UBA054 - Ideas are worthless

Turning Concepts into Reality

“I’ve got a great business idea…”

We’ve all had our ear chewed off by someone who insists they have had the best business idea ever, or have invented something groundbreaking in a field they have no work experience in. Instead of being accompanied with some clear next steps, or specific action, the trail runs dry…there is often a barrier or a reason why it hasn’t happened yet. The truth is, if the idea were truly that great, they’d likely be busy realising it and keeping it a bit quiet rather than telling everyone they meet about it.

These ideas are supported by the common misconception that geniuses wake up one day with a fully formed, brilliant idea - a eureka moment that changes everything. However, this narrative overlooks the countless hours of work and the hundreds of failed ideas that typically precede a successful innovation. We often only hear about the one idea that worked, not the many that didn’t. True innovation requires process, persistence, adaptation and resilience.

These (sometimes drunken) conversations highlight a fundamental truth: ideas alone are worthless unless backed up by the effort and execution to bring them to life.

The Value of Execution

An idea, no matter how innovative or groundbreaking, holds no real value unless someone is prepared to take the necessary steps to bring it to life. Execution involves planning, resources, perseverance and often a willingness to adapt, iterate and pivot multiple times. It’s the hard work and dedication behind the scenes that transform a simple concept into something impactful.

“Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” is a famous quote from Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb. It wasn’t just a moment of inspiration but the result of thousands of experiments and relentless persistence.

Similarly, the success of Apple wasn’t just due to the innovative idea of a personal computer. It was the result of Steve Jobs’ and Steve Wozniak’s combined efforts, with Jobs’ extraordinary ability to bring in partners and bring the product to market. Wozniak designed and built the first Apple I computer, but it was Jobs’ vision and business acumen that turned the invention into a revolutionary product. Jobs convinced Wozniak to start a company and secured funding to make the project a reality.

Persistence and Adaptability

Realising an idea often involves facing challenges and setbacks. Successful innovators are those who persist through difficulties and are willing to adapt their ideas based on feedback and new information. The path from concept to reality is rarely straightforward, and flexibility can be as crucial as determination.

Integral to persistence and adaptability is emotional intelligence, which encompasses self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy and social skills.

For example, understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses is crucial for effective execution. Innovators need to be honest about what they can achieve on their own and when to seek help. This self-awareness allows them to make informed decisions and remain resilient in the face of setbacks.

Building a Supportive Environment

For ideas to flourish, they need a supportive environment where execution is prioritised. This includes having a team that believes in the vision, access to necessary resources, and a culture that encourages experimentation and learning from failure. Leaders play a crucial role in fostering such an environment, ensuring that good ideas don’t just remain ideas but are given the opportunity to grow and succeed.

Sure, it is technically possible to go from idea to conception on your own, but it is much harder versus building a community around the idea. A collaborative environment brings diverse perspectives, skills and resources, significantly enhancing the chances of success. When a team or community rallies behind an idea, it not only provides practical support but also boosts morale and motivation, making the journey less daunting and more rewarding.

Embrace the Journey

I enjoy relating philosophical concepts to brand, commercial and organisational challenges and when it comes to ideas there is a big concept for us to remember by considering way we are doing this. One of the most enjoyable parts of innovation is the process - taking that unformed idea and manifesting it into reality, solving the problems along the way, experiencing the good and the bad parts of the journey and learning.

Both Stoicism and Buddhism emphasise the journey over the destination. This quote from Buddha sums up my feelings about ideas:

“There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.”

As well as focussing on the start point and the end point we need to embrace the path of execution, and watch our ideas transform into reality.

Conclusion

In the end, ideas are merely the starting point of a journey. It’s the effort, strategy, and resilience put into bringing those ideas to life that create value for ourselves and others. By focusing on execution and building environments that support the development and realisation of ideas, we can turn abstract concepts into tangible innovations that make a difference.

Maybe only once we get to the end of that journey then we can look back and judge how valuable that initial idea was.

Written by Russell