Quixoting™ - A Quest for New Ideas

An Idea In Motion. Built Here On Quixoting™.

Today I wanted to give you an update on the first idea I decided to launch from this blog (incubator).  I say incubator because the act of writing here has furthered my effort to come up with ideas to launch.

But I can't do it all.  So, for now, I write here when I can.  Allowing Spin Strategy to be the focus.  If Spin Strategy can become a valuable tool for job seekers, I'd love to take another idea and do the same.

Isn't that what entrepreneurs dream of?  Multiple ideas that find favor with the market?

What are you doing with your ideas?

I think the best ideas grow organically.  Lots of people telling lots of other people about what they found. And then you build on the idea so it adds even more value.  Mix in social media and you get something special.  Potentially.

So here's an update on Spin Strategy.  After 10 months of writing, building tools, networking and sharing ideas, here are the stats:

Blog average page views per day ~ 600

Website average page views per day ~ 200

Linkedin group members ~ 814

Blog feed sign-ups ~ 436

Blog e-mail update sign-ups ~ 194

Twitter followers ~ 674

Successful?  Well, it's a start!

Here's today's post from Spin Strategy.  You might enjoy it if you are wondering whether Twitter is for you . . .

Twitter.  Like  Walk In The Park.

Now, of course, those are just numbers up above.  Only one way to measure success.  What I love the most is the helping power of this idea.  People are out of work.  Need help.  And it turns out that my ideas, delivered from the perspective of a hiring manager and a former job seeker, are really helping people.

That feels great.  And while I try to do some promotion of Spin Strategy, most of my growth is coming from word of mouth.  People sharing something that helped them.  With others in need.

What's coming next from Spin Strategy?  A brand new website!  I am very excited to take this idea to the next level and provide some real substantial value to job seekers.

But it has been a lot of work.  Pulling your idea out of the bottom drawer, blowing the dust off and introducing it to the world is not easy.  But, boy does it feel good!

Have an idea you'd like to share?  Let me know.  Happy to provide a blank canvas where you can introduce YOUR ideas to the world.  If interested, comment below.  I'll walk you through it!

What are YOU waiting for?

Where Truckers And Ideas Collide

 

I took a nice long drive today.  From Bass Lake, CA back home to Mission Viejo, CA.  It normally takes about 6.5 hours with a family + dog.  Today I drove solo and did it in 5.5 hours.  So that calculates as:

(Tim + Family + Dog) - (Tim Alone) = 1.0 Hours

No, I was not a math whiz in school.  But I knew it would be faster and I knew it would allow a little more thinking time on the way.  And if you know me at all, you know I like to think.  To a fault.

And, because I was driving during the week on the 5 Freeway I met a few truckers along the way. Now, let me just say I have not always been a big fan of truckers.  During sales training in Colorado, I almost got tossed off of a snow-filled highway by an 18 wheeler.  Who, by the way, did not slow down to see if I made it through the pass.

But, over the years, I've come to appreciate the work they do, the sacrifices they make and the life they lead out there on the open road.  I've even, yes, come to have some empathy for them.  Especially during the tough economy as fewer trucks are needed to transport fewer goods.

But even more present was the fact that I had recently indoctrinated my kids into the Smokey and the Bandit movie club.  You have to get a good feeling for truckers after watching that movie! 

So I had that on my mind as I drove along.  And, surprise surprise, an idea popped in.  One that should help truckers and potentially allow for a more friendly relationship between 4-wheelers and 18 wheelers.

It hit me as I was watching yet another big truck try to change lanes.  Not an easy thing for a truck driver to do, right?  Of course, if you have ever driven a car on the freeway, the last thing you want is a big old nasty truck in front of you.  Be honest.

You can't see around them, they are dirty, they spew black clouds and, well, I'd rather zip ahead of them and be done with it.

But I'm thinking "that's dangerous".  And it is.  And the more people do it, the more chance that someone will get hurt.  If they don't get hurt, my guess is that each "drive-by" begins to irritate the big guy in the trailer.  Not good.

With me so far?

After watching driver after driver rush ahead of one specific truck today, I had an idea to help. It came from a more dastardly place in my mind.  The one that says: 

"That truck driver just needs to move over.  That'll teach those cars to pass like that."

Of course I would never suggest anyone perform an unsafe maneuver in a big ol' truck.  I'm just saying that's where the thought came from originally!

So here's the idea.  

Each truck should be fitted with special tri-colored turn signal lights.  Here's how it would work:

1. GREEN - driver has initiated a lane change
2. YELLOW - driver will begin moving over in three seconds 
3. RED - driver is now changing lanes 

The thought is that everyone gets what they want.  A little communication and friendly, well known color patterns on traffic signals for the auto driver.  And a process that allows a lane change for the truck driver in a guaranteed amount of time. 

