The choice of the business or how to win holivar

So, the decision to do his own thing adopted and approved by abrasheva, for which he thanks! Obviously, the first thing to understand is what I will do. The serious – life-changing. Remember the epic anecdote:

there are two friends:
— How are you?
I founded a new startup, quickly growing and developing.
— Cool! And what is the essence of a startup?
— I conducted market research and decided a public house to open.
Wow, I wonder what are the prices?
Anal is $100, oral is $50.
And casual sex?
— Understand, there is a startup. Anyways, I have one works...

I also work and I also have a startup, so you have to be very careful and vigilant when making decisions.
In this post I will illustrate the decision-making process. The process was most visible, I for each idea mentally face your personal virtual apologist, and a decision given all this confusion of ideas. At the same time show you how to calm the multitude, which filled the meeting rooms in many large organizations, and set it on a constructive way. So:

how to start a business?

If homeland begins with pictures in your primer, the business begins with a problem. Not a problem of lack of money or problems with the law, and some explicit or implicit problems, matured in the framework of the Zeitgeist and cultural values. For example, when the ancient businessman-collector I can carry all that he had collected, on his back, he started his own business of manufacturing wheels. If he invented the wheel long before that, when there was the problem of dragging heavy loads, because people didn't think to stock up, his business would sink, because there was not a problem. And here's the success – Google rests.

Explicit and implicit problems

Thinking about the perspective for the business problem, it should be remembered that the real problems are rarely on the surface. People are inherently conservative – examining any technology, procedure, or method that they believe is the natural state of Affairs, and willing from time to time repeat the usual steps, without hesitation, that you can the same result is to achieve more efficient and easy way.

The story of Robert shekli "the right question" says that in order to properly ask the question, you need to know part of the answer. Accordingly, it often happens that in order to see the problem, you need to see the solution. This is the key success factor of the business if you saw a problem and solved it, then your users are using your solution, will also see this problem and already can't live without your solution, but before that quietly without him, considering the state of Affairs as the norm.

a lift is a problem

for Example, take an ordinary daily life phenomenon – lift in a residential building. Does the current solution a problem? Forget about the fact that he is spoiled, and that it sometimes stinks. It is quite functional and beautiful lift – whether it's the problem? At first glance, it seems that there is. I went in, pressed the button and went – what could be simpler? What could be further simplified? If we consider only the act of using an Elevator, nowhere. But in the modern world, the principal amount of problems is based not just on repeating. Entering the Elevator, 99.9% of passengers clicks on the same button, because going to the same floor to his home. In the future the repetition of the same actions the problem is – the person is forced to do the routine work, well, that is the smallest. But if he go wrong? But if he showed up drunk, and buttons spread out before your eyes? But if you broke your arm and reap nothing? If your hands are busy? And if a blind man? Unnecessary work is always problematic. How to solve this problem? Solutions a lot. The simplest way to implement the Elevator the identification of the passenger and to remember the button he's already pressed. When re-entering re-use this information. Just go to the Elevator, and he's taking you home.

a lift is a problem

I'm not going to automate the elevators. I just wanted to show as much in this world the explicit and implicit problems that are just waiting to be someone brought to light, decided, and made a successful business. You can choose whatever you want. And, often problems are present even in other people's solutions to the problems. Often, someone discovers a problem and solves it incorrectly, the SIM doing us a good deed – detecting the problem, but not providing a solution. These good Samaritans decided to call competitors. Competitors do not be afraid, you must love them for their kindness.

the problem

I need to find the actual problem that I can solve better than anyone else. Yes, and so the decision was where to develop, because the potential for growth is a very important criterion in the evaluation of the company.
The ideal decision process should undergo two stages:

the
1. Fantasy
the
2. Ranking

Fantasy

At this stage the criticism is completely off. The brain is unrestrained and reckless creativity. Nafig brakes – generated and recorded everything that will fit in the head. This stage can be carried out alone and in team brainstorming. Just alone to hold it easier – do not be ashamed of those stupid things that often come in mind. But I'm not shy – it will hold herroommate eyes.

