An idea may be ingenious, novel, and unique but that does not necessarily make it commercially viable. And until you find a way to transform a good business idea into a profitable business plan, you might remain in the island of dreamers; while others who have painstakingly done their homework will trade freely in the Mecca of entrepreneurs and tycoons.

A case in study that readily illustrates this view point would be the presentation by one very interesting entrepreneur in the den.

He practically ‘crawled’ into the den in grossly animated steps, making the dragons and other privileged on-lookers wonder what he had up his sleeves. He walked in with a very ominous aura around him, literally counting his steps as he advanced towards the dragons. It was unusual to see an entrepreneur this sluggish with his strides in the den, when every other entrepreneur walked briskly and smartly. But this entrepreneur was performing a well-rehearsed act of morbid salesmanship.

Finally, he spoke up, jolting everybody in the den back to the present.

He announced his name, and announced the reason why he had come to the den…immediately after which, all the dragons opted out - eager to dismiss the entrepreneur and his ‘out of this world’ business idea; for the simple reason that he had made his idea was as lifeless as his personality and presentation.

He had come up with a ‘brilliant’ idea of how to preserve the memories of dead people electronically. The idea was ingeniously morbid, but his animated presentation made him look like he was just living an obsession with the dead…he just seemed like a mortician trying to get the dragons to invest in his morgue.

So far, dead people had about two conventional and morally allocated abodes; in the memories of their loved ones, and in the confines of a casket (or sometimes in an urn) but no one, before this entrepreneur, had explored the ingenious morbidity of cremating the dead in cyberspace.

A good idea…yeah…but come on, where was the plan?

Like I said at the beginning of this discourse, an idea may be ingenious, novel, and unique but if you don’t find a way to answer the following questions, the idea may never see the light of a business plan:

1. How do I transform this idea into a profitable product?
2. If this idea were a product, who would consume (or buy) it?
3.  Would this ‘product’ debase the sensibilities of those who buy it (or even those who will finance it)?
4. How do I sustain the commerciality of this ‘product’?
5. What is the best way to package this idea without losing its ingenuity?

I know how it feels to be consumed by the burden of transporting a one-in-a-generation idea; I understand the need for discretion and even secrecy, but in this age and clime, the wise ‘ideas-man’ may make himself a millionaire if he solicits the services of a professional business analyst.

Remember, Dragons den is a show where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas to 5 dragons in search of an investment. The advert did not say “Dragons den is a show where ‘dreamers’ pitch their ‘dreams’ to 5 dragons…”

And the difference between a dreamer and an entrepreneur is simple; while the dreamer nurses his idea, the entrepreneur transforms his idea into a good business plan.

See you in the den.

–The Den Sweeper!