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I realize that this is a minor nitpick and I'm taking it out of context, but: > The theory goes that ideas are cheap, and execution is everything. This isn't

by the_af 4y ago

I realize that this is a minor nitpick and I'm taking it out of context, but: > The theory goes that ideas are cheap, and execution is everything. This isn't wrong. In fact, it seems more right than wrong. All people, all the time, think they have ideas, some even novel. Not many can carry them out in practice. I do agree with the article that the culture of celebrating mindless productivity is mistaken.

tomlue 4y ago
Mostly agree, but this position creates a sense of helplessness. If all ideas are bad, then the idea doesn't matter, and I shouldn't waste time evaluating ideas. As an example, people w/ decades of experience in the domain of your idea can sometimes quickly invalidate it. Years of life can be saved by seeking that feedback, particularly when that knowledge is difficult to obtain.
- the_af 4y ago
  Totally. Note I don't think "all ideas are bad", it's just that the actual execution is often more important, even for good ideas. The whole "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration" thing :)
  - pantulis 4y ago
    Or put another way: you can execute, with the highest levels of excellence, a bad idea and fail the same.
Ensorceled 4y ago
>> The theory goes that ideas are cheap, and execution is everything. > This isn't wrong. In fact, it seems more right than wrong. I think the articles point is that somewhere between the "cheap" ideas and execution there is a place for strategy that is being neglected. Lots of people have ideas for social media platforms and lots of people execute on them. Only a few of the, often adhoc, strategies paid off and most have died.
- the_af 4y ago
  Agreed, which is why I admitted the quote was taken out of context.
danielmarkbruce 4y ago
There a lots of startups who execute reasonably well against a crappy idea. Bad ideas are cheap. I'd argue that good ideas are rare and usually expensive - they come from a deep understanding of a confluence of things.

by the_af 4y ago

tomlue 4y ago

Mostly agree, but this position creates a sense of helplessness. If all ideas are bad, then the idea doesn't matter, and I shouldn't waste time evaluating ideas. As an example, people w/ decades of experience in the domain of your idea can sometimes quickly invalidate it. Years of life can be saved by seeking that feedback, particularly when that knowledge is difficult to obtain.

the_af 4y ago
Totally. Note I don't think "all ideas are bad", it's just that the actual execution is often more important, even for good ideas. The whole "1% inspiration, 99% perspiration" thing :)
- pantulis 4y ago
  Or put another way: you can execute, with the highest levels of excellence, a bad idea and fail the same.

Ensorceled 4y ago

>> The theory goes that ideas are cheap, and execution is everything. > This isn't wrong. In fact, it seems more right than wrong. I think the articles point is that somewhere between the "cheap" ideas and execution there is a place for strategy that is being neglected. Lots of people have ideas for social media platforms and lots of people execute on them. Only a few of the, often adhoc, strategies paid off and most have died.

the_af 4y ago
Agreed, which is why I admitted the quote was taken out of context.

danielmarkbruce 4y ago

There a lots of startups who execute reasonably well against a crappy idea. Bad ideas are cheap. I'd argue that good ideas are rare and usually expensive - they come from a deep understanding of a confluence of things.