Ranking

Gaining a sufficient number of ideas, it is necessary to choose the best. It is here that the difficulties begin, especially if the selection process involved more than one ego. That is why this step should be clearly separated from the creative process so as not to miss the treasure of creative thought in the debris of human pride. Methods of selecting best ideas, ranging from dictatorial authority, and ending the stupid vote (the most stupid, in my opinion, strategy). Personally, I want to share a successful way, tested on live humans in combat.

a Cautionary tale about the outrage for project managers

Architecture holivar

Holivar is a dispute in which the disputants do not purport to choose the best of ideas, and strive to prove that their idea is the best. The subjectivity of the disputants is fueled by the desire of their opponents to destroy their idea, so in some point the Wrangler only deals with the fact that implementing the strategy "the best defense is attack", causing the to "prove that my idea is best" gradually flows into the to "prove that all other ideas are the worst." The stronger the participants prove the shortcomings of other people's ideas, the more flaws their ideas they indicate opponents, with the result that this verbal avalanche sweeps meeting to hell. Hence the conclusion – in order to avoid holivara, it is necessary to disengage people and ideas, making the evaluation of the ideas of a common cause. And now history.

Who hinder us, that will help us

that in the former work, convened a regular meeting on how to implement the restoration of files from virtual disk images. Was involved several technologies (analysis of the file system or running a virtual machine using drivers guest) and several usage scenarios. Each approach had its ardent supporter, so that at some point was declared a General mobilization on holivar, and the noise of battle lost the thread of the development of the meeting. Many eyes were bloodshot and hands clenched into fists.

I asked everyone to clear the air, took a marker and went to the blackboard, taking turns and asking everyone to state their approaches to solving the problem. Draw a table and write ideas on the lines. People see their ideas in written form, was delighted, and even wagged a tail would be if he had them. Then I asked him to name those positive characteristics that have proposed solutions and, after a reduction to a common denominator, was discharged on the place of columns. It is too much people, because their opinion is reflected in a persistent storage. Next, I asked for each solution to evaluate on a scale the degree of applicability of characteristics to the solution. I was expecting about the numbers begin Bazaar and holivar will inflame with a new force, but it did not happen. People began to reasonably justify their points of view, debate and honestly trying to find the right number. I don't know why not started the dispute. Maybe because people saw that their ideas, no one denies. Heard them, accepted it and try to understand and evaluate, so that to protect there was nothing. Or maybe because of the added indirection is not obvious made a final decision, so that the aggression centers had nowhere to draw source for inspiration.
Anyway, gnawing the team in a matter of minutes turned into a close-knit team that has put together all the figures, joking and smiling, received a final assessment, a little tweak, something added, something removed, but the result of the meeting.

So when ranking people evaluated the ideas, not the ideas of the authors, take people to these ideas and give somebody the third one, for example, the Board.

ranking Table

selecting the best ideas, it is necessary of each idea learn the advantages, write them in columns of the table (possibly after releasing the wording so that they were applicable to the rest of the ideas) and begin to evaluate other ideas in the future, their own and others benefits. This approach implements the replacement of the concept of disadvantages the benefits. Do not say that the idea has flaws, you just have to say that this dignity it is inferior to all the rest. And Express it in numbers. Then nobody will be hurt. Even the worst. That's the whole theory.

Hunting

so, the season of hunting for the problem is declared open. I'll shoot at anything that feathered – like it or not. Sort later. Any extra ideas does not happen. Write out several issues that had noticed during his short-lived life. Describe how, and why to me this issue seems relevant, but from the descriptions then will be a table in the rankings. To two times not to run in the same area, right on the spot will enter and evaluate potential solutions.

1. How to disassemble notes of the melody?

With this problem I met long ago when was just learning to play the piano and guitar. Sometimes I want to play your favorite tune, and I do not know music. Perfect pitch is not given to all, that it would be cool to be able to develop the most perfect pitch, or listen to the melody the computer or the Internet, and it would have rolled out of the notes.

While I was thinking about this problem, there was plenty of online resources where posted notes of the most popular tunes and songs. Technologically, the problem of reverse engineering of the melody may remain relevant, but the applicability thereof for a meager amount of unpopular tunes driving business value problems. Dismisses. While there, treniruem.

