Having an idea for a new product or feature typically starts with a sense of exhilaration. And then, all too often, self-doubt starts to creep in. Is this idea really good enough? Is it worth taking to the next step? Should I just file it away? 

Two common culprits stifle innovation: analysis paralysis and when perfect becomes the enemy of good. (We could rattle off cliches all day long, but you get the point.) But guess what? Your idea doesn’t need to be the next Uber or Airbnb to be worth pursuing.

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to begin to quantify if an idea of yours has potential? An exercise to increase clarity and gain confidence would be useful, right? I’ve used these 7 questions to help me begin to move a subjective hunch towards an objectively measurable opportunity. 

{{7-questions-rpv="/rich-text-components"}}

‍

If you answered “Yes” to two or three of these questions, congratulations — there’s something there. Two may seem like a low barrier for entry, but if your idea is the first of its kind in the industry and has potential business impact, you should prototype and test it. Like now.

So what now? Put your idea through a design sprint. See it. Test it.

Learn how to invest a small amount of time and money into a sprint that may lead to giant returns by downloading our Rapid Product Validation workbook. You’ll get a step-by-step blueprint that condenses months of product research, design, and validation into just three weeks.