What’s an idea worth?

Something I hear a lot is - “Ideas are dime a dozen”. Most of the times its followed by - “It’s execution that matters”. And I don’t disagree with the execution part. After all a startup is all about getting something done, about “executing” an idea.

But - “Dime a dozen” part? That is what I have a problem with. Coming across a beautiful idea is like finding true love. It can make you do amazing things. It can lead to greatness. World’s greatest nations, biggest companies, social movements were all based upon some fascinating idea that so caught the imagination of a bunch of people that they found a way of executing it.

What is it that keeps an entrepreneur going? It’s a not an excel sheet or a day to day execution plan. It’s the potential of the idea. The hope of creating something valuable and lasting. The dream of a world that only that entrepreneur can see. It’s the depth of the idea that gives us the courage to take it forward.

So lets show some respect to something so powerful and fundamental to the progress of human civilization. At the least please change to - “BAD ideas are dime a dozen”.