• Survey
  • Book Becky to speak
  • The book: Small Town Rules
  • Shop Local video
  • SaveYour.Town

Small Biz Survival

The small town and rural business resource

A row of small town shops
  • Front Page
  • Latest stories
  • About
  • Guided Tour
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • RSS

The 3 elements to get from “Ah-ha Moment” to “Business Success”

By Glenn Muske

Light bulb

Idea – Photo (CC) by Qisur via Flickr

Awareness of the world around you has been the start of many businesses.

The business world is filled with examples of people who started a busines based on watching, reading and listening to things around them. Being aware may lead in many directions. Sometimes the product is already around, but it just takes the right person to see the opportunities such as 3M’s Post-it ® note.

Such awareness can arise from focused research to random chance. The key is to always be attuned to your surroundings. Small town business owners often acknowledge their success came as they drove through other communities and made mental notes of what they saw and what was working.

However, developing an opportunity from an observation is more than just luck. Awareness of the present is just one part. A second element, imagining the opportunity, also is part of finding a good idea. This second part often is much harder than the first part, though.

How often have you said when a new product or idea comes out, ‘I could have done that!’? Just think of the invention of the Popsicle ®. How many of us have let a drink freeze accidently? An 11-year-old boy, Frank Epperson, did. But he saw the opportunity.

The third piece to this process is envisioning the future.

This is what Ray Kroc saw in McDonald’s ®. Here is an example of imagining where an idea, if successfully developed, might go. We also see that these moments come at any age, from the 11-year-old boy to Kroc, who was over 50 years of age when he started.

All three pieces – the idea, the opportunity and the vision – need to be part of a business owner’s effort as he or she explores business ownership. Realizing that these three elements can happen almost instantaneously or be part of a long, drawn-out process is important.

Even when all three elements come together into a perfect plan of what might be, owners must remember that solid opportunities do not connect automatically with the consumer in the marketplace. Hard work still remains.

Yet the first step in the process is that ah-ha moment. Probably the best advice for the person searching for opportunities is to be aware. In every situation, think about what might be. When you find one that makes your mind whirl with possibilities, it is time to do some further exploration.

Glenn Muske is the Rural and Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service – Center for Community Vitality. Follow Glenn on Twitter: @gmuske

  • About the Author
  • Latest Posts

About Glenn Muske

Glenn Muske is an independent expert on rural small business, working as GM Consulting – Your partner in achieving small business success. He provides consulting, and writes articles for county extension agents and newspapers across North Dakota. Previously, he was the Rural and Agribusiness Enterprise Development Specialist at the North Dakota State University Extension Service – Center for Community Vitality.
  • Change - December 26, 2018
  • Regular Customers Form Your Base - December 12, 2018
  • Disasters: Is Your Small Business Ready? - December 5, 2018
  • Business Startup: Steps to Remember - November 28, 2018
  • HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM SMALL BIZ SURVIVAL - November 21, 2018
  • Finding a Business Idea - November 14, 2018
  • Does Your Networking Have Punch? - November 7, 2018
  • Build Tomorrow’s Community Business Sector - October 24, 2018
  • Are You Changing? - October 17, 2018
  • Is it really a deal? - October 10, 2018

August 14, 2013 Filed Under: economic development, entrepreneurship, ideas, rural, Small Biz 100, success

Wondering what is and is not allowed in the comments?
Or how to get a nifty photo beside your name?
Check our commenting policy.
Use your real name, not a business name.


Don't see the comment form?
Comments are automatically closed on older posts, but you can send me your comment via this contact form and I'll add it manually for you. Thanks!

Comments

  1. Dorset Photographer says

    August 14, 2013 at 12:14 pm

    The idea, the opportunity and the vision – all essentials as you say, but would love it if there was more support out there for start-ups and individuals. So many people have great ideas and clear visions of where they see things going, but only a select few get the opportunity to make it happen.

    • Becky McCray says

      August 14, 2013 at 1:47 pm

      That’s one of the reasons we write at this site. We want to provide the support we can from a distance, and we want to encourage as many towns as we can to offer better local support to their entrepreneurs. When your local entrepreneurs prosper, they help your town prosper.

    • Glenn Muske says

      August 18, 2014 at 1:12 pm

      As Becky commented, we try and provide support to those looking to develop a business idea. Communities can help by ensuring mentors and coaches are available plus by being aware of individuals and networks that exist. The aspiring entrepreneur must also be a part of the mix through researching where help can be found. And don’t forget to start with business owners in your own community. They are often willing to share and can bring the “been there, done that” conversation to the table.

  2. Ivan Widjaya says

    April 9, 2014 at 11:06 pm

    I agree. Learning with every step you take whether you succeed or fail is important. The first most important thing is noticing. Then, the next important thing is taking note of that and following through with action.

    • Glenn Muske says

      April 10, 2014 at 6:47 am

      Thanks Ivan. Learning doesn’t really occur until we use that knowledge

Trackbacks

  1. Top 20 Small Business Bloggers Dominating the Market | The Weekly Learner says:
    May 21, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    […] McCray, small businesses can find how-to articles that have an emphasis on social media marketing. The 3 elements to get from “Ah-ha Moment” to “Business Success” highlights “the idea, the opportunity, and the vision” that need to be part of …read […]

  2. Top 20 Small Business Bloggers Dominating the Market - Read It says:
    August 17, 2014 at 11:16 pm

    […] McCray, small businesses can find how-to articles that have an emphasis on social media marketing. The 3 elements to get from “Ah-ha Moment” to “Business Success” highlights “the idea, the opportunity, and the vision” that need to be part of a […]

Howdy!

Glad you dropped in to the rural and small town business blog, established in 2006.

We want you to feel at home, so please take our guided tour.

Meet our authors on the About page.

Have something to say? You can give us a holler on the contact form.

If you would like permission to re-use an article you've read here, please make a Reprint Request.

Want to search our past articles? Catch up with the latest stories? Browse through the categories? All the good stuff is on the Front Page.

Shop Local

Buy local buttonReady to set up a shop local campaign in your small town? You'll need a guide who understands how we're different and what really works: Shop Local Campaigns for Small Towns.

Best of Small Biz Survival

What is holding us back? Why does every project take so long in small towns?

How any business can be part of downtown events by going mobile

Concert-goers talking and enjoying the evening in downtown Webster City, Iowa.

Why do people say there’s nothing to do here then not come to our concerts?

Retailers: Fill all empty space, floor to ceiling

More of the best of Small Biz Survival

Copyright © 2021 Becky McCray
Front Page · Log in