It is just as fine to be proud of your creations and ideas. But getting stuck to just that one thing and not even being able to improve it out of fear of ruining it?
We get attached to our own creations quite easily, even if it is not perfect. And this attachment or somewhere a feeling of achievement makes us pay more. This is what leads to the IKEA effect. The IKEA effect unknowingly is somewhat more expensive for the consumers. Buying or getting something at a price and thinking that it was a ‘deal’ just because they get to assemble it and be a little creative? When a consumer is buying something that they get to put together or assemble, it is most likely that the consumer would have a feeling of achievement. Be the result slightly not perfect, still, it will be their work. They would have done that by themselves, at least partially.
Being attached to something you create is okay until it is time to part from it. And when you add your passion and dreams to it, it gets more difficult and holds you back. IKEA’s effect can be considered fine till it is dealing with hobbies and necessities but not when it comes to passion. An entrepreneur puts passion into his creation and has to work on improving it. If that creator gets attached in such a manner that he cannot improve it then that will hold him back. This would create a block from growing, improving, and innovating.
Dealing with IKEA effect:
Feedback and Improvement
First and foremost when it comes to improvement, there is feedback. To improve, innovate, and make your idea grow, you need to obtain feedback. Feedback on how others or rather say consumers are taking and understanding your idea or product or creation and what they think of it is something that will help in the process improvement. A certain idea or creation is not the best just from the beginning but it has to be shaped. Feedback and criticism are often necessary to understand if the creation would be consumed by the target audience or not. Along with feedback and criticism, the creator also requires support to help understand the given feedback. Only the creator’s point of view is not enough as he might think his creation is perfect, even out of attachment.
Not Trying to be Perfect and Showing Confidence
Nothing is perfect on the first try. There is always room for improvement and innovation. When you get attached to your creation it is very much likely that you might either be so attached to the creation that you are scared or intimidated to make any changes in the fear of destroying it or try to make it perfect to such a level that you end up destroying it. You need to be confident that what you have created will work and get you profit. Taking the step and, growing and improving on the way throughout the journey is important.
This one effect can end up costing an entrepreneur his time, his effort, his creativeness, and even his passion. Everything takes time, even perfection. It is said that the IKEA effect kills entrepreneurial dreams. Well, that is somewhat true. Causing yourself the trouble and slowing your progress down just because you are overly attached to your creation isn’t positive. Not only this effect is causing obstacles and crushing entrepreneurial dreams, but also causing issues for the consumers. Which again ends up as a problem for the entrepreneur or creator. Consumers facing trouble moving on from something they just assembled or partially created will end up being them not being able to buy or consume new products or creations.
Being proud of your creation is important. But it is also necessary to keep on improving and growing.
