What are the Odds of Succeeding at Outlandish Dreams? - 08/28/08

[Aaron Stanton]

I have this bad habit of stepping out of the conversation and only showing up once in a while, but I thought I'd throw in something here.

If there's one thing that working on BookLamp full time has shown me, it's that a.) you get a lot done when you don't have distractions, and b.) it is really nice to wake up each morning to only focus on what you love to do.

I don't know very many people that started writing because they expected to make a fortune.  Most of them are writing because they love storytelling, and are looking for a way to make it their life's work.  And I personally think that's a perfectly respectable goal; trust me, if someone was working just for money, they'd end up a doctor or lawyer.

Two things you don't do if you're interested in easy money are write for a living or start your own company. 

I think it's an interesting reflection of my character that I've supported myself for some years through a combination of both of those.  haha.

A little antidote.  Paul and I were invited to speak at a business mentoring program a week or so back.  It was a gathering of people that were all rather successful - engineers at big firms, lawyers, people that were doing well in their careers but wanted more.  And they brought Paul and I in because they wanted to hear about jumping points - the point that you decide to stop doing what you're doing and dive into something risky.  Paul and I both gave up fairly lucrative positions to work on Novel Projects.

I take it as a reminder that everyone would love to be able to make a living doing what they love.  Writers write because it shares their soul or perspective with the world, and because maybe - if we're lucky - it feeds us.  They send things to publishers because it's a possible way to achieve both of those goals a little better than we can do on our own, I think. 

[Jo Red]

If there's one thing that working on BookLamp full time has shown me, it's that a.) you get a lot done when you don't have distractions, and b.) it is really nice to wake up each morning to only focus on what you love to do.

ROFL

Two things you don't do if you're interested in easy money are write for a living or start your own company. 

Well I don't know about the second part. There is money if you are in the right business. But if you are out there trying to market what "you" are passionate about, then it might be a tough sell to those who don't share the same passion. You must create a need for your product before you can hope to sell it  :-)  But what exactly are you selling ?

A little antidote.  Paul and I were invited to speak at a business mentoring program a week or so back.  It was a gathering of people that were all rather successful - engineers at big firms, lawyers, people that were doing well in their careers but wanted more.  And they brought Paul and I in because they wanted to hear about jumping points - the point that you decide to stop doing what you're doing and dive into something risky.  Paul and I both gave up fairly lucrative positions to work on Novel Projects.

Good luck with the speech

I take it as a reminder that everyone would love to be able to make a living doing what they love.  Writers write because it shares their soul or perspective with the world, and because maybe - if we're lucky - it feeds us.  They send things to publishers because it's a possible way to achieve both of those goals a little better than we can do on our own, I think. 

Well here's the hard realities of life :

1. People would normally pay to do something they don't want to do themselves (such as mowing lawn)

2. People would pay for something they can't do themselves

3. In other words if there is no "need" then there's no business

4. You must find out what your customer needs, then create a solution, or create a need for your product/service then market it as the solution

5. If you can't find someone who would pay for your passion then you have a hobby and not a business

[Daniel Bowen]

I don't think Aaron has mentioned anything about hobbies, Jo.

... I have to congratulate your 100th post, Jo.  As far as I've known this forum, it wouldn't be the same without you, so thank you.

[Therin]

4. You must find out what your customer needs, then create a solution, or create a need for your product/service then market it as the solution

I think this is exactly what Booklamp does, Jo.  I don't have time to browse through libraries anymore, flipping pages of prospective books.  It's sad and it makes me a little depressed but it's the reality.  I work long hours between strange times and libraries are notoriously daylight places.  Mmmm daylight.   

But I need to read.  It's an outlet.  A stress reliever.  As a commuter on public transport I now have even more time to read than before but no books.  Sure I take recommendations from friends and family and if I know our tastes align sufficiently I might buy online, sight unseen, and wait for it to be delivered to my front door at my convenience. 

Booklamp could be the ultimate friend.  Knowing exactly what I love and what will make my day, and this "marvellous" job gives me many long hours to cruise the internet and find it at a reasonable price. 

In a world where time poor is becoming the norm Booklamp sounds like a solution to me.   

[Aaron Stanton]

1. People would normally pay to do something they don't want to do themselves (such as mowing lawn)

2. People would pay for something they can't do themselves

3. In other words if there is no "need" then there's no business

4. You must find out what your customer needs, then create a solution, or create a need for your product/service then market it as the solution

5. If you can't find someone who would pay for your passion then you have a hobby and not a business

I don't have any issue with identifying need and creating products to meet them - that's one of the more accepted simplifications of business and I don't see anything wrong with it as a basis.  However, the points you listed alone would overlook the entire publishing industry.  You don't buy a book because you're incapable of writing one yourself, or authors would never read.  There's a need that's satisfied by books and movies, but it's not covered simply in what people dislike to do or can't do themselves.

In fact, I think a that a good portion of success at business is identifying needs where others miss them.

Oh, and like Dan said, congrats on the 100th post. 

[Mandi Taylor]

"Thou shalt not is soon forgotten, but Once upon a time lasts forever." Philip Pullman.  And I agree.

One of my favorite quotes!  You get a cookie.

[Jo Red]

I don't have any issue with identifying need and creating products to meet them - that's one of the more accepted simplifications of business and I don't see anything wrong with it as a basis.  However, the points you listed alone would overlook the entire publishing industry.  You don't buy a book because you're incapable of writing one yourself, or authors would never read.  There's a need that's satisfied by books and movies, but it's not covered simply in what people dislike to do or can't do themselves.

In fact, I think a that a good portion of success at business is identifying needs where others miss them.

Oh, and like Dan said, congrats on the 100th post. 

I would buy a book from someone who has created a fantastic story simply because the story is brilliant and it would violate copyright if I reproduced it.  I would buy a book to fill my boredom (need to kill time). I would buy a book to feed my cravings to read (need to feed my passion).  Yes I can scratch my own back, but I would pay somebody to do it if it felt much much better :-) 

Q1:  What need does Booklamp address ?   I think the answer is obvious.

Q2:  This is a tough one. Will the people whos needs are addressed "expect" to pay for your solution ?  Example is Google, should they expect the public to pay for doing a search on their site ?
However, Google is doing well, why ?  Because I believe their business plan is not what it seems -  their target market is the corporate world, rather than the common searcher.  They provide a solution to something they would pay TOP dollars for -  TARGETED Marketing.  And that's how they make a buck.

Booklamp has potential. Think about where the revenue should come from ?  Us, the end users ?  Or somewhere else ?  This is the essence of market analysis.

[Daniel Bowen]

Jo,

   We do not expect to charge people to search for a recommendation, and targeted marketing has been on Aaron's mind since the beginning (at least since I visited this summer) - and why not? ... it's becoming more and more a standard.  Right now, the model we have is a bit simple, but workable.  I'm working towards a masters degree and the thesis I'm developing addresses that exact issue - along with some other possibilities (unrelated to targeted marketing) for BL that I haven't been able to explore yet.

I hope that quells some of your unending concern for the possibility of charging general search users.  I can't imagine that Aaron or Paul have that in mind.

This thread is way off topic, so if anyone has anything else to say, please start a new thread or find an appropriate one - or of course you can comment on the original topic and related issues.

-Dan