At your local mall, you might be lucky enough to have a Mrs. Fields Cookies store in the food court. I know that we have one at the mall by my house, and the other day I stopped by for the first time. Not only were the cookies delicious (yes, I had more than one!), but the clerk was friendly enough to make me want to come back.
You might be wondering why I'm bringing up cookies on our blog (other than the obvious reason: making you hungry). It just so happens that Mrs. Fields Cookies is one of eleven companies featured in What's the Big Idea. Debbi Fields' idea to make soft, chewy cookies was very rare around the time when she decided to start her business. In fact, she and her husband's friends, very wise investors, recommended against it, despite loving the cookies she baked. Rather than tell you the whole story, here's a video of Debbi Fields:
Small Business Stories - Mrs. Fields Cookies
So, what are some of your ideas have turned out to be much better than expected? When have you persevered despite naysayers? What advice do you have for folks who might be struggling to break the mold?