From Spark to Released
Every idea starts as a spark - a flash of inspiration that needs to be captured before it disappears. As you develop and commit to ideas, they move through statuses that track their progress.
Spark
The default status for new ideas. Sparks are raw, unvalidated concepts. They might be brilliant or terrible - you haven't figured that out yet.
At the Spark stage, focus on:
- Capturing the core concept before you forget it
- Initial scoring to see how it compares to other sparks
- Quick research to spot obvious problems or opportunities
Shaping
When a spark shows promise, move it to Shaping. This is the research and planning phase where you figure out if the idea is viable.
During Shaping:
- Research your target market and competition
- Define the problem you're solving more clearly
- Consider the risks and unknowns
- Talk to potential users if possible
- Update your scores based on what you learn
Many ideas won't survive shaping - that's the point. It's cheaper to kill a bad idea early than to build something nobody wants.
Building
You've decided to commit. Building means you're actively working on bringing this idea to life.
In the Building phase:
- Focus on shipping, not perfection
- Set a deadline and stick to it
- Keep notes on what you learn for future ideas
Ideally, you should only have one or two ideas in Building at a time. Spreading yourself too thin is how side projects die.
Released
You shipped it! Released ideas are out in the world, generating value (or at least feedback).
Track which of your ideas actually made it to Released. Over time, you'll learn what kinds of ideas you're best at executing.
Archiving ideas
Not every idea will make it. When you decide not to pursue an idea, archive it instead of deleting. Archived ideas:
- Are hidden from your main view
- Can be restored if you change your mind
- Provide data on what kinds of ideas you tend to abandon
To archive an idea, open it and click Archive. To view archived ideas, use the filter on the ideas page.