In starting a business, people often assume that they will have a great and unique idea that’ll solve everything. That’ll lead to money and all will work out.

But this is a flawed premise. Having a unique idea that no one is currently doing is may actually be bad, as it shows there is no supportable market for the idea. Having competition ensures that the market exists.

Sometimes, it’s best to do what others are doing, but just do it better. Google wasn’t the first search engine; the iPod wasn’t the first music player.

What matters more is finding a customer, someone that will actually pay. Starting with a customer and working with them is more effective than throwing money at something without market testing. If you find the right customer and can execute on a product, it doesn’t matter who is in the market.

Communication throughout the process ensures good feedback, as to adapt over time. A brilliant idea has to be modified to be practical and be successful. With all of this, good things can happen.