It is becoming a tradition. I offer up three ideas for businesses I am hoping that someone will start and lots of people say, as they did lasttime, “hey one of those might work. Let me play around with the idea.”
Since I like positive feedback as much as the next guy, let me suggest three more ideas. (Again, all I ask in return is that you remember me when you are rich beyond your wildest dreams.)
1. Clone (and improve) my computer. I hate buying a new computer. Yes, of course,I don’t like spending the money. But the real reason is because of the set up time involved. It is easier if you own an Apple AAPL +1.29%computer, I concede–I don’t–but even there it takes time to customize all your settings. I like to have Word automatically save what I am writing every three minutes (because I am paranoid about crashes) and you have to reinstall the various programs you had on your old machine. There there is getting the screensaver the way it was, making sure the computer and the printer can talk to one another and….
So, here’s what I would be more than happy to spend money for. When it comes time buy a new machine, I contact a service that “knows” the kind of machine I have (and want to replace.) They identify either the latest version of what I have, or give me a list of machines that are extremely similar to what I already own (they are just faster and better) and they go so far as to make a recommedation about what I should buy and what extras I need.
I say fine and they configure it for me, duplicating all my existing setting and copying over all the work on my existing machine and it arrives on my doorstep ready to use the second I turn it on.
2. Virtual Concierge/Cut the Line I would like to say it is function of age. But it really isn’t. I hate waiting in lines of any kind be it at the Post Office–any wonder why they are in financial trouble–or on the phone waiting for help.
So, why not make my life easier?
The phone service goes out; the cable isn’t working; I need to solve a bug with my new computer. I call one number and they deal with scheduling the appointments–within a range I have specified–and spend the time on hold until “the next available representative is available.” They call me when there is a resolution to my problem. (“The cable guy will be there at 9 on Thursday.”)
A variation on this? I would be willing to pay $2 more a month to everyone I do business with who has a help desk if when I call them my call instantly jumps to the head of the line and is answered within 10 seconds.
Last one.
3. Slow Growing Plants and Grass. We have a place in Florida, because I can’t stand New England winters any more. (Maybe I am getting old.) And what I hate just about as much as the cold, is cutting the lawn. That’s why the place in Florida is landscaped with lots of plants and trees. There is not a blade of grass to be seen.
Now, I would love to have a lawn. I like the way they look. So why doesn’t someone offer me “slow growing grass seed,” something that will require me to cut the lawn every six months instead of every six days. I can’t believe it will be all that hard to create, given the advances in genetic engineering.
Feel free to steal any of these ideas–but, as I said, do try to remember me when you make the Forbes400.
And if you have an idea for a business that you are not going to do anything with, tell me. If I get more than a handful, I will do another post crediting you. Here’s the sort of thing I am talking about. It comes courtesy of Shubham Gupta: “The basic idea I have is to eliminate the use of any butter knives when applying peanut butter, jam, etc. to a bread slice. [It might work like] a pepper grinder. Or maybe you would invest a container that will save time, money and be easy to use.”
If you got an idea that you would like to see developed–and you are not going to do it–tell me about it.
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Paul B. Brown is co-author of Just Start published by Harvard Business Review Press.
Please note his blog appears every Sunday and Wednesday. Click on the “Following” button to get every new blog post as soon as its goes live.
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