Nothing worse than trying to purchase something, leaving several messages and nobody getting back to you. Remember what it feels like so you don't do it to others. You may think you have a valid reason to delay your response but your customers want the information now.

Respond to your eMails and return your phone calls. Even when it is not someone you want to talk with, do it anyway. Once your done, you can move on. As your messages pile up, you will slow down in your response and it will only get worse.

I wanted to purchase from a local company this week but nobody will return my calls. Today I called someone else and gave them the order. May not have been a huge order but the new company responded immediately, gave me all the information and were even more expensive, however I am happy because I can move on with my project.

Don't forget all the additional expenses

When you are working on a new idea it is easy to forget about all the ancillary expenses. You might be able to make your idea for a dollar but by the time you sell it, follow-up, package it, warehouse it, ship it, invoice it, receive returns, and wait for your money, you have spent more than a dollar. I used to think budgets were for the unorganized but I find that for me they work to calculate real costs. I use history to determine future expenses. This way when I start getting excited about a new product, I have a better understanding about a consumers willingness to purchase it.

As you are thinking of your next big idea, be honest. Don't immediately think that because you like the idea, the numbers will work out. Those thoughts can be the difference between success and failure.

Let them do their job

If you are going to delegate responsibility to someone, then let them have control. There is nothing worse than assigning a project and not letting it progress until you have reviewed every move. Most of us want to prove we can do the job. Some are afraid of making mistakes. Given the space and allowed to make mistakes, there is a good chance we will learn and thrive. Find goals for us to achieve and it will allow you to measure our success.

Reviewing the goals allows us to have the freedom to figure out for ourselves how to achieve them. Assuming you are reasonable, if we can't reach these goals, move on to someone who can. Success is a big motivator and at the end of the day, each of us wants to feel like some of the success of the project was because of us.

Perhaps its time to step back and let the people you hired for the job... do the job.

Can't please everyone

No idea is for everyone. Don't give up just because someone is a doubter. It is more important to find out why they are doubting your idea. Is it because they don't find it suitable for themselves, it is too expensive, it is ugly, does it have little function or are they jealous that you came up with it?

Your idea may be feasible, but it may need "tweeking" to make it possible. Listen to what others say, don't discount their objections and focus on how to move forward. You may find that one single suggestion can turn your idea into the success you are dreaming of.

They don't get it

Nobody is closer to your idea than you. The problem is that you tend to get frustrated when someone doesn't "see" it like you do. They don't understand. They don't get it. Why not. It is so clear to you. Are they dumb or something? This is a great idea. You are going to sell millions. This is your big one.

It might be the big one but if it takes that much effort to try and explain it, maybe you need to work on your story. The reaction by others to your idea should be almost instant. That's all you get on a store shelf. You are not there to stop the customer, explain what your idea it and demonstrate it every time.

Make sure you can describe your idea in a paragraph or a 30 second pitch. If someone is interested after that, you could be on the way to your big one!

Objections

Don't you just hate when you pitch your idea and immediately you are hit with objection after objection? Happens to me all the time. It is a good thing! Objections mean someone is listening. They are interested enough to engage your idea. You also have the opportunity to present the solutions to their objections. If you don't have an answer, it is time to come up with one that works. An objection is one step away from a sale.

If the objection has merit, it is time to evaluate how you proceed. You can't please everyone but you can learn from almost everyone. Be open to listen so you can use what your hear to either improve your idea or improve the way you pitch it.

When things don't go as planned

When your idea doesn't go as planned, it is easy to find blame elsewhere. That is the easy way out. Successful people find a way to make their idea work or they abandon it and chalk it up to a learning experience and use that knowledge to make the next idea work.

A bad economy is not an excuse for your idea failing. If your idea can only be successful in a good economy than good sense should tell you to table it until then. Most likely your idea is unsuccessful because you haven't attracted and convinced enough people why they need your idea now. If your idea is that good, the health of the economy has very little to do with its success.

So stop making excuses and find a way to make your idea a success.