I think we can all agree that COMING UP with ideas is fun (and easy). That’s why so many entrepreneurs indulge in the HABIT of coming up with them, but don’t “quite” get around to deploying them — profitably.
Jeff Bezos explains this predicament well in this short 3-minute video.
So, what should you do to counteract this tendency?
Get yourself a journal/notebook to CAPTURE as many of your ideas as you can, IN ONE PLACE, so your RAS can release them from your working memory so you can re(focus) on what you need to get done.
You need to RELEASE that bandwidth for the execution of what are ARE working on — to make THAT successful without the mental distraction and cognition diffusion created by all your “great ideas”.
Don’t worry, the “great ideas” truly worthy of consideration will reemerge, when appropriate.
Key Insights and Concepts
| Concept | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Idea Overload | Generating ideas faster than they can be executed leads to unproductive backlog and distraction. |
| Work-in-Process Queue | Borrowed from manufacturing, it refers to the accumulation of unfinished work that hampers flow. |
| Rate of Idea Release | The optimal speed at which new ideas should be introduced to match the organization’s capacity. |
| Organizational Readiness | Preparing the company structure and leadership to absorb and act on new ideas effectively. |
| Executive Bandwidth | The capacity of senior leaders to manage multiple initiatives and innovations concurrently. |
| Prioritization and Idea Sharpening | Holding back ideas until the right time allows better refinement and focus on impactful ones. |
- Excessive idea generation can overwhelm an organization
- Releasing ideas at a sustainable rate is crucial
- Prioritization and timing are essential
- Building organizational capacity to handle more ideas is mission critical
- Sustaining inventiveness alongside operational effectiveness
- Improved invention quality through managed pacing
#EasierSaidThanDone
0 Responses to “Too Many Ideas Can Kill Your Company”