there are different kinds of idea people

I've been talking to a lot of people about ideas lately.

And I've noticed something.

There are different kinds of idea people.

Some people just love talking about ideas. They see possibilities everywhere. They may never do anything with most of them, and they're perfectly happy with that.

Others are looking for an idea because they want a change. A new career. A side business. Something of their own.

Some people are great at coming up with the original idea.

Others are better at developing it. They can take a rough thought and start figuring out the customer, the business model, or what it could become.

Then there are people who know how to launch.

And others who are great at operating, managing and growing something once it's real.

Those are very different skills.

And I'm not sure many people are equally good at all of them.

I've known creative people with great ideas who would be miserable running a company.

I've also known really good operators who probably wouldn't have come up with the original idea, but could take one and build a much better business than the person who did.

Maybe we put too much emphasis on who had the idea.

Ideas need different people at different stages.

The trick may be knowing which one you are.

And finding the others.

—

I help owners develop what's next.