“Before I tell you about it you have to sign this!” is what they all say. The idea will be written out over five pages, usually in the passive voice, with as many adjectives and adverbs as possible. By the time you finish reading the document the concept will be fuzzier than when you started reading the document.
As a solo web/software I’ve signed 15 or so non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) over my past eight years in business for new products and companies. I don’t recall any of the products being successful in the long term. In fact, I can’t recall any of the products being around after six months. Most of the products never reached any sort of development at all. To a man the people pitching the NDAs had great enthusiasm, and they all insisted on a great many meetings. Why is this? Continue reading →
