Learning from the TBE example

The message Michael posted from TBE got me thinking. What's the best way to go forward with this concept in terms of ownership issues? That is, we assume many ideas will be bounced around, and that most people will contribute to most ideas, but only a few people will probably really push any one given idea. So how do we balance who gets credit for what without getting greedy, overly subjective, or complicated?

Here is one suggestion--a refinement on Michael's earlier post--that I will throw out for feedback:

Let's make a clean split between inspiration and perspiration. On this (public) blog, we can discuss specific ideas as well as articulate general theories about what makes ideas work. Most of the inspiration work should occur here. Ideas can be repeatedly polished, poked, prodded, and reformed. Not all will survive. But those that do will boast a solid hook, specified site features, and targeted promotional plans.

At this point, those who are interested in taking on the perspiration duties identify themselves as owners. The domain can then be bought, and the detailed work of putting together a site map and tech spec for the web developers can continue among these self-identified owners on a private extranet, on the phone, and in person.

At the same time, discussion can continue in the public blog about promotion. Once the site is launched, it is hoped most everyone from the public blog will aid the promotion by tapping their networks. At this point, the owners identify the non-owners who contributed significantly to both the idea development and promotion. We call this group contributors. The owners will continue to be responsible for all details (and finacial support issues) related to an actual venture once it's up and running.

With all this being said, we can now talk turkey. In terms of revenue splitting, how about something along these lines:

* A set percent of revenues goes to the web developers (up until a certain per-project cap)
* Another percent (10% - 15%) goes to a pool that is split by the contributors.
* The rest is split by the owners.

This general approach recognizes that not everyone can contribute equally to every project. However, it does give incentive to help polish and promote other people's ideas. As these "inspiration" activities are not too taxing, and they can lead to a nice little financial return. Enough, at least, to justify the effort.

Imagine, one day in the near future, this evolving into a powerful community of smart entrepreneurs, where most people had small stakes in many ventures, and large stakes in a few, everyone pushing to help everyone else, everyone making some nice scratch in return.