The industry could do some public service announcements to educate consumers on the new signals and their use can be part of the education shared in the driver's handbook.

So, when you go to get your license renewed next year . . .

Don't forget.  Green, yellow then red.

Oh, and, go hug a trucker.  They don't bite.

Never Share An Idea With Your Mechanic

A few months ago I was in to see my mechanic.  You see, the Jeep's potential inability to keep up with the hour long commute had me a bit worried about a very public breakdown.  

My mechanic is a really good guy.  Honest and straightforward.  Perhaps the best I've had in my adult car owning lifetime.

The only problem?

He didn't react to my idea the way I wanted him to . . . he didn't get it.

Now, if you are like me, you tend to fall in love with your ideas.  Despite hearing information telling you that you are being a bit naive.  But I tend to believe that if you are passionate about it, you should keep going.  On the theory that if it matters to you, you will not give up when times get tough . . .

So, back to the mechanic.

It all started when he asked me about the Jeep's license plate.  See above. You see, the last time I was in there, I had the old plates on there and he could not find the new ones in his computer system.

Here's how the conversation went:

Mechanic:  License plate?

Me:  Q-X-O-T-I-N-G

Mechanic:  Q-X-T . . .

Me:  Q-X-O-T-I-N-G

Mechanic:  Uh, OK.  Does that mean something?

Me:  Well, I write a blog about ideas.

Mechanic:  A what?

Me:  A blog.  An online journal.

Mechanic:  Like a diary?

Me:  Kind of.  I share my ideas and try to inspire others to do the same.

Mechanic:  You lost me.  What's the plate mean?

Me:  Oh, it stands for "Quixoting" which is based on the life of Don Quixote.

Mechanic:  I don't know who that is.

Me:  The book about tilting at windmills?  Written by Cervantes?

Mechanic:  (blank stare)

Now, before I say anything more, know that my mechanic is a pretty smart guy. So I really thought he would know who Don Quixote was and perhaps understand the connection.  Nope.

So, after I left the car with him, I started thinking about his reaction.  Had I completely screwed up in choosing Don Quixote as my namesake?  Am I as delusional as the Don himself?  What if this were my plan for income down the road?  Was I being selfish and pig-headed?  Don't answer that.

It is an interesting question.  Some small business consultants I'm sure would say: absolutely DO take all your ideas to your mechanic.  If he doesn't get it, toss it out the window!

I'm curious if any of you have experience here?  If an idea doesn't pass the mechanic test, should we drop it? Maybe change it?

Again, in my situation, Quixoting is not something I'm creating as a money maker. So, the pressure is off.  

But, is it really?

A New Website Idea . . . And The URL Is Still Available

So I was inspired by a new website I wrote about on this blog called RunPee. You can read that post here, but basically it provides key times in movies when you can run from your seat, use the bathroom and not miss a key scene in the movie.

Cool idea.

Did we survive without it before now?  Of course.  But that's not the point now is it?  Cool ideas live despite their everyday necessity.

So, my inspiration is this . . . there must be lots of other ideas to take advantage of small problems in life.  Ones that make you grumble.

Are you a grumbler?

Here's the problem.  I drop stuff all the time.  All the time.  It's not that I have the shakes or am especially clutzy.

The real problem, though?  Finding the stuff I drop.  I swear that I have dropped a small item on the carpet only to find it by luck about 16 feet away. OK.  Maybe not 16 feet.  That was my frustrated alter ego responding.

So here's the idea.  I will develop a website that shares the results of bounce tests.  Every single small item commonly dropped on common surfaces from common heights.  Then we'll move on to the uncommon stuff.

I wonder if the MythBusters guys are available?  My 12 year old son's favorite show.

So, after all the testing (years and years, I'm sure), we'd create a user-friendly series of pull-down menus to help people estimate where their dropped item is currently residing.

The dropper, after painstakingly searching the assumed drop zone, will give up and come to the site. They will input their scenario (small 1" metal screw, dropped on concrete from 6 feet) and get an estimate of where they should be looking.

But . . . would you really do all of this for a screw?  If it was the only one in the box . . . you betcha.

So, what would we call it?  I got it.  WhereThingsBounce.com  And guess what? It's available . . . as of May 29 at 6:15 PM according to GoDaddy.

Go get it now before some enterprising internet entrepreneur scoops it up for sale to you later.

Well, what do you think?  If you are worried about all the testing, go to a university and see if their science department wants to help.  At least they can set up the experiments for you . . .

Interested?  Go get the domain first, then leave a comment below.  I'll be glad to tell you more about this idea!

We'll call it the Project Tigger.  Shhhh. 

Introducing A Fun New Idea. Created By Someone Else.

I heard a fun little story on NPR this past week.  It was about a guy with an idea.  No, not me.

Dan Florio started a new website called runpee.com and it hits on a nerve (or a bladder) with me.  I ALWAYS think about this when I go to the movies. And he beat me to it.

