Monday, August 17th, 2009
My dad came up with this idea for a web app that would “alter the way we use accountants and our banks” and wanted me to keep it secret so we could implement it. You know the sort of idea, something you’re thinking that “oh my gosh, I’m surprised that no-body’s thought of that yet!”. Turns out, two companies already did. Mint and Kublax do it. Ach well.
We live in a world that innovates and creates all of the time–but finding that killer idea is as hard as finding a needle in a haystack the size of the moon. Just imagine a moon-sized haystack. That’s a big haystack.
I feel this problem just keeps coming, as it forces people to create things that are similar to other successful things–and nobody likes a copy-cat.
At the Carsonified Future of Web Apps Edinburgh Tour 2009 everyone was sharing their ideas for web apps they were making. This makes a little guy like me a little apprehensive. Some awesome people creating awesome things, and here’s me–the little student looking small with only a few small ideas.
I used to say that my age was an excuse for anything I did. I could go and say that “well, I’m young… people my age aren’t doing that much so I can take some time out and relax”. That, ladies & gentlemen, is the worst thing you can do. Just because the people around you may not be trying as hard as you are doesn’t mean that you should stop yourself from excelling as far as you can.
From now on, I vow to do the best I can. I won’t stop myself from doing the best I can without letting anything get in my way (well, I’ll work on my procrastination at another date). It’s stupid to just waste time. It’s time I do something awesome with my life, get that awesome idea and make it a reality.
Oh, and a quick note–anyone still wanting a postcard from Malta? You’ve got till Friday to tell me so!
Nice post, it made sense to me and made me realise a few things regarding a couple of personal project I have on the go.
Craig you stated that no-body likes a copy-cat? So how come you have listed two people doing the same accounting software. There is copy-cat and then there is people who create similar product but better, whether is be with more simple functionality or going about it in a different approach and aiming at a different sector in the market.
There are hundreds of people who have very similar product e.g. Project Management. All you need to do is make is different to the others.
Matthew is right, People don’t really mind the copy-cat the thing that makes a product stand out is doing the job BETTER or more efficiently than the last guy.
It is interesting though how people who have something a certain way for awhile decide that they’d rather not change to something that is proven better because of a fear of change and a sense of loyalty to their or original company.
When it comes to personal accounting I think that something like that for me would be a great program…and I think I’d use them both…but I need money first.
I get where you are coming from though…You’re getting to the age where you should stop making excuses and you should start getting on the ball and doing something with your life. Personally though I am afraid of it I feel that I need to start doing the same thing. Proving to myself that I can make it and not putting myself in a position to be dependent on others to make decisions for me.
Have you ever considered teaming up with people who are creating new apps and becoming a new set of ideas in an already new concept? I think that’s a great way to get your foot in the door of starting to think outside the box.
Perhaps I over-simplified my answer slightly as I do agree that similar products which do things better than the competition are good overall. I myself work on one of a variety of different-but-similar blogging platforms, and I am in the process of building some applications that are different-but-similar to what my competition are offering.
Perhaps all I meant was sometimes, at first glance, the similarities of two differing applications outweigh their differences–and it’s hard to find that little thing that you can make your own.
Cheers Matthew, your comment has put a perspective I wasn’t thinking of.