A Good Idea
“Sometimes you need to come up with and then try one idea to get to the real idea” is what Guy Raz explains in an NPR episode of How I Built This. He touches on how many successful entrepreneurial endeavours start in one place but end somewhere totally different.
How true that statement is. Upon finishing a Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship Post Grad Certificate at Trinity College this year I started pursuing an idea. The idea was to build an Electronic Medical Record plug-in that extracts clinical data to recommend clinical trials to the people who might need them most. Great idea, isn’t it?… I found out that most of the world’s top companies already have a stake in this idea and further, use AI and Blockchain technology to fine-tune and secure it. I thought it better not to dance with the professionals but instead pivot.
Keeping that idea still close to my heart I looked to solve another solution, this time locally. I saw that scheduling doctor visits online as well as purchasing discounted medicine for delivery were almost non-existent in Ireland. This has much to do with regulation but, I don’t want to dive into that. I also threw in a private insurance aggregator proponent. Thus, SupDoc.ie was born. I registered the business, launched the website too early, and began the data entry… for a few weeks. After entering and failing multiple investment competitions, accelerators, and continuously doubting myself, I have hit a roadblock. I am financially and mentally stuck with where to go next.
Well, the only option is to find a job. You know, to pay the bills. I am still convinced I have something important to bring to the world and know that negative feedback can knock me down a bit but I have perseverance. Things will ebb and flow as they have and I will bob and weave along with it. It’s exciting and frustrating all at the same time. I’ve found that an important part of the ideation and implementation process is talking about your idea and processes. Not only to get feedback but to get new ideas as well as some emotional support. You’ll go crazy otherwise.
I’m not against utilising my past experience and skills to work for a company in a position that I may love. I just thought this time it would be different and I would be creating that position within my own company. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not the end. I just need to continue the search for the “real idea” and anyone is welcome to join me.