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Thinking vs. Doing
Oct. 18th, 2006 08:04 pmSee, here's the thing. I've always considered myself an idea guy. Thought it would be best to specialize in that. Let someone else do the execution of the idea.
So the quote this morning really hit me.
Good ideas - even great ideas - don't go anywhere on their own. They need people to pass them on, to translate them from one thing (say, a concept sketch) to another (a detailed mechanical drawing) to another (a jig to work the piece) to a final product. The words I write out, sometimes with quick sketches, could represent some of the most brilliant devices ever created by mankind. Sitting in a notebook in a box in my attic they aren't doing much to provide energy efficient, affordable solar power.
Now, I have no doubt in my mind that any single idea or concept I have - whether it's a poem, short story, or a quick description and a sketch - is not actually such an earth-shattering thing. But some of them need to escape into the wild and actually become something else to make even the least bit of difference - even if all they do is put a smile on my face.
I've spent too much time convincing myself that it's okay to just be the idea guy, just do what I'm good at - and nothing ever gets done. Whether it is acres of mansion with internal and external streams fitted for hydro, solar, and wind power or trying to figure out how to do things with the moisture problem in my own cellar.
It's equivalent to the princess who waits in her tower for a knight to save her - maybe, in my case, it's more like waiting for a princess who will help pay for a set of armor so I can then save her.
It's unrealistic to bank everything on ideas. There are certain places where that is a well paying job, but generally you only get to those things after being able to prove out one or more in execution.
Ideas are still important, but they need to be acted upon, otherwise it's all just a clever fiction.
So the quote this morning really hit me.
Good ideas - even great ideas - don't go anywhere on their own. They need people to pass them on, to translate them from one thing (say, a concept sketch) to another (a detailed mechanical drawing) to another (a jig to work the piece) to a final product. The words I write out, sometimes with quick sketches, could represent some of the most brilliant devices ever created by mankind. Sitting in a notebook in a box in my attic they aren't doing much to provide energy efficient, affordable solar power.
Now, I have no doubt in my mind that any single idea or concept I have - whether it's a poem, short story, or a quick description and a sketch - is not actually such an earth-shattering thing. But some of them need to escape into the wild and actually become something else to make even the least bit of difference - even if all they do is put a smile on my face.
I've spent too much time convincing myself that it's okay to just be the idea guy, just do what I'm good at - and nothing ever gets done. Whether it is acres of mansion with internal and external streams fitted for hydro, solar, and wind power or trying to figure out how to do things with the moisture problem in my own cellar.
It's equivalent to the princess who waits in her tower for a knight to save her - maybe, in my case, it's more like waiting for a princess who will help pay for a set of armor so I can then save her.
It's unrealistic to bank everything on ideas. There are certain places where that is a well paying job, but generally you only get to those things after being able to prove out one or more in execution.
Ideas are still important, but they need to be acted upon, otherwise it's all just a clever fiction.
