way - are "convenience adders" or "small nuisance solvers". All potentially profitable and helpful in a world looking for innovation, but not the type that could wrestle a Nobel prize away from a German scientist.

But, I considered, am I thinking too small? Why couldn't I be the one? I just need to think bigger, right?

At that point, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes. It is from Jim Morris, the major league pitcher whose story was featured in the motion picture The Rookie starring Dennis Quaid. A powerful story even if you are not a baseball fan (yes, I cried when he got the news he was being called up to the big club). When asked about how he was able go from being a high school baseball coach to pitching in the major leagues, he said:

Leaving yourself open for something bigger than what you think is possible

Call me crazy, but that is just a great concept. Why not me? Standing on the stage with four other people, the flash bulbs going off and my pockets full with thousands of fresh $100 bills ready to fund my big idea.

If not me, how about you?

Please don't drink and drive - really, don't

I did my undergrad at San Diego State University, graduating in 1989. A lot of things have changed since then. For example:

1. You used to be able to get accepted with a 3.0 GPA and a 900 (or so) SAT score. I won't tell you how I know that worked. Now you need a minimum 4.0 and an SAT above 1250.

2. SDSU's football was relatively competitive back then - almost stealing the Holiday Bowl from Iowa. SDSU kicked off their 2008/2009 season on the ESPN Bottom 10 (ouch).

3. SDSU's greek system was still wet, allowing fraternities to enjoy "alcoholic refreshments" on campus. Today's greek system is dry - appropriate for today, but this would not have been understood back then.

This last point spurred an idea back then which I have decided to re-surface here and now. After all, that is one of the reasons for starting this blog - to take my ideas and release them to the world. The world can then either embrace them or spit them onto a curb somewhere. Either works!

So here's the idea which I think could still be relevant and helpful in today's world:

It is called the Lifesaver and I believe it could work if used as described. Its success assumes that there is a percentage of drivers that drink who never intended to drive intoxicated or could have been persuaded from driving if they were gently reminded of the risks. The folks at MADD would be better at confirming this assumption than I, but I thought at the time that all some folks would need was something to interrupt their risky departure.

So, here's how it works. The Lifesaver is a round plastic piece with elastic that fits over the steering wheel. If you are going to a bar or restaurant and you think you might drink, you simply place the Lifesaver over your steering wheel prior to going into the restaurant. When you return to your car, you are forced to remove the Lifesaver prior to departing. My hope was that the effort of removing the Lifesaver would act as a sobering pause - one that could force a thought: "have I had too much"? To make it more powerful, you could customize your Lifesaver with a personal message to yourself or perhaps photos of those you love.

So, the big question - would people use them? Would their use bring scorn from those who don't get it?

What do YOU think? Hug or spit?

Fear of never having been knighted

I have always felt a bit of a kinship with Don Quixote. As I have said in prior posts, I believe he is a perfect source of inspiration and example for folks in the idea generation business. While depicted (often rightly so) as misguided and mad, he took action, he dared and his heart was solidly in the right place.

I'm sure there will be those who feel a strange fit as a name for a blog or website (too long, can't spell it and, by the way, people often use the phrase "don quixoting" as a substitute for idiocy and carelessness). I have a different point of view - in defense of his better side.

One of the things said about Don Quixote:

He had a fear of never having been knighted.

As a result, you can envision him doing a little internal sword fighting. Am I good enough? Who am I to think that I can achieve this? A modern example, "I did not attend Harvard or Yale, why would anyone hire me on Wall Street?"

So, despite his fears he took action to battle the windmills and did anything else that fit into his vision of chivalry. I am not an expert on Don Quixote, just a fan, but his example works for me and I hope it may help you.

If you have an idea - one that has been gnawing at you. If you have always wanted to be a ______ or create a new way to _______, take a first step today and get started.

While you may not want to follow his lead in your execution, let his impulsive and daring action cause the same in your world. By doing so, you will reward your heart and mind - they may be really tired of waiting for you to kick things off.

When your idea is no longer your idea

The original title of this post was: "When an idea slowly becomes obsolete". I was planning on writing about an idea I had to make it easier to carry those plastic grocery bags from the store. The bags become heavy and the handles cut into your hands causing some pain and reduced circulation. The obsolete part comes as more and more cities are beginning to ban the plastic bags due to the impact on our environment.

So, what happened? Well, my Google search for information on the idea led me to a place I did not want to go . . .

