3 Myths Regarding The Great Idea
| February 1, 2012 | Posted by Roshawn Watson under Uncategorized |
By: Roshawn Watson
What is the most resilient parasite? Bacteria? A virus? An intestinal worm? (No, it’s) an idea. Resilient… highly contagious. Once an idea has taken hold of the brain it’s almost impossible to eradicate. An idea that is fully formed, fully understood,… sticks. Inception
Oh how we love great ideas! In fact, we are sometimes obsessed with proving them right. On the surface, that may seem like a good thing; however, sometimes we are so focused on the idea that we forget that the real goal is winning the game. Many have become phenomenally successful without ever originating a single great idea themselves. In short, the idea is the starting point at best; accordingly, don’t assume that the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Instead, ensure the outcome by giving your idea legs. Here are 3 myths regarding the “great idea.”
Myth 1: The Idea Is Enough
Visionaries, dreamers, and builders are all too familiar with the euphoria associated with coming up with world changing ideas. However, if you fail to properly implement these ideas, your genius will often go unrecognized.
Implementation is key.
There is only so much credit one gets for conception. For example, you cannot even patent an idea. You typically patent is the method of implementation of an idea. There are many innovative businesses that have been buried by well-capitalized competitors savvy enough to exploit easily reproducible models. These “new” models often only have slight modifications but are heavily promoted as improvements and sometimes coupled with other offerings (i.e., extensive catalog, network, or infrastructure) to provide “added value.” Soon the originators become an afterthought, and their competitive advantage dissipates. Technology is riddled with examples of this, such as Friendster, Myspace, and Propeller (and its parent company AOL).
Unfortunately, the implementation is sometimes the least desirable part of the process. For instance, it may be fun creating talks and speaking to audiences of over 10,000 while collecting $30,000 honorariums per talk; however, it may not be pleasant honing those speaking skills at your local rotary clubs and dealing with “peanut gallery” critiques. I recently heard one speaker say that his flagship annual conference, which draws 100,000 attendees, requires a minimum of 10 months of preparation by his team. He recognized long ago that the greatest resource to any visionary is often sweat equity. Similarly, do not underestimate the key steps needed to bring your dreams into fruition. Don’t be so obsessed with the idea that you never give it legs. Wealth rarely falls into the hands of the person who originated the idea partly because he is often so focused on the idea that he never take the steps to make it reality.
In short, the idea may open the door, but it is what you do next that decides if the door remains open.
Myth 2: You Must Originate The Idea
I can think of one mistake in particular that I am still paying for years after the fact. I thought I knew the correct path. I had a track record in other areas that I believed would be transferable to this arena. I was royally wrong. My backers rightfully disengaged from me. Years later, I am still haven’t achieved what I had adequate resources to accomplish long ago. Quite honestly, it’s embarrassing and painful to even think about. I understandably don’t like discussing it. Nonetheless, I believe in do overs. I’m still very hopeful, particularly because I’m gaining significant traction and am much better prepared now than before. However, boy did I pay a price for being “right!”
Sometimes we fail to implement winning ideas because we did not originate them. Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of my aforementioned adventure is that the very thing that I was vehemently opposed to, I now do to an even greater extent than was originally suggested. That’s because the “first mover” advantage is now lost and because I realize just how powerful that advice was. In my opinion, my failure to incorporate a winning strategy represented an arrogance of sorts. I underestimated what it would require to excel in that area. Others saw what I didn’t and thrived. Likewise, we must ask ourselves if arrogance is causing us to lose? Don’t fail to adopt a winning strategy for pride sake.
Pride goes before destruction.
Myth 3: The Best Ideas Win
I wish I could tell you the best always win. However, we don’t live in a true meritocracy. Even if objective criteria are established to assess one’s performance, it is people who are usually interpreting the results, so that fact in itself adds a level of subjectivity. We all know singers, for example, who possess an uncanny ability to deliver show-stopping performances and yet will never likely pack out stadiums or even have a hit record. Similarly, often the most talented performers in many TV competitions are sent home week after week because they can’t muster the votes. We can attribute such events to lack of “star power,” ” commercial appeal,” or the “X Factor,” but regardless of what you call it, we all know there is more to succeeding in the entertainment industry than technical abilities. In fact, we celebrate the Susan Boyles of the world because they are the few exceptions rather than the norm.
