Not all ground-breaking ideas are complex as hell. Interestingly, some simple ideas have got the innovation ball rolling. In fact, quite a few inventions out there are a result of a happy accident. From Corn Flakes to Coca-Cola, they have entered our world by chance. Also, a look into the history will reveal that near-failures were converted into massive success with a minute change. Not to forget the fact that there are loads of entrepreneurs out there who have converted some simple ideas into a marketing widget and have churned out millions of dollars in the process. From college dropouts to backbenchers, some of the entrepreneurial success stories today are a proven testament to the power of small ideas that can take root in just about anyone’s head without the need of a formal degree.
Needless to say, not every small idea would create history, but some of them can turn an underdog into a big-time tycoon. More than often, not all the “great ideas” see the day of light due to the hurdles involved in accomplishing them. A complex idea calls for complex solutions and decisions, all of which might result in massive failure once all the variables steps in. In the recent years, we have been hard-wired to “think big” or “think different.” Needless to say, a heroic idea produces a laundry list of actionable steps. With a mountain to climb and no confidence to execute, the end result is nothing more than a massive failure. The bottom line is that it’s not easy to breathe life into a complex idea because the natural tendency is to complicate the “killer idea” to a point until it’s too big to even get started on.
How you turn any idea into the next big success story actually depends on the execution. Goes without saying, simple ideas are easy to execute. For instance, think of an employee union strike. The employees simply drop their work and show up at the factory premise along with the leader. So, the performance is simple. They simply have to show up to get their demands fulfilled. Think about the man who changed the fate of Southwest Airlines in the seventies with a “10-minute” idea. While most airlines took an hour or two to be back in operations, Franklin’s 10 minute turn meant being back in air in just 10 minutes. A move that saved a drowning company in its early days.
The best ideas without execution are worthless. Less, even than the paper, it’s printed on. On the other hand, simple ideas upon execution can be worth a gem. So, the money comes from performance. A look into the lives of many successful businesspeople today will reveal that they have dedicated themselves to an average idea that eventually made them rich. Yes, boatloads of them do relatively average things, but they do it well. Sheer hard work can make ordinary or boring things remarkable on its own.
Instead of switching from the next “big idea” to another, it makes sense to “think small” and act small. The idea is not to dissuade one from thinking big but to plant a thought that small things can also work. So, if your ground-breaking idea has never taken any flight yet since light-years, do not dismiss the new mantra, “Small is beautiful”. When small ideas are executed, they breathe in new hope and confidence. With renewed faith, hope and confidence, one can take on bigger ideas. Remember, Facebook was not started to take the world by storm. It was created only for fellow students before it went mainstream within no time. So, you may want to ignore the mainstream and abandon the comfortable time cushion that comes with the implementation of a great idea because there are people out there who have been sitting on incredible ideas that never made it beyond the bar napkin that they were drawn on. For a change, accept those small ideas with open arms. A micro idea that you can actually follow through on can also change your life. Start tiny, but fiercely!