The Graveyard Where Good Ideas Go to Die

Do you see yourself as a visionary?

 If you’re anything like me, you’ve pursued a few great dreams/ideas over the years and, at least in some cases , got a lot out of bringing those ideas to life.

But we all know that a lot of great ideas die before they leave the brainstorming table.

There’s never been a shortage of good ideas spinning around the world. The shortage lies in the skills and discipline (and sheer guts) to implement them.

Jason (from Jason Young Live)   just returned from the 99% conference and shared some learnings designed to help us not just “dream” ideas but to actually “make them happen” in real life.

I love his tips because they are short and simple. Check them out (in their slightly modified form) below:

* Don’t let planning get in the way of doing.

* What moves you…grabs you…and won’t let you go?

* Choose meaning over money.

* [Welcome] collaboration.

* Timing is critical when executing an idea.

* Examine your vocabulary: Is it self-preferential?**

* Think BIG and act small.

* Understand nobody may see (I’ll add appreciate) your stuff for awhile.  Do it anyways.

* If you’re going thru hell…keep going.

* [Let your] strategic plan be “doing things”.

* [Don’t get bogged down over-planning.] get started because it’s almost guaranteed that it won’t be right the first time.

* You will hit the project plateau [where you lose enthusiasm/inspiration?].  Know this in advance and be prepared to respond.

**I wrote to ask Jason what a self-preferential vocabulary is. He said, “We often create a vocabulary that we prefer, that is comfortable for us and that we understand, disregarding the person or people (and their vocabulary) to who we are speaking.”

In my own experience, the best tip to getting an idea off the ground is to “do something with it”. Even if its small. Write a blog post about it. Talk to someone about it over coffee. Send an email to other potentially interested investors.  Inactivity is the hearse that takes your vision to the graveyard where good dieas go to die.

How about you? What kind of ideas have been rolling around in your head? And which of Jason’s tips speaks to where you are at the most?

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