Do you remember the last time you were infactuated?  You saw someone who caught your interest and chased after them.  You thought they were the hottest thing you had seen in some time. Your passion flaired.  Your excitement level increased.  Spending time with them or thinking about them was the best part of your day.  Your attention was largely focused on them.  You talked, you laughed, you did things together… things were going along just fine. No strings.  No commitment.  Just get together when you could and things would be cool.

But after some time other things started to get in the way.  No longer could you dedicate as much time / attention to each other. Maybe one of you wants more than the other.  Things get complicated.  They want to know where things are going… if you have a future together.  It becomes clear that if things are to continue, someone needs to get serious. 

Less calls.  Less meets. You get distance… which leads to feelings of guilt.  “Maybe we can spend some time together next week.”  “I haven’t talked to them in a week.”  It gets easier to avoid and harder to rekindle that initial passion. 

You just stop talking.  No breakups or bad feelings.  You just stop. 

Life goes on. You fall for someone else.  Rinse & repeat.

Face it… you aren’t ready for a commitment. You love the chase, the excitement, the adrenaline!  You’re looking for Mr/Ms Right Now.

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Maybe this is the same chase, excitement, adrenaline that fuels innovators to innovate?  You get excited about an idea, give it some focus, even make some initial progress.  But then things deflate. Maybe its too much… maybe it needs different skills than you have…. maybe it takes up too much of your time… maybe you need more money.  Whatever the case, you lose focus and then interest and passion.  You still like it and think its cool but it just sits there… dying on the vine.

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Perhaps this is why we hear venture capitalists and entrepreneurs talk about how the team is more important than the idea for a new venture.  Maybe what they are really trying to determine is your level of commitment.  They want to know if you’re flirting with your idea and playing it cool or if you are ready to settle down and get serious.  They want to know if you are looking for Mr/Ms Right… or Mr/Ms Right Now.

What do you think?  Good or bad analogy?