Is Someone Stealing Your Business Ideas?

Have you ever had a really great idea and then later saw someone else putting it into action? Even more perplexing is when you never told anyone about the idea, yet somehow, someone discovered it and acted on it before you could.

Maybe you had an idea for a blockbuster new ebook that would make all your financial dreams come true, or you came up with a great home business model that would have had reps flocking to your door - and now someone else is sucking up all the glory.

It's an awful, sinking feeling to see someone else profiting from your idea - I know, I've been there! However, don't let it discourage you into hanging up your entrepreneur hat. Here are three ways to turn the situation around:

1) Vow to take action. The worst thing about seeing someone else put your idea into action is knowing that you could have done so too, if only you'd been more proactive. Maybe you were struggling with an overloaded schedule so you put the idea on the back burner for awhile, or you were uncertain about your own ability to do a good job with it - and someone else saw the potential and swooped in on the opportunity.

The first step to salvaging the situation is acknowledging that you could have done better, and vowing to do better next time. While it's impossible to act on every single idea you have, you can make a stronger effort to take even small actions on the really good ideas. Remember that small actions done consistently add up to great results.

2) Take a different angle. Even if someone put your idea into action, they probably didn't do it exactly the way you would have. Give some thought to different angles you could take on the same idea. This works especially well with informational products, because there are so many facets to each topic. Open your mind and think about opposing views and unique perspectives you can use to turn your idea around and make it fresh again.

3) Make it bigger and better. Think about ways to build on your original idea and expand it. Think about great sequels to best-selling ebooks (or print books, for that matter). Think about improvements and modifications that could refine the idea and take it to a new level of success. Consider alternative marketing techniques that could make all the difference in the popularity of your product or idea. Whatever you do, don't limit yourself. Push past your doubts and be willing to aim higher in your goals.

The truth is, there are limitless numbers of ideas just floating around, waiting to be realized. If you open your mind, more than a few good ones are bound to fall right in. Begin keeping an idea journal so you can record the great ideas as they come. Engage in frequent brainstorming sessions to see if you can either come up with more ideas, or improve upon the ones you already have.

Create a detailed plan for the ideas you want to work on first, so you won't feel overwhelmed or confused by how to proceed. A good way to do this is by considering the outcome you're trying to achieve, and then working backwards. Which action steps will be needed to accomplish the outcome? Make a list of these steps, and put them in a logical order of progression. You'll then have a detailed roadmap leading to the success you're trying to create.

Finally, and most importantly, begin taking action! Even if you can only spare 15 minutes a day, you will feel more productive and make steady progress on the tasks you've set for yourself. Simply focus on taking one step at a time, and before you know it, you'll be the one sucking up all the glory, while someone else slaps their forehead and says, "Hey, that was MY idea!"