In this round table group, each CEO gets a chance to present a business issue or challenge to their peers and get feedback and problem solving support. The issue I presented was: “Help me figure out how to describe this incredibly huge and multi-faceted vision succinctly so people will get it”. Instead, they all agreed that trying to present this as one super ambitious project is almost certain to fail. The consensus was that I should focus on delivering one simple service that meets a clear need in the marketplace right now, and build from there.

I totally understand that logic. After all, Microsoft started as just a couple guys writing software programs that people were willing to pay for. Facebook started out as just a simple app to allow people to share their profiles. They were just looking a couple steps ahead and one thing led to the next. The business world is full of similar stories. Not to detract from the business savvy of the founders of these businesses, but it does seem to me that there’s a strong element of random chance involved in the process of transitioning from being just another business to being a fundamental platform.

But that’s not the only way it works. Steve Jobs, for example, came right out of the gate with a sweeping vision to make Apple the computer for the masses. So I believe it is possible to start from basically nothing (Steve Jobs was a 21 year old college dropout) with a lofty vision and actually create that reality, or at least some variation on it. Of course, Jobs had Woz who built a cool machine that they were able to sell. Without Woz, Jobs would be right where I am now.

That’s what the WaveCenter Project is about right now. I’m not trying to sell this service yet. I’m not even trying to raise capital. I’m simply trying to find those people who can share my vision. Together, I know we can build a useful core product that provides an immediate benefit–but that is designed from the ground up to expand into a world-class platform.

I knew that would be a challenge. People want to “get it” within 30 seconds, and that’s tough when an idea is really big. And WaveCenter is a really BIG idea.

In my first video, I described WaveCenter as a Digital Life Manager that helps you access all your digital stuff through a standard, intuitive interface without having to login again and again. That’s the equivalent of saying “An elephant is a really big, gray animal with a trunk”. If you’d never seen an elephant before, you wouldn’t get a very clear picture from that description. And I never expected the first video to paint the whole picture of WaveCenter. My objective was simply to get as many people to watch as many of the other videos as possible. Those videos are the equivalent of describing the elephant’s legs, tusks, ears, etc.

Over time, I expect that here and there certain people will absorb enough of the material in those videos and then they’ll get it. They’ll see the vision as I do, or better, they’ll synthesize it through their own experience and mental frame work, share their ideas with me, and together we’ll form an even more complete image of this amazing creature. I am really looking forward to that process!

Meanwhile, I need to convince people that the only way to get the full picture is to take the time to peruse the videos and give the ideas some serious thought. And I need to convince people it’s worth their time and effort. And how do I do that?

Well, I’ll be trying various ways to accomplish that goal in the days and weeks to come. For today, let me try this tactic:

Consider the fact that I’m a pretty smart guy (by most accounts ;- ) whose been in the Internet industry for over 15 years and has been developing these concepts for that entire time. I’m very clearly and boldly staking my reputation on the claim that this is a huge idea that can really work–if I can build the right team. Now maybe I’m just dreaming. But maybe–just maybe–I’m actually seeing the whole elephant here while others are still just starting to notice the trunk. Aren’t you curious to know if there’s something more to this than immediately meets the eye? Are you curious to know what makes me so fascinated by this idea?

And if there is something really big here–if this really is an elephant of an Internet idea–aren’t you interested to know how you can be a part of making it happen now?