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Ideas Matter

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Re: Ideas Matter

#31

Post by mortenjorck »

SomeCallMeTim wrote: post #28
pg wrote: post #17

This is rather an attack on a strawman. No one thinks that ideas don't matter at all. Obviously you have to have a good one at some point. When people say that execution matters more than the idea in a startup, what they're really saying is something fairly complicated: that you need both a good idea and good execution, but that (1) since good execution is rarer, you should worry more about that, and (2) good executi…

He doesn't even do a consistent job of building the strawman. For example, his example of the iPad doesn't support his premise: People HAD been doing tablet computers (the "idea") for years (including Apple with the Newton), and it took the slick design of the iPad (plus the associated technological advances) to get it right. If that isn't execution, then I don't know what is.

There are plenty of ideas involved in that execution, though. The idea to start with a mobile operating system instead of a desktop, to use a capacitive screen instead of resistive, to build a UI standard based on fingers instead of a stylus; you get the idea.

Of course, none of this decreases the importance of execution (see any of a handful of Android tablets for an example). But the market player that had these ideas first got a huge head start on executing them.

Re: Ideas Matter

#32

Post by gfodor »

pg wrote: post #17

This is rather an attack on a strawman. No one thinks that ideas don't matter at all. Obviously you have to have a good one at some point. When people say that execution matters more than the idea in a startup, what they're really saying is something fairly complicated: that you need both a good idea and good execution, but that (1) since good execution is rarer, you should worry more about that, and (2) good executi…

I think if nothing else this post shows that the finer points of the argument about execution can be lost in translation. The same misconceptions that led to this strawman lead to the common over-reach that "ideas don't matter" and "execution is everything."

Re: Ideas Matter

#33

Post by CloudOps42 »

russell_h wrote: post #29
CloudOps42 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems to me, a successful "startup"* needs to solve a problem, relieve pain, or create something revolutionary that creates elation/astonishment. It needs to be something the market wants. In other words, it is a great idea. Implementation is a matter of hiring the right tradesmen/tradeswomen to make it happen. People enjoy paying for what they want; they resent paying for what they need. Ideas uncover 'wants.' Frank…

You say that "implementation is a matter of hiring the right tradesmen/tradeswomen", then you go on to list a whole bunch of people who implemented their own ideas. Thomas Edison didn't just have the idea for a lightbulb, he invented it. Henry Ford personally built his first car as a personal project. Sir Richard Branson got started selling records from the "boot" of his car. Larry Page personally co-developed Page R…

They all started with a great idea.

Re: Ideas Matter

#34

Post by chaostheory »

mortenjorck wrote: post #31
SomeCallMeTim wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

He doesn't even do a consistent job of building the strawman. For example, his example of the iPad doesn't support his premise: People HAD been doing tablet computers (the "idea") for years (including Apple with the Newton), and it took the slick design of the iPad (plus the associated technological advances) to get it right. If that isn't execution, then I don't know what is.

There are plenty of ideas involved in that execution, though. The idea to start with a mobile operating system instead of a desktop, to use a capacitive screen instead of resistive, to build a UI standard based on fingers instead of a stylus; you get the idea. Of course, none of this decreases the importance of execution (see any of a handful of Android tablets for an example). But the market player that had these id…

Agreed. I also get the impression, given that portion of the post, that execution decreases the value of the idea; since it dictates the idea's direction and evolution - testing it outside the perfect, nothing wrong will happen world of people's minds.

Re: Ideas Matter

#35

Post by chaostheory »

CloudOps42 wrote: post #33
russell_h wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You say that "implementation is a matter of hiring the right tradesmen/tradeswomen", then you go on to list a whole bunch of people who implemented their own ideas. Thomas Edison didn't just have the idea for a lightbulb, he invented it. Henry Ford personally built his first car as a personal project. Sir Richard Branson got started selling records from the "boot" of his car. Larry Page personally co-developed Page R…

They all started with a great idea.

yes... but that initial great idea doesn't "survive first contact with the enemy".

Re: Ideas Matter

#37

Post by entangld »

russell_h wrote: post #29
CloudOps42 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems to me, a successful "startup"* needs to solve a problem, relieve pain, or create something revolutionary that creates elation/astonishment. It needs to be something the market wants. In other words, it is a great idea. Implementation is a matter of hiring the right tradesmen/tradeswomen to make it happen. People enjoy paying for what they want; they resent paying for what they need. Ideas uncover 'wants.' Frank…

You say that "implementation is a matter of hiring the right tradesmen/tradeswomen", then you go on to list a whole bunch of people who implemented their own ideas. Thomas Edison didn't just have the idea for a lightbulb, he invented it. Henry Ford personally built his first car as a personal project. Sir Richard Branson got started selling records from the "boot" of his car. Larry Page personally co-developed Page R…

Edison had a team of people working for him. I don't know how much you've read about him, but he's not exactly known for being like Tesla.

I'm pretty sure the carbon filament in the light bulb was not Edison's particular creation.

Re: Ideas Matter

#38

Post by davidw »

pg wrote: post #17

This is rather an attack on a strawman. No one thinks that ideas don't matter at all. Obviously you have to have a good one at some point. When people say that execution matters more than the idea in a startup, what they're really saying is something fairly complicated: that you need both a good idea and good execution, but that (1) since good execution is rarer, you should worry more about that, and (2) good executi…

In the "Techstars book" (Do More Faster), they write:

> We often talk about the Number One startup killer at TechStars—making a product for which there is no interesting market. TechStars accepts just 10 of more than 600 startups that apply and presumably they are among the best. But still, we find that at least one-third of those startups are attempting to build a product that they want, or that no one wants, instead of what the market wants

So it seems the ability to select a good idea is by no means something to discount. Lots of people can code "pretty well", but it appears that it's more difficult to come up with even a "pretty good" idea.

Re: Ideas Matter

#39

Post by ender7 »

One problem with this framing is that almost any idea interesting enough to base a company around will almost certainly change during the execution. The original idea for Twitter wasn't anywhere near what it became, and you can say the same thing about Facebook, Youtube, or pretty much any of the other Big Things to happen recently (some exceptions of course: PageRank was and is still mostly just PageRank).

Thus, the execution is a central part of the "idea" process. Being an "idea" person without being an "execution" person leaves you open to a bunch of dangers - the biggest one being a sense of inadequacy. If all that you bring to the table is your idea baby, it will be really hard to kill it off and go with something else, even if it's the best decision. So either be good at "adapting" your idea, at times to the point of complete transformation, or start learning to execute.

Re: Ideas Matter

#40

Post by rameshnid »

pg wrote: post #17

This is rather an attack on a strawman. No one thinks that ideas don't matter at all. Obviously you have to have a good one at some point. When people say that execution matters more than the idea in a startup, what they're really saying is something fairly complicated: that you need both a good idea and good execution, but that (1) since good execution is rarer, you should worry more about that, and (2) good executi…

Most articles which argue over ideas vs execution really are about equity. They are about business people who have no interest in technology attempting to do business in technology.

Does the 'idea guy' deserve no equity or less equity? Thats the question to be answered.

The problem I have with something like 'ideas don't matter' is I think it misleads some people to over value their contributions. And when someone puts the additional weight of Paul Graham behind it, its difficult to negotiate.

(One may argue that the odds of a startup succeeding are really low and people should not worry about equity etc. But really thats the first step unless you are starting up with buddies. Don't you think?)

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