Of course I never had the idea - I just had the problem.  The one he has now solved.

So, what is it, you ask?

Dan created a website that tells you when you can get up, go to the bathroom and not miss important scenes in the movie.  Will you miss part of the movie? Yes.  But only those scenes that are not integral to the plot.

So, now you have an answer to the age old question when returning from the bathroom . . .

What did I miss?

No more racing down the dark stairs and crashing into the flashlight-toting usher.  No more painful moments.  

I love ideas like these - and there are, I'm sure many other problems out there waiting to be solved.

If you'd like to listen to his NPR interview, click here.  

To visit his site, click here.

And, finally, to follow him on Twitter, go here.

There's An Awful Lot Happening On Mt. Everest

Just when you thought things had settled down on Mt. Everest, it just keeps getting more interesting.

A few weeks ago I told you about Johnny Strange and his father.  Johnny was attempting to be the youngest Westerner ever to climb Mt. Everest (a Nepalese Sherpa has the record at 15).  He is also attempting to conquer the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent).

Well, based on the news from his blog, he has done it.  Here's how it was announced . . .

Johnny strange, Brian Strange, Scott Woolums, and sherpa team led by namgyal sherpa summited may 20th 2009. Johnny Strange will write submit dispatch within the next few days.

You can go to the blog and read Johnny's own description of his ascent.  You can also read about the perils of descent as symbolized by his walk past the dead body of fallen climber Scott Fischer who died on Everest in 1996.

So now we know that Johnny is making things happen.  So . . . what else? 

In Wednesday's Orange County Register, we learn that a 67 year old Costa Mesa, CA man just summited.  This makes him (he believes) the oldest American ever to reach the top.

It was his third attempt after a frustrating failed attempt two years ago that had him just hours away. You can read his story here written by Cindy Carcamo. 

Is there something in the water here in Southern California that has people taking action and pursuing big dreams?

I'm thirsty.  

The Power of Daydreaming

Hey everyone!  I wrote a guest post (The Power of Daydreaming) for a great site called Brainzooming.

Mike Brown, who writes the blog, was kind enough to allow a short post from me to be featured there today.

Please come take a look by clicking here.  

While there, please check out Mike's posts as well as the posts of other guest authors on Brainzooming!.

I'll be back with another post here shortly!

Curse You, Verizon! and Opportunity Strikes Again!

CURSE YOU, VERIZON!

Generally speaking, Verizon Wireless has been a pretty good carrier.  Since the switch from AT&T/Cingular, I've had fewer dropped calls and some pretty decent customer service.  The only problem so far has been that I seem to be on an uphill trend as it relates to the amount of money I pay them every month. 

First it was just my phone and my wife's.  Then I added the Blackberry and the cost of e-mail/internet. Then came my son's phone (he's 12).  And, finally, me being the guy who has to have access everywhere I go, the wireless card was added.

What was once a convenient wireless plan at $69 per month is now over $230! But I can't blame anyone but myself.  I do have a choice in the matter, right?

But this friendly (albeit expensive) relationship came to a screeching halt this past Friday.  You see, my son lost his phone when we were at the Grand Canyon a few weeks back (my wife swears she handed it to me). So, thinking of the possibilities as we walk through the door, any optimism was dashed quickly once our predicament was explained to the customer service rep at Verizon.

The good news, they said, was that they have a lost or stolen phone policy. Great!  (Imagine my son and I looking at each other and sharing a warm father/son moment).  However, it turns out that the policy's cost depends on the status of your free upgrade (we are scheduled on his lost phone for September).  So, according to Verizon it was either $200 for a new phone (with $50 rebate now $150) or wait until September.  

Now, let me remind you that I am currently paying Verizon $230 per month. And I paid an average of $100 for the phones I have now (3).

Isn't that enough?

And, aren't the phones made in China for $15-$20?  And they wanted to charge me $150?  It's frustrating even telling you about it.

But, you know what?  The solution, which I figured out while in the store, was that there was one simple and no cost solution.  The one, I guess, that was on the last page of the Verizon customer service rep training manual:

If you have another phone (perhaps an old one laying around the house),Verizon will switch the phone over - for FREE.  As in no charge.

The lesson here?  Do not throw away, donate, give away or garage sale your old cell phones - they can come in handy.  Place them in a junk drawer (along with your cords and chargers) for an emergency.

We hadn't done that.  We weren't prepared.  Luckily an Aunt had an extra phone and we were home free.  We went back to the Verizon store, handed them the phone and within 5 minutes he was back texting his friends.

Did I do all that just so he could text again?  No, it is a safety thing.  Right.

OPPORTUNITY STRIKES AGAIN!

So, being that this site is about ideas, here's one that came out of my experience.  A place where, I think, many good ideas take root.