2. As less time to spend in Moscow traffic jams?

I Myself did not suffer from this, because he lived in walking distance from work, but I saw a lot of colleagues who spend from one hour to three on the road. This is how much gasoline, nerves and money should be spent on pleasure. If to solve this problem, you can make good money.

There are several solutions, the complex solution. You can employ people closer to home, to find them udalenku with the same wages, offer the to start a business or try to unload the road. For example, to organize a carpool service, the ushers drivers lonely traveling by car, each other in the car. Until I thought about it and shy, homeless dude over the hill learned to code and wrote this service for the United States. And we can for Moscow.

3. How to raise motivation in large organization?

Of this problem, in fact, increased my desire to focus on your business and once and for all to solve it for prisoners of large organizations. How to make doing the work, people enjoy the results of their labors? How to make he knew and why he does something? To keep wrote the report and was not involved in things that personally he is not interested and does not resonate with his expertise?

Then I thought for the longest time and came up to the frenzied focus on receiving feedback. Nothing motivates man like to perform the action and see where it led. If all the acts in the organization to impose on a single line (I call it lifeline) development of the company, be filled by all staff with real time monitoring fill progress bars, then everyone will understand where this is going, and what contribution it makes to all participants of the Banquet. Ie one act is solved internal communication, project management and planning. In terms of the mantra "in Russia the problem with managers" mega relevant and popular decision. But how to explain to companies what is it, and why would they do that?

4. How to become fluent in a foreign language?

Although I am Russian, and only a quarter (one grandmother), when I listened to the outpouring of Frome may HART John ingle from Vitaly Mutko, I was ashamed. I saw a bunch of colleagues who quietly read the letters in English, but when it came to the conversation, blushed and hesitated. This problem of course I would like to solve.

There are lots of competitors since the days of the tower of Babel. The problem is as old as the world, only to decide it somehow antiquated methods. And is it possible to solve it using a sea of content available in today's Internet? Moreover, in studying languages I have something and make sense. After all, self-study of seven pieces plus the three knew in school.

5. How to find a loved one?

From several sources I heard that a decent girl to find a decent guy is the problem. Because a decent girl on a Dating site not going. Checking this statement, I went on a Dating site and had a little poke around. Well this is how many single people, comrades who are stupid pictures like it! Even point that is able to cook borscht, no. But what about the spiritual world? But what about intelligence? The problem? The problem!

If we use human behavior on the Internet in order to offer him a partner like him on the Internet shops offering books and products, it will be more objectively reflect the similarity of interests, rather than the attractiveness of swimsuit in the pictures. Especially given the existence of Photoshop.

6. Where to get a background accompaniment for a video reel?

did a couple of times the video reel, and lacked backing tracks that fit right into the spirit of the cards. Even it is not clear what criteria to look for and what does it mean to "fit into the spirit of the cards". And it is necessary. Moreover, for corporate greetings, where music-I don't satirise.

And why would this cell not to generate? The laws of musical harmony is not particularly complex, and the cards are no complicated jazz bells and whistles is not necessary. If something to learn how to stick it to the visuals or to generate for a given rhythm, it is all a dream.

7. How not to spend life sitting in airplanes on business trips?

Flew a number of times on business trips in the US, and is confusing. And what of those who lived it? Why do they fly? Okay all sorts of pianists and top models who make a living showing yourself in person. Why fly to meetings? If to solve this problem, it is possible for these wealthy men make good money.

Somehow, it seems that people travel to meetings, because live chat still has some advantages over communicating by phone or video chat. If you discover these benefits and to transfer via the Internet and, it will be possible not to waste life on a twelve-hour flight.

8. How to evaluate the architecture of software systems?

Here is a headfuck – the architect does his job or not. It says it does. And how to check – is unclear. Well, in the end, not art, to paint a black square and say "anything you don't understand." Well this is technical science. I wish to write software which provide the system, but he says the level of shitty architecture disastrously close to Microsoft Office.

To formalize the architecture is difficult, but possible. No wonder that for three years I was thinking about metrics and tried to Express the architecture in the information flow and localization of intense communications. Some of this can and will burn out. But maybe not. Although, given the complexity of the task, to prove that the product produces inadequate results, will still be impossible.

