Why You Should Talk About Your Idea Before You Build It

Before you start your business, it’s important you tell others about your idea.

Now, I know people often want to be secretive and protective of their idea because someone might steal it, however, the likelihood of someone stealing your idea is very, very rare. You know why? To steal your idea, the potential thief would have to leave the dream zone and enter the work zone. Most people just don’t want to do the work.

Even more, the powerful thing about telling others about your idea is you have an opportunity to gain their interest in the idea. When you pitch your product or tell people about your service, you can see the parts that can confuse them, the parts they understand, the parts that excite them, the parts that sound boring, and the parts that make them interested. You can also see the parts they’re not interested in.

The best thing about pitching your idea to people is that as they’re asking you clarifying questions, they’re also giving you practice making your first sale. Because even if you’re just talking to your spouse, parents or siblings, you have an opportunity in that moment to refine how you communicate the idea. That experience will transfer when you’re talking to the very first person who wants to actually pay you for what you have to offer.

Start with your family and friends. Then—after you’ve refined talking about the idea—go to a few of your professional friends, your trusted colleagues, or people who you feel will truly understand what it is you’re doing. Tell them, “I would like to do a mock pitch for my product or service to you.” This will give them permission to not just play the friend role and tell you how great or creative you are… but to poke holes in your pitch and give you honest feedback. This conversation isn’t to boost your ego, it’s about getting in legit repetitions in presenting your idea to others.

By pitching your idea to friends and colleagues, you’ll likely also figure out if people actually like the idea or not. But more importantly, you are getting ready for what comes next: Selling your product or service.

Along the way, you may discover that communicating your idea isn’t easy for you. If you need help combining your great idea with great communication, enroll in MNTR’s course Elevator Pitch. It’s an online, workshop-style course guiding you through a proven process to craft a short, effective message that will help your idea gain momentum.