Could the Numbers Work?
100 Real-Life Business Models on Napkins
"Could the Numbers Work?" presents 100 real-life business ideas—50 that thrived and 50 that fell short—reimagined as they might have been sketched out on a napkin over lunch. Each idea is paired with a quick-glance evaluation of whether it might be worth exploring further, along with a note on what actually happened—how things worked out (or didn't) in practice. A fun and quick read to get you evaluating your business ideas.
About the Project
Hi, I’ve been thinking a lot about how ordinary people evaluate (or don't) the feasibility of their business ideas. I enjoy evaluating ideas and working through what might make them viable, but I’ve noticed that many budding entrepreneurs struggle with the basics of thinking through a clear business model. It’s not that they can’t do it—it’s just a way of thinking that many haven’t encountered before.
This realization led me to an idea for a book, "Could the Numbers Work?", which will explore real-world business ideas—successes and failures—through the lens of simple business models. The goal is to show how clear thinking about viability can improve the odds of investing time, love, and treasure into ventures that could work and to avoid the obvious non-starters.
If you've tried out a business idea, whether successful or not, I'd love to hear your story. I'd also love to know if you think this is a good (or bad) idea and to know what would make this a book you wish you'd had at the outset.
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Sample Napkin Sketch
Layout of the Book
