The Power of Small Ideas
Posted on February 8, 2008 - Filed Under On Ideation
Not all ideas have to be big. They don’t all have to change the world. As a matter of fact, many of the big ideas out there today started as small ones targeted at a specific market. It just so happened that the value that a small group of people found in the concept could be applied to the masses.
When you take a look at an idea like Whole Foods, it’s been around for decades. Initially, it was just a good place for hippies to get groceries. It targeted a very small target group. But then the core value proposition of the Whole Foods offering (organics, health, shopping experience) was found to be attractive to a much larger audience. John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods, was able to grow his company as the idea spread and appealed to a larger market. On a side note, I’ve seen some huge strawberries in there that are definitely NOT organic.
So focus on a small idea. Something that appears to have a very limited target market. And execute that idea well. Because the chances are that the value that your tiny target market gets from your product is derived from a key insight. And that insight has the potential to connect with every human being on the planet – we all feel the same emotions and have comparable physical needs.
- Christian
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Regarding your huge strawberries: wholefoods doesnt even strictly sell organic foods! and as a proponent of GMOs - At the end of the day organics arent better for the environment…stupid hippies…..(umm yes i know i shopped at wholefoods yesterday but they have pretty cakes….)