Good Idea. Now What?

Ideas are sexy.

They are attractive, unbridled, and full of inspired passion. There's no doubt that ideas are fun to think about, share, and platform. Ideas have a unique way of injecting us with adrenaline, energy, and hope.

Ideas are wonderful. They help us innovate, problem-solve, and move into areas considered unfathomable by previous generations. History has shown us time and time again that ideas help shape our world's future trajectory.

Unfortunately, many people with good ideas will never see their ideas actualized. In fact, many of them will end up taking their ideas to the grave (literally!). This is tragic indeed.

These individuals are lovers of ideas, not makers of ideas. You see, all idea-makers love ideas, but not all idea-lovers have the ability to make ideas come to life. Unlike idea-lovers, idea-makers are not satisfied with just having a good idea. They are committed to seeing their concepts actualized in the real world. In addition, they are willing to reframe their lives so that their ideas can be implemented well.

Yes, ideas are not enough.

Good ideas need things like intentional strategy, implementation processes, sustainable infrastructure, collaborative teams, viable networks, smart branding, and a deep commitment to hard work to see everything through. It's definitely not for the faint of heart.

Nevertheless, it's not impossible. Ideas can be implemented well by anyone who truly considers their concepts worth actualizing. Do you really believe in the ideas that run around your mind and keep you up late at night? The good news is that many of these elements needed for implementation have proven principles and insights you could leverage to help take your ideas to market.

Our world is framed in such a way that if you choose to pursue your passion, you can find ways to get there with people who actually care. Now, this will require honest self-assessment, an actual plan, and a commitment to develop skill-sets necessary to build a quality product or service.

In our world today, it's not that difficult to get an idea out there. You can market your idea until you're blue in the face and use all the tools out there to get your work in front of people. The difficult part is getting people to care about your efforts. This takes clear understanding of why you exist, unwavering commitment to quality, and an unending zeal to grow your tribe of loyal supporters one person at a time by providing remarkable products or services.
So, where does one start?

My recommendation is that you take a step back and breathe. I know that seems impossible given all that you're juggling in life. After all, who has time to stop, right? As paradoxical as it may sound, one of the best things you could do for your idea is to slow down and assess your journey towards implementation.

This is why I wrote the book "Good Idea. Now What?" This book was written for on-the-go idea-makers (yes, people like you!). Written in 40 short, stand alone (yet connected) chapters filled with practical principles, insights, and next steps. The book is designed to be clear and concise for those of us who don't need 10 stories to get the point. Got a few minutes? Finish a chapter.

Hypothetical takes a back seat to proven principles in this book. Learn from some of the best implementers out there like Soledad O'Brien of CNN, Scott Harrison of charity: water, and Blake Mycoskie of TOMS.

I'm fully aware that there are a lot of great "idea" books out there! I still say start with this one. It will give you a good perspective on the overall process of idea-making. Afterwards, check out the recommended book list in the appendix to see what other idea books cover your specific areas of interest in more depth. Having a fuller understanding of the overall processes involved in idea-making will also make your reading of related books more enjoyable.

Your ideas matter to our world. We need them. My hope is that this book will help you implement them well.

Good Idea. Now What?

 

 

 

 

 

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