For all those people out there who lose a phone and do not have one to spare, take heart!  I will open a store (virtual or next to Hallmark) that buys and sells Verizon phones.  I'll pay $5 to the old owner and charge $25 to the new owner.  

The best part?  I won't charge either person any fees and I won't force a contract on anyone.  

Everyone wins.  Except Verizon, I guess.

The Psychology of Littering - Evaluating the "Litterati".

It's a question I ask myself all the time.  Why?

And a common one for me relates to littering.  A habit so annoying and so easy to avoid that I honestly don't see how it continues.  Even more interesting to me is how people justify the practice.  No hiding or fear of getting caught. Almost as if it is really OK.

Do you litter?  Be honest.  If so, why?

In a world where trash cans cover the landscape around where we live, what leads people to litter? Is it a conscious act?  Is it an old habit taught by the parents?  Or is it just pure laziness?

Here's a new term for these folks who boldly litter as if what they are doing isn't wrong.  It's based on the term "Glitterati" which means:

"wealthy or famous people who conspicuously or ostentatiously attend fashionable events" according to dictionary.com.

The "Litterati" are people who must think they are famous in that they believe they can litter and get away with it.  Separate rules, you know?

Littering comes in many forms, so let's talk about a few:

FROM THE CAR

So, you are driving behind someone on the freeway during the day and a small wrapper flies past. Maybe it is a plastic grocery bag.  But it clearly came out of the window of the car in front of you. What were they thinking?  

It's small, no one will know.

It's common, everyone does it.

I'm going 60 in lots of traffic, no one will know it was me.

I don't like to trash my car, so I'll let someone else pick it up.

What possible internal argument justifies littering vs. finding a trash can at the next stop? Probably my biggest pet peeve here is the flying cigarette (no, those aren't lightning bugs coming at you).  The cigarette out the window is so common I probably see one per day and they are often in the evening.  Clearly there is no well-understood rule here as everyone does it.

I wonder if it was cool once - back in the day when smoking was cool - to "flick your smoke" from the car.  Hey, at least you keep your car clean (even though your lungs are not), right?

Sorry if this feels like less of a review of the psychology and more of a rant, but this one I just don't understand.  So maybe ranting helps me penetrate what's happening in the mind of the litterati.

OUT AND ABOUT

Baseball fields, skate parks, community parks.  We all use these parks and we all would like to see them kept clean, right?  Yet, they are not.

I showed up with my 10 year old son at the skate park a few weeks a go.  Sunday morning.  No less than 15 pieces of trash on the ground within 10 feet of an empty trash can.  So, as my son heads into the bowl, I start walking around and picking up.  Good to do and plenty of time on my hands.  A few people watched me closely.

Why aren't we self-policing this?  Why, when one of two 15 year olds tosses their Red Bull to the ground, isn't the other saying "Dude, the trash can's right there?"  Didn't they get enough Earth Day messaging on Toon Disney when they were kids?  Isn't the younger generation supposed to be more concerned about that then the rest of us?

So, here's my idea.  

From the day we are born, everyone wears a belt and to that belt everyone attaches a small litter bag. All your trash goes sin the bag and when it is full you empty it.  This way we establish a new, healthy habit for the environment. Once you can prove your ability to use your litter bag responsibly, you are able to remove the litter bag from your belt - only then can you buy and attach a cell phone.  Thereby joining the mature class of citizen.

If you are still walking around with a litter bag attached to your belt in high school, people will wonder what's wrong with you.  Why haven't you learned what everyone else has?  That littering is unnecessary. And that being a member of the litterati is not cool. 

Not practical?  Perhaps not.  Hmmm.  How else can we change our habits?  Or reinforce the rules?

Your ideas? 

Johnny Strange And The Quest For Mt. Everest

When you think of the number 17 and the Himalayan giant (world's tallest landmark, Mt. Everest) what comes to mind?

Perhaps you think of the number of expeditions that have succeeded?  Maybe it's the number of base camps (or stopping points) along the way?

How about 17 as an age.  No?  Yes.  The age of a kid from Malibu, CA who is aspiring to be the youngest Westerner ever to climb Mt. Everest (a 15 Nepalese Sherpa has the record at 15).  His name is Johnny Strange and he is attempting to conquer the Seven Summits (the highest peaks on each continent).

I read about Johnny in an LA Times article today written by Pete Thomas and was blown away by the sense of purpose displayed by Johnny.  

You can follow Johnny's quest at his blog here.  I am.

And while I read Jon Krakauer's great book on Everest (Into Thin Air) and watched a reality show on TV (name escapes me) a while back, this is a story I am anxious to follow.

Here is a kid living out his dreams (acting on his ideas) at a very young age.  And, while many of us are older than Johnny, the chance to live out our own dreams is still right there in front of us.

We just have to get going.  

So, when will you get going?