A Lazy UVP

I've come across the lazy Unique Value Proposition (UVP) which is quite cool to try wrangle your business idea into one sentence. See the below;

<idea name>    is the    <category name>   that provides   <rational benefit>      and      <emotional benefit>     for       <customer segment>       with      <specific problem>.

For example:

1. Piggybump is the mobile app that provides a money management tool and fun platform for children who has heaps of pocket money and no way to track it!

(Shocking example I know - but I did hack around with this idea for a while then realized it was too complex and time consuming for the customer segment that most likely would not use it! Also there are a few on the market already so in the list of apps not to develop!)

2. Littlemapdot.com is the blog that provides tid bits of information and a way to share discoveries from New Zealand for random thinkers that stumble across the blog.

(Hmmmm that was a bad example too! I don't have much of a direction for this blog, its just random stuff)

So if you mix the Lazy UVP and the Lean Canvas I think you will have a very good starting point for your idea!

Good luck :)

Over n out!

Dee

P.S. Feel free to share your UVP in the comments

Tiny House Musings

Is anyone else fascinated by the Tiny House Movement, prefab, container houses, sustainable 'off grid' and modular houses? All designed to turn conventional having a large house (and a large life long mortgage) on its head.

New Zealand Perspective
Living in New Zealand we seem to have a common goal for home ownership - and try and get it as young as you can. This article describes it as it has been hardwired into Kiwis over generations which I think is totally on the button. It just does not make sense to buy a over price house where there most likely will be ongoing significant repairs, upgrades and maintenance that you need to invest into with money you don't have.

It would be cool to create what you need now within budget and add on to it when you need to (IE have children, family or friends). What you need and not what you want (all within your individual comfort levels). This societal pressure of owning a three bedroom place with a garage and nice yard is hard to look away from.

Look at doing the 'first home' in a different way, going back to grass roots and build only what you need now. Generally first homes are much larger than whats needed now and not at all sustainable for the future.

My definition of a Tiny House
A small comfortable dwelling, that is eco friendly in nature, which sits on a big trailer base. It is often referred to in the Tiny House Movement. It is a way for people to avoid a mortgage with constant bills & maintenance, and live large in a tiny space. People have the freedom to build what they need all within the space, as it avoids building restrictions (check with local authority just in case) as it is a non permanent structure. Generally the Tiny House owner is the person that dreamed about it and built the place. Budgets range from $10K to $30K depending on costs of the trailer, building materials, furnishings, appliances and electrical system.

Inspiration

A few links below to ignite those brain sparks

• Living Big in a Tiny House - Really cool video tours of Tiny Spaces in NZ
• DIY House Building - cool article on Shaye & Tom (The tiny home built for just $24,000 in Auckland, NZ)
• Wee make change - Based in Hawkes Bay this bloke really understands Tiny houses. He created a 3D model of his Tiny house concept  - fun!
• Tiny House Swoon - Fun Inspiration
• Just search 'tiny house' on Pinterest and you will be away laughing
• Wikihouse - Imagine a mash-up of wikihouse and tiny house. Wikihouse on a trailer!
• George Clark's Amazing Spaces TV Series - Will give you inspiration and power you forward into ideas

I am not 100% convinced yet of building and living in a tiny house but love researching different ways of living (although modern way of living). I got REALLY excited at one point and my favorite Tiny House Plan is below (the planner I used doesn't do split level so use your imagination!)

 I had an itch about a month ago to create something so I brought a pop-top caravan and am renovating it for summer living & holiday. I will write up a post on 'Spud' with lots of before and after photos!

The pop top renovation 'Spud' - Before photo

Tally ho!

KiwiDee

Lean Canvas plus Sustainability

I have been doing a lot of reading on writing business cases and all that jazz. What I have found is that they are very word intensive and could be a potential put off if not careful. In my reading travels I stumbled across this idea of the Lean Canvas. Basically narrows down all your business thoughts into a concise easy to digest format. It follows along the idea of visual management and lean.

Why Lean Canvas? 

Its cool because you can write all your thoughts onto post-it notes, stick them in the relevant spaces and keep refining your business case. Finally a fluid document! (can that all be in the same statement!?).

I came across another version of the Lean Canvas that adds a sustainability element to it. After reading "Heart To Start" by Derek Handley, a large part of his journey was rethinking purpose and his idea of a successful business. Hence his current involvement with Virgins boss Richard Branson's The B Team. The below lean canvas I feel encompasses some of this people, planet and profit thinking.


Social Lean Canvas

Now the challenge is to develop a business case to fit in the parameters of a sustainable business. No easy feat - what businesses (big and small) are truly sustainable in their operations apart from NGOs?

As a Gen Y - I am finding I like to know what businesses contribute to the bigger picture. Not just to exist to take profit but to focus on things like Zero Harm, charity days, company creches or car pools, environmental awareness, giving back, building for the future, social teams.. bla bla bla. Ya know what I mean? Its important!

Over and Out!
Dee