The same is true with regards to ideas. It is certainly possible to have the best idea without experiencing a high level of success. Sometimes it is due to a poor plan of execution, as discussed above. Other times, it could result from poor timing. For example, although there are exceptions, launching a luxury product just as a major recession is starting is typically not the best course of action. Another reason is that one’s environment may be full of toxic influences and incompetence. It hard to soar like an eagle when you are hanging out with chickens. The point is that having the best idea in no way guarantees success. Think of it this way: the great idea often provides one with the opportunity to play the game rather than securing the championship title.
Closing Thoughts
“If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours” – Henry David Thoreau
Everyone has had an idea that could have dramatically changed the course of his or her life. It’s not the idea that makes the difference though; it’s what one does with the idea that counts. Thus, don’t settle for the commercial version of your idea. If you are convinced your idea has value, then develop a plan of action, be willing to evaluate the performance of that plan, and realize that there are other factors that are critical to your success. Only then, will you enjoy the spoils of victory. If you have a wonderful idea, congratulations: you are officially 10% done.
Through the Looking Glass
Your Do over Guide: What Would You Do Differently?
Do You Have The Courage To Be Wealthy?
Confessions of a Public Speaker
Copyright 2012, Roshawn Watson, Pharm.D., Ph.D. All Rights Reserved.
Great post. I have had lots of ideas but I haven't implemented very many of them. Failure on my part. I guess the excuse trap has gotten me. There has always seemed to be something that has talked me out of it. I should really change that and start trying things out and seeing what happens
Ideas are dime-a-dozen! Takes a rare individual to 1. recognize that an idea has potential and 2. act upon it.
When I see so many useless products (Suze's card for one), it is a pity that they put in so much effort for something that has failure written all over it.
On the other end of the spectrum, I know folks with brilliant ideas, but no determination to follow through.
Xerox invented the mouse, but didn't follow through. Jobs didn't invent the mouse, but saw the potential and followed through!
Have I mentioned my twenty volumes of 'Selected Intentions'? No? Well, I do have them. This is an area that really interests me – both at conceptual and practical level. I am not going to go into the fist two points but the third is fascinating. It is not the best idea that win: it is the best ideas, that are best communicated (enchantment alert here), timely, useful to others etc. Good post, Roshawn!
Research in sociology of science suggests that 85% of the new ideas/notions in science die within two years of publication. There are variety of reasons most of these not related to the essence of the idea itself. Psychology of science in the 80s tried to figure it out but didn't get very far. Also in sociology there is the notion of 'reality' rather than 'objectivity' – evrything that has real consequences is real. This is why I believe mentality is so very important – it has very real consequences.
Anyone can come up with a good idea but it takes a unique individual to recognize potential, organize, and (like you said) implement. So many people have great ideas and aren't able to put the dream into words in order to market it. Others have the idea and when they realize the dedication required to make it successful… suddenly that 9-5 job seems much easier.
I love your posts Roshawn! I think you would make a great inspirational writer. You should write a book!!
My brother suffers from this: he constantly has 1,000 ideas, all of which are awesome. He then goes out and half-tries with each one for a few weeks before giving up in favor of the "next big thing."
That used to be me, too, but you can only hit your head so many times before you learn that it's far easier and more fun to focus on a single idea and hone it.
Another good post! I must say I have had many ideas of my own some good some not so. Some worked better if I did them alone and other worked will when I got the help and advice of others. Too often I see people sitting trying to think of a new idea. You don't have to think of something new you can just make something else better. Look at the different car brands, clothing, websites. You don't have to invent the wheel maybe just make it run flat..lol.
Great post.. I would say that persistently doing the right thing is the key to success.
Really good post! I struggle myself with these myths, not so much that the idea is enough, but more that I need to be the first or that it has to be original.
Excellent post, Roshawn. A lot of life comes down simply to hard work, execution, and a firm desire to do well by oneself and help others. I do believe that the good path is the right one to follow. Trying to rely on a "trick" or "magic" just doesn't work, even if it has for the lucky 1 out of a million. Instead of trying to win by luck, I'd rather do it by earning my place in the world.
We most certainly don't live in a meritocracy. What's the old saying about it's not what you know, but who you know?
Creativity and success = ideas + action to implement them.
Great psychological posts as usual. Many times implementing other's idea gotten success, so as the second best idea became more successful than the best one.
Bravo Roshawn! Loved your comment about having an idea is just 10% or your ticket to play the game. In the past, I would be so obsessed with finding the perfect idea I was on the outside looking in. I'm finally in the idea stage, but now I'm only 10% in? Thanks for the reality check. Time for the next phase, planning and implementation. Great job again!
The blog is cool
Great post, I agree with you completely.
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