In the world of some entrepreneurs, the process of making it happen goes like this:
- They have an idea
- They put some time and effort to make it happen.
- Then the magic happens
- They will walk to the bank laughing
This can happen, yes. You might have read a story in the magazines about one such story. But the odds of that happening are the same as you winning the Lotto. If you have read stuck a story in the magazine, there is a reason for that story to be there. In general, exceptions to the normal make great stories.
The last step to realization of the value of your idea is when someone buys your product or service. Not all people who can bring the idea to life are good in sales and marketing. If you are one of them, life can be super frustrating and sales and marketing skills are not something that you pick up in a matter of days. In the fantasy world, “if you build it they will come” but you can rarely expect that to happen in the real world.
The magical moment is when the first “real” customer or first set of customers make a decision to buy. Until that time, you are walking on the unpaved road.
The good thing – there are others who have walked on the unpaved road and you can learn a lot of lessons by reading them. Now, you have a place to read them.
Where?
At The Unpaved Road [TUR]
TUR is a project where real first-customer-win stories are shared by people who have been there and done that. You can read “Rules are NOT for CEOs” by Raj Raheja or Why you should dig your well before you are thirsty by Mukund Mohan or many other interesting stories.
If you know someone who has a great first-customer-win story, please nominate them on the site.
Have a great Friday.