The problem with being an innovator, or trendsetter, is that eventually your ideas will go mainstream - and that's exactly when the innovator/trendsetting loses interest in them. Who wants to live in the frontier-land when it starts booming. Sure, the innovator or trendsetter can set out for new innovations and trends, but the problem with that is they don't always stick around long enough to reap the benefits of the bell-curve. How to do both? Innovate and pimp the bell-curve? Birth something from the wet possibilities of infinity and shape it up to ship to the craving mainstream masses?
hmmm.
You've touched on a huge problem for the technology sector.
I once served on a task force to review research at three universities to find products that could be commercialized. I was surprised at how many potential products could not be commercialized because the researcher had lost interest and wanted to move on to the next research project.
As you point out, some entrepreneurs are like that, too, and loose focus as their product moves past the Innovator and Early Adopter market segments into the mainstream marketplace.
This is where outside advisors and board members can really help with direction - and getting the right people doing the right tasks.
Posted by: Cliff Allen | December 04, 2007 at 09:45 AM