The dreaded website of the guy who not only beat me to it but has a product already out there for people!

His product, above, is called "Shopping/Grocery Bag Carrying Handle" - not a lot of creative naming there, but hey, at least he's in the market! If you don't want his handle, go to his main site - Wupen Walking Sticks - if you are a fan of walking sticks, he's got a couple of nice ones . . .

My idea was a little different. It was plastic and more of a half cylinder to cradle the bags. My customer was the grocery stores - they would buy these cheap and give them away to their customers as a service. In my wildest of dreams, this patent would become as prevalent and profitable as the coffee cup sleeves you get at Starbuck's. Haven't we all thought about retiring on that one?

So, is this idea obsolete? Are plastic grocery bags a dying breed? What do you think?

I could still go after this idea. You know, get my own unique patent and battle it out. I'll have to come up with a pretty good argument for the retailer as they work on pretty slim margins. I'll bet plastic grocery bags will be around for a while yet - after all, what will we use to clean up after the dog?

Hmmmm.

The Value of Ideas - Heard on NPR

An interesting interview on NPR this morning. The Morning Edition segment called "The Long View" interviewed Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor. He discusses his investment strategy and near the end provides his take on the value of ideas. Here are a few of the quotes:

"Good ideas really are simple ideas."

"It's important to have a sound idea, but the really important thing is the implementation."

"I'd rather back a mediocre idea that was brilliantly executed than a brilliant idea that was poorly executed."

"The idea is the easier part if you're careful. The harder part is implementation. And that's what really makes or breaks any of these things."

As a big fan of NPR and always being appreciative of discussions on the topic of ideas, I found myself strangely defensive as I listened to this last part of the segment. After some thought, I realized that my impulsive desires that helped to launch and "power" this blog were somewhat in conflict with his more structured, "brilliantly executed" mantra.

In truth, was my launch of this blog brilliantly executed? Was it ever a brilliant idea? If neither, should I have just stayed on the shore avoiding the raging surf? What do YOU think?

And then I realized that the real value in my launching this blog was not to execute brilliantly - although I hope I please a few people out there who love to create and nurture ideas. The real value was somewhat selfish. I have ideas in my head and my heart that simply need to be released and after years of ignoring them, my impulses got the best of me.

This is my Don Quixote moment in the sun . . . and I'm relishing every impulsive minute.

Stadium seating for Dr. Seuss?

So here's another one from the idea book. One that solves a problem I no longer have, but maybe it would help you.

I have three kids and when they were young (2-4 years) we had all sorts of reading methods. Sometimes I would read to them individually in their rooms but often we would head into the reading room so that I could read a book to them all at the same time. Sounds like something right out of a Disney movie, huh?

The reality is that reading to three kids at different ages and different temperaments was downright painful some nights.

They would fight over who had the better view, who was on Dad's lap vs. next to Dad. Who got to turn the pages and who got to point out special images on each page. Unfortunately, what starts as a wonderful scrapbook moment ends in tears.

One Solution - Stairs
One thing I found that "helped" was having me sitting on the stairs and having the kids sitting above me (one or two stairs up). This worked pretty well but one of the kids was always too far away to see properly.

My solution - A special chair
So, while we creative types like creative solutions, we also like to come up with new products. So my idea came out like this:

I called it the Stadium Chair™ and believe that it could solve this problem for me (even though I don't have it anymore).

Each child gets their own special seat and everyone has a perfect view of the book. You could even add drink cup holders for that warm bottle of milk. Now that sounds more like Disney, right?

You decide, thumbs up or thumbs down?

Where do you keep your ideas organized?

The answer for me is "everywhere". I write them on post-its, in the margins of books, in my Blackberry, on 3x5 cards, on the back of business cards and in a variety of notebooks. But . . .

the ideas that I think are more interesting go in my idea book (photo above).

Are they good ideas? Not sure, really. All I can tell you is that they seemed to be pretty interesting at the time. Maybe I'll find out as I begin to share them and have the opinions of others shape their future. I've posted a few so far (here, here and here) and I hope your voice will be heard.

The initial passion for me comes in the generating and less in the evaluating of these new ideas. So once I've let them sit for a while I can come back and evaluate later with a clearer head. Of course this is often painful as I now and again tear a page out in realization that I must have been off kilter that day.

If you have ideas, you can share them here by commenting on one of mine (it feels good to release them, believe me) or you can go to a number of fun sites like Creativity Pool, a free database with new ideas and possible inventions.

