On Stealth Mode
One of the benefits of having Approach.Botonomy.Com (A.B.C) up and running is that the A.B.C site is now the repository for much of our reference-worthy content. A.B.C is where we are communicating our opinions and beliefs on topics ranging from the rise of folksonomies in project management to the mainstreaming of dynamic programming languages.
That frees up my weblog for much more casual personal observations and such. A quick analogy: If Approach.Botonomy.Com is the legitimate theatre, then my personal weblog is late night basic cable reruns of Sanford and Son.
Or so I would hope.
So, speaking of of uninteresting things that I do, I was at Costco over the weekend, picking up a few gallons of relish and a 12 pack of fire extinguishers. As I was making my way past a throng of 20 people waiting in line for a spoonful of lentil soup, I ran into a guy that I went to grade school with. He too is working on a online startup. He said that he was looking to launch in 6-8 months and is keeping the concept very close to the vest.
Mmm, stealth mode.
Been there. Done that. Have the “I missed out on important early feedback” t-shirt to prove it.
Now, in all fairness, I had already told my former classmate that my company was in the online app business. Perhaps if I was a podiatrist or was slinging hash at the local Denny’s he’d have been more open, but that’s irrelevant. This is not about being nosy, and I wish the guy and his team all the luck in the world. Rather, I bring it up because it was a moment of clarity for me, as I realized how my views on the nature of the “killer idea” has changed over the last year.
Here’s my current take on running your micro-ISV startup in stealth mode: At first glance, it seems kinda cool. Just like cranking the radio on your car stereo when you’re cruising around at the ripe old age of 16 maybe seemed cool at the time. If you don’t get loud music out of your system early on as a teenager, you’ll do irreparable damage to your hearing.
Fast-forward the clock 20 years, and if you’re doing a small startup and don’t get the mystique of “stealth mode” out of your system early on, you might end up figuratively too deaf to listen for early stage questions, comments, and concerns. Maybe even some that might otherwise have a profound impact on your business model and prospects for a timely success.
In hindsight, I now realize that the incremental benefit that you receive from getting an arbitrary outsider’s initial reaction to your idea far, far outweighs the low incremental risk of someone ripping off your idea and beating you senseless with it in the marketplace.
Now if you’ll please excuse me, I have to run back to Costco. We are going to have hot dogs for lunch, and l must have left my gallon of mustard in the cart.