How much does a Great Idea matter ?
How important is a great idea when you are doing something new, whether it's a startup or something else significant?
Most people think the "great idea" is essential, and if you have a truly great idea, life will be easy: it'll be easy to get people to join you, get momentum, get funding if you need it and more.
I will argue that a great idea, although "great," is not as important as people think. We will ignore right now that an idea, regardless of how good, is useless unless someone takes action.
Even with a smashingly great idea, and enormous success, that idea will have changed during implementation, it will have morphed.
It did for Android (they were originally making a camera operating system well before Google bought them), Nintendo (paper playing cards), Nokia (started as a paper mill), YouTube (a dating site), and many more.
My opinion: Don't worry about a great idea; go for the Big Execution!
More Articles
How much does a Great Idea matter ?
How important is a great idea when you are doing something new, whether it's a startup or something else significant?
Most people think the "great idea" is essential, and if you have a truly great idea, life will be easy: it'll be easy to get people to join you, get momentum, get funding if you need it and more.
I will argue that a great idea, although "great," is not as important as people think. We will ignore right now that an idea, regardless of how good, is useless unless someone takes action.
Even with a smashingly great idea, and enormous success, that idea will have changed during implementation, it will have morphed.
It did for Android (they were originally making a camera operating system well before Google bought them), Nintendo (paper playing cards), Nokia (started as a paper mill), YouTube (a dating site), and many more.
My opinion: Don't worry about a great idea; go for the Big Execution!
Positive Procrastination
We normally think of procrastination as negative, but procrastination can be positive.If you procrastinate on the right things, you might never need to do some of them!
Why Get Involved with a Startup ?
Why would anyone get involved with a startup, leaving the relative safety of a corporate job?
First, let's define a startup: An endeavor with has high growth potential and is potentially innovative or disruptive in some way.
There are several reasons, and three big ones at least in my mind . . .
The Cost of Inaction
There is obviously a cost to do something. If I go on vacation for example, it's going to cost me time and money. If I go out to dinner tonight - there is certainly a cost as well.
Think of some of the things you have done in the past that have had great results, maybe even lifechanging results. If you hadn't done them, there would have been an enormous "Cost of Inaction" or COI.
For example, if I hadn't gotten married and had kids, my life would be much different now. Certainly far less rich and wonderful.The cost of inaction would have been immense.
A bit over thirty years ago, I left corporate life to become a consultant. It's worked out extremely well, with lots of world travel which I love, the ability to choose exciting work and I've had some great projects and continue to, and freedom the likes of which doesn't exist with a job. And the money has been great.
What if I hadn't left my great job at HP in 1990? The cost of inaction would have been IMMENSE!
Often people delay, sometimes forever, doing something because the time isn't right or they are not ready. There is never a perfect time for many things are some things you may never be perfectly ready for.
Think of the cost of inaction! And then move forwards.