Should I Accept This Idea or Project?
Tags: startup, career, leadership, beginners
Published: 2020-08-22 15:58:00

The original post was on [Should I Accept This Idea or Project? - Reading Time: 3 Mins](https://www.maxongzb.com/should-i-accept-this-idea-or-project-reading-time-3-mins/) and cover image by [ Mika Baumeister on Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/Y_LgXwQEx2c)

# Introduction
As a developer working in the industry, I am pretty sure there will be tons of times when someone comes to you with an idea for a product or service and wants you to develop it for a fee. Do accept it first, then start your own **due diligence** to gauge the viability of the idea & the person. Which is on the basis. They are willing to pay for your effort to do it. My **instant rejection** is always, when they want you to do it for **free** or delay gratification, without any skin in the game.

Which you might choose to **outright reject** them in some form of "I might be busy" or "I don't think it might make sense for me to do it for free as your not respecting my time & effort to build it". 

Now let's imagine your planning to do it for a fee. Then it will be time for you to practice your **due diligence**. Which might take a few rounds of breaking a few eggs to become **smarter**. When you get yourself into these arrangements out of **obligation** or **guilt-tripping** by the person to sell you in doing it for them.

# What Do They Bring to The Table?
Always look at the person who approaches you. In what are they bringing in to the table besides just money. If it's just money, the person is just an **investor**. Which you must treat it as **marriage** before **committing** to them on this venture.

If they bring something else besides just money. Then now we are talking about something tangible. Which can be like experience, knowledge, network in the industry for the problem they are solving. They might have a deep connection to the problem. Which prompt them to come up with the idea for a product or service for the business. If there is none do not **indulge** in it but **reject** it.

The reason for this is because of most VCs or angel investors. Will look at the founding team's experience or backgrounds on the problem. Which is part of their criteria to evaluate a probability for a startup to be successful.

At the end of the day, to have a startup the **minimum** is just **two** people. By [Guy Kawasaki][2] in the book called the [The Art of Start 2.0][3]. The first is a **salesman/marketer**, who gets resources from selling the idea/product/service. The second person is the  **creator/inventor** role. Who creates the product/service.

# What is the Team Dynamics?
When it comes to evaluating team dynamics look at [The 5 traits of the dysfunctional team][4] as a reference in the founding team. 

As the saying goes "many cooks spoilt a broth". Therefore, you and the person with another team member. Should have a working history to solve a problem or do something together. So you understand how you and the person's style of communication are used to tackling a problem and how they operate under stress/pressure. 
 
# Conclusion
This is the due diligence process I will take. When considering to work with the person. Remember, you always have the choice to say **no** to the person, after you had conducted your due diligence process. As it's business. By considering your boundaries with your time & effort needed to build the product or service. 

Before you take on any project from a friend or person. Who comes to you with an idea. I would not want you to be shortchanged, taken advantaged of being guilt-tripped into taking on this project. If you are one of those who is guilt-tripped to do it. I'm sorry for your situation but you got yourself to blame for it. You have to learn to become **smarter**, next time and do your own **due diligence** before **helping** out anyone.

This post includes affiliate links, I may receive compensation if you purchase products or services from the different links provided in this article.

# Reference
*  [Guy Kawasaki][2]
*  [The Art of Start 2.0][3]
*  [The 5 traits of the dysfunctional team][4]


[2]: https://guykawasaki.com/
[3]: https://amzn.to/34nuYuN
[4]: https://theundercoverrecruiter.com/5-traits-dysfunctional-team/