3 ms·

If it succeeds, there's a pretty serious question about whether it was actually a terrible idea. I'd be doubtful about the premise accordingly. I think the succ

If it succeeds, there's a pretty serious question about whether it was actually a terrible idea. I'd be doubtful about the premise accordingly. I think the successful outcome is inherently invalidating of the notion it was a terrible idea. I've been reading about business history for decades, I enjoy it. I can't think of an example that matches that setup. Ideas like the pet rock or chia pet or electronic dancing flower pots jump to mind, however my thinking is immediately that: well, they weren't such terrible ideas then, lots of people wanted to buy those things. A combination of disposable income and endless desire to be amused/entertained, is a potent consumption formula. The pet rock for example was a relatively inexpensive tchotchke of very temporary curiosity and amusement. People love to be amused, entertained and to have trinkets to talk about or show off. A lot of seemingly bad ideas fall into that space.

ChrisMarshallNY 5y ago
That's true. "Terrible" is in the eye of the beholder. Many, many companies make bank, by taking classic ideas, and executing them well. It's like Joe Cocker made many obscure songs into mega-hits.
- username90 5y ago
  If other companies are making lots profit doing something then it isn't a terrible idea. A terrible idea is trying to build something that will never make lots of money, like the pet dating sites or so.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 5y ago
    Like the songs that Joe Cocker often covered, the ideas may be languishing, with little-to-moderate success. Until done properly, or combined with other ideas or good marketing. Until they make money, they are derided as "terrible ideas."
    - username90 5y ago
      Of course some ideas are hard to recognize as good, but you can't say that there aren't any terrible ideas out there. Trying to implement a terrible idea will never work out no matter how well you execute, unless you make it into a MLM scam but I wouldn't call that success.

ChrisMarshallNY 5y ago

That's true. "Terrible" is in the eye of the beholder. Many, many companies make bank, by taking classic ideas, and executing them well. It's like Joe Cocker made many obscure songs into mega-hits.

username90 5y ago
If other companies are making lots profit doing something then it isn't a terrible idea. A terrible idea is trying to build something that will never make lots of money, like the pet dating sites or so.
- ChrisMarshallNY 5y ago
  Like the songs that Joe Cocker often covered, the ideas may be languishing, with little-to-moderate success. Until done properly, or combined with other ideas or good marketing. Until they make money, they are derided as "terrible ideas."
  - username90 5y ago
    Of course some ideas are hard to recognize as good, but you can't say that there aren't any terrible ideas out there. Trying to implement a terrible idea will never work out no matter how well you execute, unless you make it into a MLM scam but I wouldn't call that success.