We all have that pair of shoes in our closet. We like the look of them. They match our style. They are made with quality. But, unfortunately for us, they don’t fit. Every once in a while, we take them out and try them on, one more time. In that moment, we learn we what already know. The shoes don’t fit.
We place them back in the closet, somewhere out of sight, until the next time. The truth is, we should really throw or give away those shoes, but because we like something about them so much, we just can’t bring ourselves to do it.
The same is true with ideas.
A good idea that can’t be executed is a bad idea. They are shoes that don’t fit and never will. As Marcelo Claure puts it (echoing Edison), “An idea without execution is the same as hallucination.”
There are many reasons a good idea may fail the test of execution. Expense, regulation, expertise, complexity, marketplace acceptance, skillful delivery, travel and logistical parameters, competition, manufacturing capabilities. The list is ever-expanding. Yet, the idea remains appealing. Why? Because it is yours! And because it captures the imagination. “What if?” spins the mind like a top.
Unfortunately, an idea that cannot be executed proficiently is no better than a blank stare. The sooner you discard the idea, the more quickly you can turn your attention to ideas with power.
The time has come to throw those shoes away. Intellectual closets are full of good ideas that are impractical or infeasible. Getting rid of them is the best way to find the next big idea. Did you say size 9?
