When a customer calls me up and starts the conversation with, “I saw this really great idea…”, I know that I am probably in trouble.

This time was no exception.

“You start with glass blocks, drill a hole in it, then stuff miniature Christmas lights in the block, but I have no idea how to drill the hole, and I figured you would, so…”

When I did the prototype, I called the customer back and said, “It looks pretty good, so I’ll do it, but don’t tell anyone else about it. How many do you need?”

I received an email tonight with several pics of the blocks in action, with the message: “Everyone loves your blocks, and I’ve told them all about you… You’ll have to start a side business.”

Crap.