A-team or A-idea? by Paulie Sabol

"I'd rather have an A-team with a B-idea,
than an A-idea in the hands of a B-Team."

Truer words haven't been said. Likewise, less actionable ones haven't been said.

I wanna start my business when I get done with college, but if im supposed to find an angel investors, isnt he gonna be like, "you have a nice plan, but you are straight out of college and have no capital what so ever"? [sic.]

I told him that was impossible. He proceeded to be confused and tell me why what I said was...well...impossible.

We reviewed one of my previous mentorship sessions with him then I asked this provocative question.

Do you suppose, if you had an option on a piece of waterfront property and you had Donald Trump on your team, you had a world class designer on your team, you had a highly decorated builder on your team, and a dozen of so other notable, professional team members you'd have any trouble with getting funding?

He agreed someone would fund that.

Then I asked...

Do you think Donald Trump commits to no- or low-vision ideas?

He again agreed you likely didn't. So at the end I offered this syllogism:

Have a GREAT IDEA (GI) to recruit a GREAT TEAM (GT)
Have a GREAT TEAM to produce a GREAT PLAN
Present a GREAT PLAN to get GREAT SPONSORSHIP

Of course, a properly formated plan will showcase the team and explore the idea.

So, if it takes an A-idea to recruit an A-team, from where does the A-team over A-idea bit of convention wisdom come?

A-teams with A-ideas still fail.

However, A-teams recognize they're on an A-team and want to continue to play. In order to do that, they sometimes gravitate to a B-idea.

So you see, you need an A-idea the first time to get on or gather an A-team. When you prove your competence on an A-team, even if you lose financially you win relationally. You've already invested the trust capital. Therefore,the next idea, even a B-idea, is already primed with an A-team.

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A surefire way to find an A-idea.

Ask.

As amazing as it sounds, your best bet to finding the A-idea to recruit the A-team is to ask an A-team candidate.

Go to an A-player and say, "Hey, as you think about all the projects you'd like to be involved in, what really awesome project or projects come to mind you really wish you could investigate or pursue though something is preventing you?"

When you find an idea that resonates with you, ask permission to look into it and get back to them.