Deciding which ideas to pull from the pile and dedicate resources toward is tough.  As Eric Ries’ Lean Startup movement has spread, “ferocious customer-centric rapid iteration” has become the mantra of the majority of this year’s web startups.  But, how do you start testing and validating an idea?  Do you have to build a minimum viable product (MVP) or prototype?  What’s the cost of creating and testing an MVP for your idea?

Market research has been around a long time (even before web 1.0) and is still the gold standard tool for big business.  The problem is most startups and small businesses have traditionally been unable to afford the formal processes larger companies use.  And even if they could, the process often takes weeks or months to develop, execute and analyze. That doesn’t mean they should abandon the idea, though.

Aaron Patzer, founder of Mint.com, validated his early ideas before he built them by hanging out at the train station in Mountain View, “We tried different feature sets, before we built most of this stuff, just on paper. We went to the train station and asked normal people what they thought.”

The point is: Feedback can come from anywhere. And it can be a time- and money-saver to get a sense for what potential customers want before committing resources to an idea.Additionally, there are many DIY online survey tools – such as Zoomerang or Survey Monkey – that let you craft and launch detailed surveys on your own.

The trick to these is figuring out how to get enough responses from the right respondents. Optimally, you’ll have a good customer or contact list. Barring that, your social community on Facebook, your blog or some other circle can be helpful – but it’s critical that they represent your target market.

In other words, don’t send the survey about new women’s yoga classes to your uncle Fred, he might not be the target segment (or he might try to help by responding more than once – also not good).

For more formal surveying, you can buy access to a research panel to answer your survey.  Traditional online panel companies like e-Rewards or Survey Sampling Inc. can supply almost any consumer segment for prices that can range as low as $5-10 per respondent depending on your target market and other details. And the crowdsourcing movement has been a boon for idea validation.

New Web companies allow people to input a survey, determine which segment of the site’s U.S. panel is best suited to answer the survey, then launch it. It’s an easy way to conduct market research at any time for any of your ideas, even if it’s a crazy, late night thought. Market research, at its core, is all about mitigating risk. Whether you build an MVP or create a prototype version of your product (even on paper), you can get feedback that will save you time and money.

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Those who focus on Michelle Obama’s impact on America are underestimating her reach. The first lady is inspiring women of color around the globe to look at themselves, and America, in fresh ways. See photos of past first ladies »

“She might be the first woman of color that females in male-dominated countries have seen as confident, bright, educated, articulate and persuasive,” says Barbara Perry, author of “Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier.”

A symbol for women around the globe

The notion of a woman being a first in anything is alien in many parts of the world. Millions of women struggle against sexual violence, discrimination and poverty, several women activists say.

But Michelle Obama offers a personal rebuke to that message. Her personal story — born into a blue-collar family; overcoming racism and once even making more money than her husband — makes her a mesmerizing figure to women across the globe, says Susan M. Reverby, a professor of women’s studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

Reverby says this is the first time many women have seen their class and color reflected in America’s first lady. Watch how Michelle Obama has done during her first 100 days »

This morning my cousin tagged me in a FaceBook note. Although I’m already pretty familiar with the book “Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill, I wasn’t made of aware of his code of ethics until today. With that I think it’s a great piece of work that I’d also like to share with you – my readers.

NAPOLEON HILL’S CODE OF ETHICS

I. I believe in the Golden Rule as the basis of all human conduct; therefore, I will never do to another person that which I would not be willing for that person to do to me if our positions were reversed.

II. I will be honest, even to the slightest detail, in all my transactions with others, not only because of my desire to be fair with them, but because of my desire to impress the idea of honesty on my own subconscious mind, thereby weaving this essential quality into my own
character.

III. I will forgive those who are unjust toward me, with no thought as to whether they deserve it or not, because I understand the law through
which forgiveness of others strengthens my own character and wipes out the effects of my own transgressions in my subconscious mind.

IV. I will be just, generous, and fair with others always-even though I know that these acts will go unnoticed and unrewarded in the ordinary
terms of reward-because I understand that one’s own character is but the sum total of his own acts and deeds.

V. Whatever time I may have to devote to the discovery and exposure of the weaknesses and faults of others I will devote, more profitably, to
the discovery and correction of my own.

VI. I will slander no person-no matter how much I may believe another person may deserve it because I wish to plant no destructive
suggestions in my own mind.

VII. I recognize the power of thought as being an inlet leading into my brain from the universal ocean of life; therefore, I will set no destructive thoughts afloat upon that ocean lest they pollute the minds of others.

VIII. I will conquer the common human tendency toward hatred, envy, selfishness, jealousy, malice, pessimism, doubt, and fear-for I believe
these to be the seeds from which the world harvests most of its trouble.

IX. When my mind is not occupied with thoughts that tend toward the attainment of my definite goal in life, I will voluntarily keep it filled with thoughts of courage, self-confidence, goodwill toward others, faith, kindness, loyalty, love for truth, and justice-for I believe these to be the seeds from which the world reaps its harvest of progressive growth.

X. Because I know that my character is developed from my own acts and thoughts, I will guard with care all that goes into its development.

XI. Because I realize that enduring happiness comes only through helping others find it, and that no act of kindness is without its reward, even though it may never be directly repaid, I will do my best to assist others when and where the opportunity appears.

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