On Ideas and Executing...
Whenever a beautiful idea comes to mind, it’ll be fool hardy to feel pompous. The idea is not worth much in itself anyway. Rather, we ask the necessary questions...
Sometimes, we have a big idea on how to do something and we think to ourselves, “Wow, no one else has thought of this unique way of doing something. This will make me billions…” and then, some will start hoarding this “big idea”, download an NDA template and force their besties to sign before talking about it over dinner. (If you’re a software engineer, you’ll meet people like this from time to time.)
What they mostly don’t know - An idea is the cheapest thing to have in the world. It falls like a rain to the minds of everyone. Doesn’t mean much unfortunately.
Execution is what matters in Life.
In the real world, no one cares about your Ideas. People only listen to you if/when you have a track record of execution. What you’ve done in the past will open a door faster than what you hope to do in the future. Perhaps why a resume / portfolio is a requirement to get anything worthwhile these days.
So whenever a beautiful idea comes to mind, it’ll be fool hardy to feel pompous. The idea is not worth much in itself anyway. Rather, we ask the necessary questions -
to what end?
do I have the capacity to execute this now?
are the resources to execute within reach?
if I execute now, do I stand to lose anything?
To what end? - this answers the question why? the overarching gain we stand to get if the idea is properly executed. Capturing the vision in almost concrete terms.
Do I have the capacity to execute this now? - this is realistically accessing your resources now, tangible and non-tangible, what you have access to - in terms of skills, finance, network, access to capital… and determine if you have what is required to execute the idea to an MVP level at barest minimum. Motivational books will disagree but the grave is filled with soldiers (entrepreneurs) who did not realistically access their resources before plunging head on to a battle.
Are the resources to execute within reach? - this is to help determine an idea that can be executed now or saved for later. There’s wisdom in bidding one’s time to get the resources required to do what needs to be done. It could be funds, experience, skill, network, settle pending debts, or anything not exactly within reach at the moment.
If I execute now, do I stand to lose anything? yes? can I afford to? - This realistically access the sacrifices that has to be made if / when the idea execution starts taking place. Sometimes, the required sacrifice may not be worth the end gain. In that case, it is okay to pause/suspend/ditch idea.
These questions deserves answers because not all ideas are worth executing now. Some for a later time and others, in another lifetime.
Unfortunately, having a proper answer to these questions above still don’t guarantee anything. When one finally layout a plan and starts executing, the ultimate separator is DISCIPLINE and CONSISTENCY. The doggedness to wake up everyday, pick up where you left off yesterday and continue executing today, tomorrow and the days after. Those are the things that sets one up for success.
Consistency and Discipline to continually wake up and do that which one has in mind to do over time is what ultimately matter. The latter - the backbone, and the former - the sword at hand. These are important because when Ideas are subjected to the forces of the market or/and the world, it changes form and may need to continually go through a refining process to become that which is intended or take a life of it’s own.
It is an extremely difficult habit to cultivate if one isn’t lucky enough to have it imbibed from a young age, however, it isn’t impossible. I struggle everyday with it. But I know it isn’t impossible to reach. So everyday, I wake up and try again. You should too.
If like me, you wonder if the author of a piece like this is a doer / executor himself before taking his advice, Well, I have experience executing myself; 3 Years building two businesses of my own, 3 Years working / learning / absorbing in a tech startup with serial entrepreneurs, 1 Year passively involved in building an early stage real estate firm. So, yea. There’s a bit of experience there.
I recently asked some high achievers how they managed to deal with procrastination and consistently pursue their life goals, they shared some helpful tips which anyone can try. Take this poll below so I know whether to seek their permission to share it here or not. :)
Mein Bruder und Ich,
Tschuss. 🤗
Good read