Did you know you can explore any business idea? Apologies to anyone who finds this painfully obvious. But, I know there are some people who don’t know this.
About a year ago, I was at Culture Con on behalf of Skillshare. My buddy, Daniel Taylor, was in attendance as well. He’s the co-founder and CEO of a company called Bags. They help diverse-and-women owned businesses use debt as a tool for growth. I love the mission.
We were walking around and he shared a quick story. It was about another guy he knew that started this laundry service for hotels. Now, this isn’t some guy lacking privilege. It’s not a ‘come up’ story. Though, it is about ingenuity. Briefly, he believed he could figure out a way to launder towels, robes, and bed sheets more cost effectively than established players.
He had to test it. He secured a trial with a smaller hotel, rented a truck, and picked up their dirty laundry. Fast forward, the business generates millions in revenue, profitably.
Human beings are subject to all kinds psychological stuff like confirmation bias and framing effects. Meaning, we often get stuck conforming to existing pathways. That’s ok in a lot of cases. If you’re doing work in an established field or you aren’t interested in innovating, then you’re good to go. But, don’t let what you know about how the world works stop you from trying to achieve an outcome on your own terms.
Be mindful and thoughtful. Gather outside perspectives. Remember, there’s no harm in trying.
Moral of the story: if you have an idea, make sh*t happen.