100 Ways To Kill A Concept

March 21, 2007 by

Michael Iva writes an interesting PDF on the death of an idea. I don’t think it will change your life dramatically, but I do think it’s worth a quick read. Effectively running an organization where ideas can prosper, people can thrive and the world can be changed is no easy task. Here, he gives a few strategies for doing this simply by not not doing it. Confused yet? Ten highlights from his little PDF …

  1. Everyone has an idea, and creating ideas is a form of creating art.
  2. It’s always easier to say no than yes to an idea. Don’t succumb!
  3. Be bold with your ideas, don’t let people talk you out of them!
  4. When people do talk you out of them, remember that “no” means “not right now.”
  5. Remember that your concept should be beneficial to you and all involved.
  6. For crying out loud, do not do what everyone else is doing.
  7. Be willing to make mistakes, they give birth to great ideas.
  8. “A great concept passes through three stages when it is now: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently oppressed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
  9. Being too safe is too risky.
  10. Don’t try to write poems to creativity. Please.

(link via Gary McElyea)

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Joshua Cody


Josh Cody served as our associate editor for several years before moving on to bigger things. Like Texas. These days he lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, and you can find him online or on Twitter when he's not wrestling code.
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3 Responses to “100 Ways To Kill A Concept”

  • conrad
    March 21, 2007

    haha… “no means not now” I should remember that!
    I personally learned that you never, NEVER let go of your idea.


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  • John
    March 21, 2007

    “A great concept passes through three stages when it is now: First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently oppressed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
    For some reason, slavery, segregation, homosexual marriage, etc. came to mind when I read that. Not that I mean any of the mentioned topics are “great concepts”, but rather that the three stages apply to any major change.
    Just a thought.


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  • Stephan H
    March 26, 2007

    Holy cow, I have lived through every one of those statements! An excellent list that should be taught to all suits in the world.


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