Jan 26 2009
Stop talking. Start moving.
A few weeks ago I was at a meetup in Philadelphia when a young guy pitched me on a startup idea he had. And I guess that makes sense. People hear about Carsten and I starting LTLprints.com and see that as a opener to pitch me their ideas. On the whole this pleases me and I’m grateful for the conversation. Most are truly interested in my response, other times they just want me to tell them that their idea is worth pursuing. Occasionally I get the sense that they want me to drop everything I’m working on and start working solely on their idea because it’s just that awesome! In nearly all cases, my response is never far off from the following:
Stop just talking and thinking about your idea and start moving towards making your idea a reality. Take the first step - even if it’s in the wrong direction you’re moving and moving is better than standing still.
After delivering the following advice, normally with some sugar, I help the person to make the next step actionable. I’m not telling the people they shouldn’t share their ideas, but rather I think people wait way too long in the planning stage before taking the first step. Do your homework, plan, but make it actionable and put yourself on a timeline. How do you get from the idea on the whiteboard to a nascent startup? The same way you run a marathon, one step at a time.
What do you think? What tips might you have for breaking out of the planning stage and getting started?
Oh, and if you’re feeling stuck with your idea perhaps an hour or so with Philly’s own Alex Hillman from unstick.me is just what the doctor ordered.
January 26th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Kendall,
Speaking from personal experience, I can say you are absolutely correct. I was one of the ones who played around with an idea for way too long before I implemented it. The first step, the one that is always the hardest, is just to be willing to take the risk and go for it. However, I can also say from personal experience, it is one of the most rewarding risks you can take - succeed or fail. Make your plan, try to consider all of the possible advantages and how to incorporate them and the pitfalls and how to minimize those then turn all of the things into your head into action statements/actionable items. Plot those action items on a rough timeline and move forward, just like you did when you were learning to walk. Talking about your idea is wonderful and often necessary, but at some point, you have to take that first step. Careful, thoughtful planning and timelines are the only way to make it work. Add a bit of bravery to that mix and just go for it!
January 26th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
my recommendation is (if it is a web project): start wireframing your product (i.e. website functionality), why you ask:
* it helps you think through your vision
* you find holes in your logic about what the product shall be
* if you do it right you have a good starting point for development
* once articulated your vision becomes more concrete => no revisits changing everything 100% around
my 2 cents
January 26th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Gloria,
Thanks for your feedback. I’m glad my message hit home. I your message on bravery is also right on. I’m going to have to write about that in the future!
Be well,
Kendall
January 26th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Couldn’t agree more. I think of it in 3 Ps. Paper, prototype, participation. The most valuable thing you can get to shape your idea is people that are interested in participating. If it’s a problem that you have, solve it and see what others think of your solution. Ideas on paper are cheap and planning, although useful at times, is often done in a vacuum. Bring something to the table, otherwise you’re just talking…
I get a kick out of people that have something in “stealth mode”. That’s like saying you haven’t decided to plan or build anything. In which case, it’s not only useless to someone that might be able to help you, it means you’re not even thinking about how the market can participate.
January 26th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Thank you for this post Kendall and all the great replies that have come after.
Sharing thoughts like these can be paramount in building up someone’s courage and encouraging them to take the first step.
I’ve got a little notebook that I write my ideas in and never share with the world. After reading this, I think I’ll take those ideas and start blogging them for anyone who’s interested in reading about them. I’ll also take my favorite idea and run with it. If that fails, I’ll grab onto the next one and see how far I can take it.
I hear that failing is even better than succeeding sometimes.
January 26th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
@Matt
The other thing that always annoys me about companies in “stealth mode” is that it’s almost as if they think their idea, not their execution of the idea, is what makes them valuable. I think its 99% execution, 1% idea.
January 26th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
I misread your tag on this post as “shutup” which was pretty close to what you were saying in the title!
January 26th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
@Roman: at least the learning is more steep with the failures, with your successes you tend to overestimate your own role and underestimate luck, with the failures you know the causes
January 26th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
@Powen Could also be the language thing. You’re in Germany fully submerged. I know when I speak German for some time my brain plays tricks on me too! Drink some good beer for me buddy. Be well, safe travels.
October 8th, 2009 at 2:49 am
“Stop just talking and thinking about your idea and start moving towards making your idea a reality. Take the first step - even if it’s in the wrong direction you’re moving and moving is better than standing still.”
This comment is so true, if you don’t start putting things into actions nothing will ever come about,and whats the point of that, I had to loose someone before he put his plans into action, and now he is getting out there and doing it but for me its a lose that I have to bare, but in time things will get better and he will also become a better person. Thanks for an excellent post yet again.