So, where do you keep your ideas?

If you put lipstick on an idea . . .

As referenced recently by Barack Obama:

putting lipstick on a pig
"A term used by many, generally in reference to someone who may be trying to make something or someone look appealing or attractive when it quite clearly will not work, or will only deceive the dumbest of people."
- According to one author on the Urban Dictionary

So if the analogy works for political discourse, I wondered how it could be applied to the evaluation of ideas. I also wondered if there were good examples out there of ideas that are being smeared with lipstick, disguising their true value.

I think the source of some really bad ideas come as a result of picking a simple solution to a complex problem. It turns out, I only had to look in my own idea book for an example:

About a year ago I came up with an idea to solve the problem of insomnia in adults. It came to me one day when I was retelling a story to a friend about an apartment I lived in while working in Trenton, MO. My apartment there was below street level and had no windows. It was pitch black unless the lights were on and on many Saturdays I woke up around 1:00PM. So, I thought that if you could control the environment in which someone sleeps, they could enjoy a long, restful night. The idea was to create a special hotel that did just that. Sleep4Ever Inn, let's call it.

Of course this wouldn't be the place you stayed while visiting Disney World, in fact it could even be right down the street. Each room would have king size beds within a large pod that blocks out all light, sound, smells and reduces vibration. Only those wanted or supportive senses would be tingled at your discretion.

So the problem is a big one and it is an emotional one - perhaps worth a lot of money if it worked, right?

Where does the lipstick part come in?

My simple solution of controlling the environment sounds good but it tackles only one small aspect of what causes adult insomnia. According to eMedicineHealth there are three categories of insomnia with causes ranging from jet lag or excessive noise (I could have helped here) to serious medical issues like anxiety, depression, asthma and heart disease (no chance).

As you evaluate your own ideas, think about the problem you are trying to solve, how big it is and what portion of it you are addressing. Oh, and lay off the lipstick.

Intriguing quotes on the world of ideas

Everyone gets inspired in different ways. Some as a result of watching the actions of others, some by listening to their words. I happen to be inspired by the latter. Great words and great ideas are synonymous.

Below are some quotes that I believe help describe the power and influence of ideas:

Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
- John Steinbeck

People today are still living off the table scraps of the sixties. They are still being passed around - the music and the ideas.
- Bob Dylan

Human history in essence is the history of ideas.
- H.G. Wells

You can have brilliant ideas, but if you can't get them across, your ideas won't get you anywhere.
- Lee Iacocca

I have a lot of stuff I want to talk about and offer up. It would be odd not to have ideas about something.
- Ralph Fiennes

Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than in the one where they sprung up.
- Oliver Wendell Holmes

What are your favorite quotes?

Bringing your idea to life

This site is dedicated to the creation of new ideas, carving them into legitimate concepts and then, importantly, launching them to the world. As I've said, launching can follow one of two paths:

1. Telling the world about your idea on, let's say, a blog.
One could argue this is a bit risky if you haven't thought it through or if you are worried that it is so unique that others may steal it. Your decision there. If you are like me though, many of the ideas aren't always practical or may not be in your field of work anyway! This option is perfect for folks who just need to get their ideas out of their head and into public view.

2. Launching your idea formally either as a business or as a public service
If you really believe in your idea and have the time, energy and family support to make it a reality, go for it! This is the ultimate expression of confidence. It says, "hey brain, you've got something there". If you are going to step off the cliff, you will need some help and guidance. I hope that this site will be a great resource for you.

Launching a business requires professional help
I'm not suggesting help of the clinical nature, although I'm sure there are days ...

I wanted to recommend two sites that are well established and well-respected on the topic of branding and positioning - two critical components that must be part of your launch plan. These components establish who you are visually and emotionally while helping to create a unique space in the mind of the consumer.

Brand Mix - BRANDING STORIES, IDEAS, THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS is written by Martin Bishop. This is a great site that includes both traditional branding ideas as well as very practical, everyday examples. In a recent post, Martin reviews the Crocs brand (those lovely plastic, multi-colored sandals). It's a great reminder of the importance of managing growth as a small company.

Ries' Pieces - ON THE BUSINESS OF BRANDING is written by Laura Ries. The posts are very topical and easy to apply to your situation. I really enjoyed a recent post where she discusses the re-branding of her blog.

Welcoming your comments and ideas as always . . .

Ideas on the go

Do you ever wonder why the best ideas come to you when you're not trying?

