The Entrepreneurial Epiphany
No one really knows whether Archimedes really ran naked through the streets of Syracuse shouting "Eureka! ".
When the Greek scientist imagined in his bath what would later become the concept behind the "density of the body,"
perhaps he was actually demonstrating more restraint
But the legend lives on because we like to represent ideas as sudden phenomenas.
We like to think that great ideas are beyond us and come without warning,
like lightning.
In the world of "start ups" brilliant ideas have a name:
an "entrepreneurial epiphany".
This qualifies the moment when an entrepreneur has an idea and suddenly has a clear understanding of a problem or situation.
It is within this epiphany that entrepreneurs decide to create their startups.
In reality it doesn't work that way.
Why does the concept of entrepreneurial epiphany make no sense for digital entrepreneurs?
The Origins Of Ideas
The "Entrepreneurial epiphany" implies that startup ideas arise exclusively from the discovery of a novel solution to a given problem.
But startup ideas can emerge in many other ways.
As examples, just look at the cases of FaceBook and Twitter.
Mark Zuckerberg didn't have the brilliant and original idea of creating a social network to connect students
since it already existed.
He was even contacted to work for one of such social networks,
called the "Harvard Connection."
And the founders of Twitter did not create the concept of microblogging.
Microblogging first emerged in the 90s.
The path of an entrepreneur is always original.
An entrepreneur can be frugal, opportunistic, prospective,
driven by a mission, motivated by discovery, an eagerness for freedom, etc...
An entrepreneur can also innovate unknowingly or by copying.
At any rate, an entrepreneur struck by an epiphany is far from the only type of entrepreneur.
The Realization Of Ideas
The entrepreneurial epiphany is believing that the idea is the most important thing.
And that could be further from the truth.
The most successful digital companies reached their targeted audience as a result of major readjustments of their value proposition.
In the business world, these adjustments are called "pivots".
Youtube for example,
was originally conceived as an online dating site where singles could meet through personal videos.
The lack of traction on this first product quickly led the founders to radically change the positioning of their startup.
As for Android,
it was originally created to become an operating system for cameras.
And, Flickr was born from a part of a massively multiplayer online role playing game.
It is important to affirm that ideas are not enough in the entrepreneurial field.
They can generate enthusiasm and optimism for the one who defends them.
But they are nothing more than assumptions that must,
above all else,
constantly be tested,
amended and readjusted.
We cannot say it enough,
but it is in its execution and in the ability of the entrepreneurs to pivot,
that entrepreneurial success is achieved.
The Startup Ideas Improvements
Finally, the "entrepreneurial epiphany" offers a rough representation of the ideation process.
The ideas are not born magically in the mind of the owner.
Startup ideas emergen and enrichen through sharing and discussions and with others.
Let's take the case of Instagram.
By creating Burbn,
Kevin Systrom was able to meet Mike Krieger with whom he shared his vision for online photography.
Had this discussion never taken place,
Instagram would probably not be the success it is today.
By giving ideas an exaggerated place in that it is solely the result of an unpredictable process by an individual,
the "entrepreneurial epiphany" invites future entrepreneurs not to share their ideas.
However,
experience shows that it is actually better to do the opposite.
By sharing their ideas,
entrepreneurs will advance and multiply their ideas advocating for more decisive future collaborations throughout their entrepreneurial adventures.
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