Home > Big Ideas > Young Entrepreneurs Should Enjoy “The Niche of No”

“The Niche of No” is a wonderful place full of potential, creativity, perseverance and spontaneous brilliance. This deceptively narrow crevice of criticism leads to a wide blue horizon full of idea creation and triumphant persistence. This recessed space is where young entrepreneurs can realize the power in being told no and how to capitalize on it.

“The Niche of No” is a Candy Land to young entrepreneurs, because they are familiar with older authority figures telling them “no”. They are practiced at still believing in the possibilities when constrained by someone else’s negative opinion.

Having opposition and controversy around an idea usually means it has the potential to be a turning point or bridge toward a new enlightenment. Hearing the word “no” repeatedly and bouncing back is the norm for young people, and they should use that negativity-immunity in the marketplace.

As people age great numbers start to doubt their own ideas more and more.  When they hear the word “no” they start to believe more in the critic and less in themselves.  Young people innately challenge the word “no” and the status quo. This is a business advantage.

“The Niche of No” is the business version of the land of misfit toys. This is a place for crazy, wonderful business ideas. Some are horribly unprofitable, but they are all valued for their uniqueness.  It is where being off-the-wall is the norm, and unbridled collaboration is free to roam the plains in glorious majesty.

“The Niche of No” is a zone that produces many of the catalysts to the next new product category, the next new manufacturing approach, the next new distribution chain model. This is a place young entrepreneurs should inhabit with celebration and confidence, because this is where their youth is a gigantic business buffer. It is a protection from the vulnerability of doubt and learned resistance that is common to older folks when exploring creative new solutions and ideas. This vulnerability of the aged set is that they tend to visit the “Land of Doubt” when told no.

Imagine a world full of puffy, spongy, billowy trampoline clouds that help defeated ideas and businesses bounce back from failures and nos and critics. Then imagine the victories and triumphs that can be gained in business by embracing “The Niche of No” as a powerful tool in the youthful perspective.  Forget the “Land of Doubt”. Let the defeated and bitter operate there. Or better yet, send a convoy from “The Niche of No” to rescue them.

Either way, young entrepreneurs can use nos to their advantage, and they should. Remember, in the land of misfit toys Hermie actually did become a dentist after everyone told him it was craziness to think he could.

Photo Credit: steveritchie