At gatherings with friends, family or any type of social event outside my work context I get asked this annoying template question quite often:
Hey!, I have the best app idea of all times. I want a simple app for [Insert extremely generic or vague idea less concrete than ether1The substance formerly supposed to fill the upper regions of the atmosphere above the clouds, in particular as a medium breathed by deities. ] How much does an app cost?
Lazy bastard! if you would stop for just one minute to think about that question, just one minute!
Nowadays, every time I hear any version of the above question, I respond with: “Hey, I want to build a house. How much will that cost me?” and it actually works well.
The moment when that person realizes that it is impossible to accurately estimate (cost or time) before doing some serious work part of myself feels a bit bad for bursting a bubble but then I realize I’m doing that person a big favor.
If he or she has what it takes to go on, bring down to earth that idea and work hard on it, they will understand the message and won’t feel discouraged.
Even in the rare event of good ideas I’m still a bit irritated by the ones who believe that they will have a huge success because “they thought of that first”. Oh, man! ideas are not worth a thing without execution.
A good execution takes planning and smart work. An idea itself is not a business and won’t get you anyway. Put your money where your mouth is!