We all know collaboration is important. In fact, if you were to type into Google “the importance of collaboration” you’ll get a drop-down of suggestions including: the importance of collaboration in education, the workplace, business, the classroom, and so on. We have created a culture that makes learning, growing, and achieving almost impossible unless you collaborate with those around you. And this is a good thing. It promotes self-analysis, problem solving, and efficiency, among a slew of other positive benefits.
So, I ask you then, if collaboration has so many benefits and is so important to our culture, why do so many people with invention, or product ideas hesitate to collaborate? Well, the quick answer is probably the fear of someone taking their idea. And while this fear holds some validity, it is also that same fear that will keep your invention, or product idea from becoming great, or created at all. Now, we’re not saying you should talk to everyone you meet about your idea; there are smart, intentional ways to discuss your idea.
Start small. Pick a few people you trust who will be honest and blunt with you. It does no good to talk to a “yes man," you need someone who isn’t afraid to poke holes in your idea, or say that it needs serious work. The honesty will hurt, but it will make your product/idea better. It will allow you to answer a few important questions that you alone are far too biased to answer:
What’s compelling about your product/idea?
Is there a want or a need for your product/idea?
Will people want to spend their hard-earned money on your product/idea?
Once you are able to collaborate honestly with someone you trust, and accurately answer these questions (and probably a lot more questions), you may be ready for the next stage of collaboration with a business who can make your product/idea a reality.