Thoughts ON Ideas

First Idea, second Execution, third Distribution: All stages matter but execution without a strong concept is like multiplying by zero. When brainstorming, let the best idea guide you thru the stages. With so many new ways to reach audiences, follow your idea to its natural best format, even if its not the medium you initially envisioned.

Say no to the B+ There are too many ideas without purpose. Don’t pursue an idea just because you can - ruthlessly evaluate if the idea can be a success creatively, financially or will help make the world better. If none of those apply, save your precious time and energy. Do you have the discipline to lay down the ‘pretty good’ idea? Take intentional big swings or lots of fast small swings.

Go Far Together. Frequently, great ideas need great partners. Discover maturity in compromise and collaboration.  Don’t suffocate your ideas due to ego. Don’t own 100% of 0. Choose complementary partners based on your weaknesses and find joy in shared success.

Ideas in the Ether. Ideas are thrilling but they also exist everywhere and are mostly valueless until executed. Making the idea yours is determined by how quickly, competently and artistically your idea is brought to life. Stress test your idea by researching similar ideas so that you can find your own best version and be able to tell people why yours is different.

Quantity x Editing = Quality. The truest path to a great idea is through lots of ideas. Most people stop a brainstorm when they’ve reached the first few logical answers. Truly great ideas are not born out of logic but rather unexpected connection and imagination. When you push past 5 ideas and aim for 25 ideas, your mind is pushed to create novel connections and you’re forced to dig deeper for illogical genius.

The Library of Ideas. One great idea is worth everything but good ideas can still be springboards to great ideas. Keep trading up. If you like an idea but it has no relevance to the present problem, put it in storage for the future. Create a library of ideas that can be accessed for new situations. Sometimes the difference between a good idea and a great idea is just context and timing. Also, paradoxically, pay attention and save your absolute worst ideas as they often have useful thinking embedded deep within.

Water The Creative Someone from your team already has the seed for the next game-changing idea. It just needs to be prompted/pulled out/watered or maybe its part of an idea that others need to build upon. Truthful feedback to mediocre ideas and utilizing a variety of perspectives and experiences regardless of job titles can be a powerful combination to empower the internal human assets of a company.