Let’s Discuss!

So the cliché that cemeteries are the richest of all places with respect to ideas got me thinking. Not necessarily about the whys but about the possibilities that inspires such unworthy investments. Ideas, I can strongly say are like noses, as is said of opinions, and everyone has one. Implementing ideas however is like wealth and definitely not everyone has or will get one. The reasons include, lack of capital, unpreparedness, and not-so-feasible ideas among other obvious reasons or excuses if you like. Amongst all these and many others is one reason lurking beneath the sheets like the devil, whose greatest trick is to convince the world of his non-existence but before you know it, he is gone and the damage, already caused. This unforgiving devil is phrased simply as “Let’s Discuss”. Sounds familiar? I’ll explain.

So you wake up from your bed with this amazingly awe-inspiring idea to create a software platform that connects friends via chatting and photo-sharing. As it is typical of anyone including myself, the first instinct is to run this not-so-great idea by persons we consider knowledgeable. One by one, we arrange for a let’s discuss session with family and friends. Mum goes like; “Oh! The witches in my family have altered the thoughts of my child!” Dad firmly reiterates; “So after all the school fees I paid! Don’t let me disown you!” Spouse however encourages you as it is mandatory (for better for worse remember?!) but eventually jilts you for a more serious substitute; a day-worker. Friends would accept your invitation to discuss your idea and end up belittling it. At best, they talk about how you could make money the conventional way or at worst, whine and whine till the day is done. Should you ever meet Mark Zuckerberg in your lifetime, do ask him what others said when he attempted to discuss his idea of Facebook.

Ideas do not possess the quality of sounding meaningful when told to others or discussed. So you do not have to run your ideas by people before you deem it worth executing. The only requirement is your ability to sustain that excitement or the burning desire you feel inside of you about your idea. Look at it this way; discussing your idea is analogous to continuously pouring water on a blazing fire, with time the once blazing fire eventually dies out completely.

It is noteworthy that; nothing extraordinary appeals to the ordinary. In other words, running extraordinary ideas by ordinary people will only make you seem insane. Remember, wisdom is foolishness to a fool.

So whatever you have as an idea, no matter how insane it sounds (which is always the case), just do it! Don’t discuss it! You will regret it! Do not create trustees out of people but yourself and if you die trying, guess what, you died trying. Which in my view is much more befitting than living a life of merely discussing ideas and not carrying out any.

Make enough room for mistakes and remember that the world does not reward perfectionists but doers neither does it celebrate thought ideas but made ideas.

Regrettably, you will live to see another get tagged genius for executing only 20 percent of what was once the idea you discarded after series of needless consultations and fruitless discussions.

So buckle up, start work on that idea, nurse the fire you fill within and begin the most important journey of your life. A journey whose outcome if successful or failed, is equally rewarding.

Don’t discuss! Just do it!

Best Regards!

Atsu Dogbey
(Member of TDL)
Ink Ideas!