This. Downplaying the importance of ideas is a popular sentiment and is true to a large extent but there is a devilish side to it. Saying that execution is all

This. Downplaying the importance of ideas is a popular sentiment and is true to a large extent but there is a devilish side to it. Saying that execution is all that matters feels good to a professional engineer because this is what he does all day and what he is good at. Sadly, unused idea-generation skills slowly deteriorate (arguably this process begins in school when you are handed your first homework). So it is important to exercise these skills now and then by generating some ideas (however small) which are your own and not handed to you by some "idea guy"! (and of course execute them to the point when they come into contact with reality)