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Except that one of the hallmarks of a really good or great idea is that almost anyone you tell it to says "oh, of course, it's so simple." But you need a big e

Except that one of the hallmarks of a really good or great idea is that almost anyone you tell it to says "oh, of course, it's so simple." But you need a big enough sample size to know it's not friendship-bias from your trusted confidants and some crazy guy with money one of your college buddies knows. Leading us back to execution...

danieltillett 11y ago
I do address this in my post. One of the hallmarks of a good idea is one that is simple to explain, but hard to think of for the first time. These idea have the advantage of removing competition, but lowering the barrier to acceptance. They are of course rare.
- mattlutze 11y ago
  I was responding particularly to: > it is probably a warning sign if everyone thinks your idea is good straight away as then it is likely that someone else has had it and is working on it, or there is some fundamental flaw that you have missed. I can't get to the original at the moment so my comment is specific to this comment thread's context. I'll just leave my favorite economics joke: Two economists were walking down the sidewalk discussing their recent research when one looks down and sees a $20 bill. "Look, a $20!" says one, slowing to bend down and retrieve it. "Impossible," replied the second, stopping the first mid-bend, "if there was a $20 bill on the ground, someone would have already found it and picked it up."
  - danieltillett 11y ago
    It is just a warning sign that you should be careful - I have picked up many a $20 bill off the street by being aware - both literately and metaphorically. On this topic I found a wallet once with over $1000 in cash in it which I gave back to the owner. He could not believe that I would do such a thing, but the personal value it gave me doing this was worth much more than any monetary value I could have got from spending the money. Maybe I am an idiot :)

danieltillett 11y ago

I do address this in my post. One of the hallmarks of a good idea is one that is simple to explain, but hard to think of for the first time. These idea have the advantage of removing competition, but lowering the barrier to acceptance. They are of course rare.

mattlutze 11y ago
I was responding particularly to: > it is probably a warning sign if everyone thinks your idea is good straight away as then it is likely that someone else has had it and is working on it, or there is some fundamental flaw that you have missed. I can't get to the original at the moment so my comment is specific to this comment thread's context. I'll just leave my favorite economics joke: Two economists were walking down the sidewalk discussing their recent research when one looks down and sees a $20 bill. "Look, a $20!" says one, slowing to bend down and retrieve it. "Impossible," replied the second, stopping the first mid-bend, "if there was a $20 bill on the ground, someone would have already found it and picked it up."
- danieltillett 11y ago
  It is just a warning sign that you should be careful - I have picked up many a $20 bill off the street by being aware - both literately and metaphorically. On this topic I found a wallet once with over $1000 in cash in it which I gave back to the owner. He could not believe that I would do such a thing, but the personal value it gave me doing this was worth much more than any monetary value I could have got from spending the money. Maybe I am an idiot :)