Picture this: You've got an idea for a new product. You can see it in your mind, you know exactly how it will work, what it will do and how it will help users be happier and/or more productive. In other words, you have a vision for this product, one that inspires and excites you.

But you also have another vision. You see a large company growing up around this product. You see a large office building with office space divided by temporary walls and cubicles. You envision hundreds of employees, a personnel department and Human Resources issues like scheduling, salaries, arbitration, and employee benefits. Instead of inspiring you, this vision conjures up discomfort and fear. You may even feel overwhelmed and ill equipped to handle it.

Does the second vision outweigh the first? It shouldn't. In fact, having a grand vision isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can provide a beacon, something worked toward as you begin your business. The discomfort you may feel, however, is very common and very natural. After all, there CAN be personnel issues and more business headaches in a larger firm. Fortunately, you have methods for approaching your new business that will help you keep things in perspective.

1. Recognize Your Control--Recognizing your control is a good first step in the process. The first thing to realize is that YOU are controlling this process. This is YOUR new product and YOUR business. YOU will control the development of the product and how it is initially marketed. And once the ball is rolling, you will have discovered new information and acquired new skills. And even if an unexpected growth hits you quickly, you have plenty of resources available to help you handle it.

2. Your Strengths--You no doubt have enough talent and skill to kickstart the product and the resulting business. After all, you were creative enough to come up with this product, weren't you? So trust in your own skills and do the early work yourself. For example, developing the prototypes in your own shop will not only save money, it will also help you understand the product even better. And that will pay off when you're making presentations to company representatives.

3. Find Help--In many cases, you can outsource the jobs that are taking too much of your time. And by shopping around, you can often find very reasonable fees for such work. Outsourcing can also be a good way to network, leading you to other people who can help with such things as assembly and manufacturing.

4. Find the Right Complement--While it's obvious that an inventor can't do everything, many first-time product developers still try to tackle things they shouldn't. For example, an inventor may be very focused and creative in the workshop, but lack the business skills necessary to keep the new company on track. Find a partner who can handle those things for you, someone who not only has the time, but who can also do the job better than you could. When the skills complement each other, the business has a greater chance at success.

Although developing a new product can be exciting, the business aspects of the process are often more difficult for creative individuals. Review the above suggestions and keep things as simple as possible. Remember--YOU are in control!

Mike Foley has been the Dream Merchant editor since 1990.

      

         

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