Your Big Idea
By Jarl Jensen
December 12, 2019
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“I have an amazing idea!”
This is a story that I have seen and heard many times. An eager inventor is
inspired and they are off to the races. They’re ready to file patents, form
an LLC, and jump into production.
They are confident that this is going to be the idea that transforms their
life and as they tell me all about their amazing invention, they expect me
to be blown away.
The truth is that an idea like this absolute can, and probably will, transform
your life — just not in the way that you expect.
I Hate to Burst Your Bubble, but…
Unfortunately, the vast majority of the ideas I hear tend to be shiny objects. They look amazing at first glance but quickly lose their luster on closer inspection.
Truly great products are surprisingly often the results of research gone wrong. While looking to solve one problem, an amazing solution to another problem appears out of nowhere. Great solutions are the product of close observation, not great thinking. Genius is created by the heart, and not in the mind.
Ideas are a Dime a Dozen
The first — and probably hardest — thing that you need to understand about your big idea is that it’s very likely that it’s not special.
At any given moment, anyone can come up with hundreds of seemingly great ideas, and at least a handful of them are bound to have potential.
Just a few of those ideas will be like your big idea and will shimmer in your mind like a diamond. Ideas can trick the mind like the desert heat creating an oasis that you’ll risk anything to reach.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t chase your dreams, but don’t bet your house that this idea will be the one that makes everything come true.
Embrace Reasonable Risk and Temper Temptations
Everybody wants success, recognition, and financial freedom. This ambition is what tempts dreamers chasing ideas into trouble.
The urge to seek a patent can drive you into a frenzy — convinced that if you don’t do it soon, someone else will steal your idea.
Next, you know that you need to form a legal company entity if you want investors and everyone to take you seriously. Then, your mind leaps into sign up for company credits cards. After all, that’s what a real business would need.
Before you know it, you’ve sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into this venture based around your idea — but you’ve made exactly zero progress on the things that actually matter.
Passion + Time = Genius
It is a common notion that genius is the product of a very intelligent person. This idea often holds others back. They think that they simply are not smart enough to create something amazing and are intimidated by the fear of failure.
A genius idea is only as good as the sweat, tears, and hard work that it takes to back it up. A sizable investment can help compensate for some of the hard work, sweat, and tears — but it will be more than most people can afford to invest. The good news is that your monetary investment is less when you’re willing to grind your own time into bringing your idea to life.
Before you know it, you’ve sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into this venture based around your idea — but you’ve made exactly zero progress on the things that actually matter.