The famous "shower idea", the "sitting in traffic" idea and the "jogging on the beach" idea. What this says to me is that we all have great ideas rolling around in our heads, we just need a little quiet, undisturbed time to let it worm its way out.

Right now I am sitting at the skate park with my three kids and I'm finding it's not the best environment for ideas to breathe.

I started thinking of how I would improve the shape of the park, how I would improve the skateboard for ramp tricks, etc. That wasn't working.

And then, only then, when my mind got distracted I thought of an idea...

I'm sitting in a beach chair on a downhill slope so now I am also facing down. It's not comfortable. What if I invented a chair that leveled itself when necessary. For example, if I'm on a downhill slope it would automatically level me out so I am looking ahead not down. I'll call it Swivel-Ease technology...

What do you think? Would you be interested in that for use on hills or sand dunes? Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Slices instead of value meals?

So I was driving around at around 2:00 PM one day last week. I had missed lunch and was casually looking for something to eat. I needed something quick and wanted something light, relatively healthy and satisfying. You know, avoid spoiling my dinner. Does that sound unreasonable you?

After a few minutes of no luck, I made it my quest to find something. I could have stopped at a fast food place and had something from the value menu but that didn't sound right. Most fast food places sell salads but you can't really eat that in the car, can you? I saw a lot of food places, but none that really addressed my need for a quick, healthy mini meal.

So I thought "I should open a chain of small, drive through restaurants that offer quick, healthy meals that can be eaten in the car"! Each item would be less than 250 calories and be high in protein, fiber and key vitamins. I would call this restaurant chain Slices™ to highlight the smaller portion size.

Do you think this would be a good idea? Would you stop in and grab a slice?

Let your horse guide you on the path

Regarding the story of Don Quixote, it is said that he let his horse take whatever path it chose. Sounds like a true adventurer and a great role model for people in the business of creative thinking. One could also say that he was misguided, mad and terribly irresponsible.

One of the reasons I chose the name for this site was my interest in the character of Don Quixote and his impulsive style. While dangerous if used incorrectly in certain business environments, this style has significant advantages in the world of ideas - especially as it relates to a decision to act on an idea.

If you are sitting on an idea that you have always wanted to pursue, find a way to let it out. Even if you only write about it, the act can be a great release.

Tell me, what's the one idea you have that, if acted upon, would change your life?

Does anyone need a blanket in the summertime?

If you have ever tried sleeping with a blanket in the summertime you know that you will wake up in a swamp. It's similar to forgetting to take those flannel sheets off the bed on those unusually warm nights in October and November.

So here's an idea to solve this problem that's been nagging at me. I need something heavier on me during the night than a lousy old sheet. I need to be weighed down by something better than a napkin!

So to solve this problem I thought of a new product. Imagine something that looks like a fishing net but made out of a heavy microfiber material. It would provide the weight I'm looking for and allow the air in to prevent sweating.

What are the drawbacks? Well, it may not look right to have a bed cover that looks like a fish net. What would the neighbors or the in-laws say if they saw it on the bed? Would it look kinky?

So, who else suffers from this malady? Would you buy my blanket?

A river of creative juices

A few years ago a column in the Wall Street Journal caught my eye. The column was called Managing Your Career written by Tony Lee. The title was "Your Daydreams Can Be a Blueprint for a Fantasy Job" - each based on the idea of leaving the corporate world and trying something new.

Tony sites Chicago psychotherapist Arlene Hirsch who identified seven basic types of job fantasies. They are:

1. Hitting the Open Road - (example: Jack Kerouac road trip)
2. Risking it All - (example: kayaking the Nile)
3. Letting Creative Juices Flow - (example: writing a blog!)
4. Embracing a Tropical Paradise - (example: moving to Costa Rica)
5. Benefiting Society - (example: starting a shelter)
6. Returning to Your Roots - (example: go live in a cabin somewhere)
7. Staying Close to Family - (example: starting a home-based business)

Which of these types fit you best? Would you ever leave your job to pursue a fantasy job?

If you are like me you fit into type 3 - a group of folks that need a lot of creative outlets. Question is, where do you find it and how do you express it?

An idea for your feedback

So, one of the things I will do with this blog is to share new ideas for your feedback. Some will be new and raw and others will be more developed.

- If you see an idea you like, say so.
- If you see an idea you hate, say so. All feedback is welcome.
- If you see an idea you'd like to learn more about, let me know.

The idea is an analogy for job search to help people in job transition. I created a new blog for easy review.