The Business Opportunity Analyzer™

Critiquing doesn’t mean just calling something “bad.” It means weighing the pros and cons, appraising the value, and judging the worth of an idea.

That’s where the Business Opportunity Analyzer™ (BOA) comes into play. It’s your tool for critically analyzing an idea or project before you dive in headfirst. It can save you a ton of time and money by helping you avoid ideas that could turn out to be duds or that might overwhelm your team if implemented now.

The next time you or someone on your team has a “great idea,” put it through this critical analysis to thoroughly vet the idea. Or, when you have a promising idea, run it through the BOA before presenting it to your team. This not only helps you better articulate the idea but also demonstrates that you’ve thought it through before saying, “Let’s do this!” The BOA is especially beneficial for those idea people in your meetings who frequently propose new initiatives without a solid implementation plan or whose ideas may distract from ongoing successful projects.

Every business idea should get a run through the BOA. Think of it like this: If your idea can make it through the BOA—sort of like squeezing through the grip of a boa constrictor—and come out the other side looking good, then you’ve probably got something solid on your hands. This means it’s been poked, prodded, and looked at from all sides, and it still seems like it will make your company better off. It’s a great way to see if your idea is tough enough to stand up to the test and really make a difference.

When your idea bumps up against some pushback, it might actually be a good sign. It’s when things get tough that you really find out what your idea is made of. If it can stand up to the challenge, it might just be ready to take off. But if not, it might be time to let it go. Think of the BOA as the idea’s trial by fire. You’re figuring out if it has the legs to go the distance