Tuổi Trẻ newspaper reports on an entrepreneurship discussion organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam National Union of Students. The guests were Trần Việt Quân (Director of Bách Khoa Computer) and me.
Students ask: 1) How can I prove an idea is mine? 2) If I share an idea, might it be stolen?
I am writing the answer here so students (a group I have only recently come into frequent contact with and feel dedicated to) and entrepreneurs can read it and resolve their concerns. It would also be good to ask further questions later!
Answer: Do not try to prove an idea is yours unless it is an invention eligible for intellectual property registration (there is much to discuss about this in Vietnam, but I will leave that to lawyers :- ). Work harder on proving the idea's Feasibility! Investors do not need grand but vague ideas. They need ideas focused on solving One specific problem, with demonstrable feasibility (market, capability, model, legality, validated product…). Guiding principle: Focus on proving feasibility and executing well.
As for the origins of ideas… that is hard to say. Invite a successful entrepreneur for coffee; they might share dozens of ideas they lack time to pursue or that do not align with their values, so they see opportunities but do not act on them! (I often find myself in this position.) The motto: An idea is worth only a cup of coffee :- )
Personally, I am not afraid of revealing my ideas by sharing them. Sometimes sharing brings feedback that helps me improve them further (I need to consult others and balance listening with perseverance; the goal is to find the truth!). What needs protecting is not the outward idea but the Know-how, the specifics of how my model operates, which I must understand. The maxim: if merely sharing an idea makes you lose it, that proves you did not truly have an idea.
Someone also asked that day about the art and techniques of time management. If this post gets more than 200 likes + hearts, I will share more. Fishing for likes at the start of the day!
