What do you need from your idea?
It's very common for people to start new initiatives, and they don't even realise that the personal drive to create this new idea/business/charity is due to their needs not currently being met.
It's also common that once this new idea is up and running, it works for everyone else, but not for The Founder.
Your idea needs to work for you. If it doesn't, what's the point of doing it?
You need to know what you need.
Whether you're about to start something new or have started something already.
So here's a powerful little exercise for you to find out what your needs are.
Instructions
Download The Needs Cards here. Print out the words on card/paper and cut them out individually. (Alternatively, you can purchase a pack of cards from Max St John for approximately £35; please email him).
1) Ask yourself the question: What do I need from 'X' (the idea)? Write it down too, so you can keep looking at it whilst progressing through the process.
2) Split the pack into two groups. Keep the cards (words) on one side that you feel have relevance, that stick out, that are 'warm'. Dismiss the cards that have no relevance, that are 'cold'. Put them out of sight.
Top Tip: Don't overthink this. Be quick, hurry yourself along. You know the answers. Remember, if YOU NEED these things, you need them. (No one can say that you don't need what you need. Don't judge yourself or feel that others may judge you for the things that you think you need).
3) Next, sift through the 'warm' cards, thinning them down. There will be some words that group together that are similar and do the same job. Choose the 'top' word that covers the others in that group, then discard the weaker ones. Maybe there are 4–8 cards left now? If there are more, keep whittling the numbers down, focusing on the really important words. The things that you need.
4) Finally, try to find a pattern or sequence with the remaining cards. Is there a hierarchy? Is there a logical sequence? Are there specific groups?
When you have identified your needs, it's time to ask yourself... Will my new idea give me what I need?
Or, if you are already working on your new idea, ask yourself... Is my idea giving me what I need?
If your idea won't or isn't giving you what you need, your idea will fail because it won't work for you. It may work for a bit, but eventually it will fail because it isn't fulfilling what it is that you need within.
The Needs Cards have been developed by a friend of mine, Max St. John. He's worth checking out to learn about Needs, Conflict and bending metal in Dartmoor.
