What Do You Do With Your Old Ideas?

SketchyD is one of those ideas that I put out there half-finished. I'm glad I didn't wait until I'd perfected the site because over a year later it's still far from it. Nevertheless, it's been a great medium for sharing other half-baked ideas!

Brain crack. According to video-blogging comedian Ze Frank, we get addicted to brain crack when we hoard a brilliant idea that's going to change everybody's lives and make us rich and famous. At least, that's how we see it in our minds.

The thing is, the idea never gets out because we feel that it needs to be implemented perfectly or it'll never work. We hold on to it waiting for the perfect moment or the right funding.

Instead, Frank decided it was better to get his ideas out there as fast as possible. Throw up that half-rendered sketch or half-written article. Don't wait until your idea is fully implemented and perfect before sharing.

I myself am guilty of hoarding ideas. They're tucked away in half-implemented projects, plain text files, and sketchbooks sitting in storage. And they're all going to waste.

The only chance these ideas will become a reality is if I decide to develop it and implement it. There's only so much a person can do and most of these thoughts will never see daylight.

Stop Hoarding Ideas

By sharing my ideas I can open up the possibility that some one will like one of them and do something with it. Instead of lying in waste it could become something useful.

The possibility that some one will run with an idea isn't the only benefit. Feedback from the community can give you a good feel for which ideas have merit and which ones are better left half-baked. You might even get suggestions for how to improve the idea or how it might be implemented.

Years and years ago I posted a handful of half-finished projects on my website. One project in particular kept getting attention from visitors and I received emails on an irregular basis. Following the lead, I developed the idea further and now it's become a major part of my business.

So don't get addicted to brain crack. Sure, some ideas are worth keeping under locks if you're building a startup or hiding from competitors. But most of them will just be forgotten that way so open up and let the community build on them and show you which ones you should pursue.