Now that you've charted your desired position in the marketplace and found a unique place, you'll also need to make sure that your new concept meshes with your skill set. Using the list of skills discussed in Chapter 3, make a list on the left side of a piece of paper. Record the skills required for your concept in order of importance until you've reviewed all the skills mentioned in the chapter.

Label the right side of the paper “Strength of My Skills,” and list your skills according to how good you are at each one. If your top skill is menu design, list it first. If your pastry decorating skills are your second best skill, put it second. If your cooking skills are next, list them third, and continue down the list until you go through all the required skills. If you feel that you're equally good at two skills, then list them next to one another on the same line.

Compare the lists on the left and on the right side of the page. If the lists are vastly different, that tells you the skills required for your concept are different from your current skill level and ability. You may want to re-evaluate your concept. If your skills match relatively neatly with your concept's required skills, you are probably on the right track.