9. How to overcome procrastination?

Saw a lot of people that have a lot of Grand plans that they never start. To me the most often approached with a request to share the "secrets" of my self. But it would be cool to write software that helps organize themselves.
To motivate people on something, you have to show him the leaks, the time and actively motivate, showing the approach of the target. You can think about, to somehow be punished for being lazy – beat current, to write his name bad things in social networks, etc.

10. How to choose the direction for your business?

and the recursive problem. I choose business, choose steamed. And this way is every startups. Vaughn, man from a joke public house opened. To make a service that takes startups and recommends that it best suits his business. If you evaluate the degree podhodyaschesti, and venture capitalists to milk – they are also wondering what they invested.

It is not even clear how to solve this problem. The trends to analyze? Crowdsourcing? A psychological test? Look for repetition? Language analysis routine on the Internet?

Hunting evaluation criteria

Analyzing all your thoughts about the advantages and disadvantages of the problems and their solutions, I have identified the following criteria.

Interest

I do wonder How to deal with this problem? Basically, I have a knack for finding interest in anything, but why look for interest in a woman's novel, when you read Dostoevsky? The lowest estimate is not interested at all, a maximum of Drools.

Expertise

as far As I understand the subject area and how easy it can draw new knowledge. Minimum score – a full kettle, maximum – guru.

Custom

What percentage of the population of this planet has this problem? Minimum score – one, maximum – all.

Easy solutions

Intuitive how easy it is to solve this problem? It is clear that before the beginning of active work to evaluate the exact complexity of the solution is impossible, but not forget thought Robert Sheckley about the "right question". The minimum score is the most complex, the maximum rating is an absolute freebie.

Clarity

About implicit problems and detection problems the solution itself is all right, but to convey to the user of the problem, which they don't realize you need a powerful marketing. I with his desire to involve less people have to save for those procedures that can be avoided. Maximum score – the obvious problem, the minimum rating is non-obvious problem, and hell prove that it is.

roster issues

so there are problems, there are evaluation criteria, the next task was to cross. Before considering the final score still would have to define my own priorities of importance criteria, and implement the appropriate weight to these criteria were made in the final evaluation the greatest contribution. I personally started own business in order to:

the
1. to a pleasure
the
2. Solve the problems a large number of people
the
3. Try your hand alone

In that order. So I will weight the criteria by 1.8, 1.5 and 1.2 respectively. Other when making decisions can weigh their priorities and criteria, this formula is subjective and reflects my preferences.

By the way, for the sake of interest, would you like extras to trenirovat and the problem/solution from the opening anecdote. Stuffing and a public house and see how much applies to me the most ancient of professions. Well, what if?

the the the the the the the the the the the the

Problem	Interest	Examination	Audience	Lightness	Clarity	total
melody	4	4	1	2	9	25,5
Tube	7	3	4	5	10	38,6
Motivation in organizations	7	7	4	4	4	34,4
Foreign languages	10	8	7	4	10
Closest person	8	5	8	5	10	48,4
Backing tracks for video reel	5	4	2	3	8	28,6
Travel	6	2	4	2	10	32,8
system Architecture	7	9	2	2	6	33,8
Procrastination	6	4	7	4	8	38,9
Your business	5	2	3	1	8	26,1
Public house	1	1	6	10	10	33,8

Whew! Fortunately, a public house did not win! Thank you Lord!

One blow, two, no three birds with one stone!

so, three winners:

the
1. Foreign languages – 52,5
the
2. like 48,4
the
3. Procrastination – 38,9

If you look, these problems are much closer than it might seem at first glance. Procrastination is one of the main reasons why people throw learning a foreign language and often they pay the tutor, so he kicked over their money. As for the closest person, in my understanding, the closest person is the one with whom you speak the same language. Because human language is so ambiguous and multidimensional, that are strangers to us in fact aliens!

So it's decided, I have trained people in foreign languages, struggling with their procrastination, if they will find their loved ones, I would not interfere with them.

Article based on information from habrahabr.ru