Some Ideas Might Be Too Big - True!

Big ideas are awesome. For sure. But if they’re big, no way around it, they will require a lot of everything: money, time, people, vision. Is this a downer? LOL. I get it. But understanding your capacity will save you a world of hurt. 

Not everyone is built for a big idea.

I have worked around and with some truly visionary people in my life. I’m always amazed at how they think and operate. One key trait seems to be the tension they manage between their ability to see beyond the obvious and ordinary and yet focus on the minutia, the specifics that make a good idea a big idea. Often visionary people aren’t great in the weeds, and people who are excellent at process aren’t always so good at seeing something that is still quite abstract.

One of my best friends, who is just brilliant, came to me a few years ago with a big idea. I loved the concept and really believed in it but getting started was going to be difficult without funding. So, while she did have the mind and heart for building something extraordinary, it did make sense to start with a piece of the idea rather than the whole thing.

Over the years, I’ve gotten a steady stream of people/businesses that come to me with the “next best thing.” and they are totally convinced no one else has done anything like it before. Generally, we conduct audits with potential clients like this to see what really is out there. There’s almost always something like what they’re doing, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Often, truly being first just means others with more funding can come along and do it better. Do you think you’ve got a big idea? It’s worth doing a little research to see who else might be doing something similar. 

Another thing to consider as you pursue your big idea, besides your capacity, is why are you wanting to do this? You’ll see this a lot in my writing: motivation matters. Are you pursuing this idea as a way of validating yourself? Is this about ego and not a great idea? Maybe it really is big, but do you have the time, patience, and stamina you need to pull it off?

I’ve got a new big idea, and I am super excited about it. But if I’m honest, I’m not sure I’m up for it. Do I have what it takes? Forget about vision (I’ve got that); do I have the heart to dig in and really go for it? I think I do, and I’m chipping away at it (rigorously) but with a constant caveat:

If this starts to feel like an ego booster and not a true passion, I need to move away. 

Have you got a big idea? Something that keeps you up at night? Concerned that you might not have what it takes? Let me know what some of your biggest fears are. Pretty sure I’ve either been there or worked with someone who struggled with the same thing!