You’ve got a brilliant idea. Been thinking about it for days. The idea becomes a vision, more attractive with each passing day. You’re sitting on a goldmine.
Now you dig deeper, extracting more from the idea. More research. Energy shoots through your brain and into your cells. You know this is it. Finally. Because you’ve had so many ideas in your life. Some became projects, others you discarded.
When do you finally tell someone? The very next day. Eyes gleaming, you share your idea and the entire thought process leading to the big reveal. You’re convinced of yourself and your idea. It shows in your voice — strong and confident. You finish your monologue. And then?
Silence.
Surprising. Your listener doesn’t jump up with joy but just stares at you questioningly. Silence. Is that all? You realise your enthusiasm isn’t contagious. Then comes feedback you don’t like. Lots of criticism and no encouragement to pursue the idea.
You’re disappointed and confused. Maybe the idea wasn’t that good after all? What now? Do you blame your listener (“only cares about themselves anyway”) and the situation (“bit noisy in that café”)? Do you dissolve into self-pity (“Damn, I just don’t have promising ideas”) or go into fight mode (“Now more than ever — they’ll all see I can do this!”)?
Here are at least three perspectives:
You focus too much on others’ feedback: Who can really assess your ideas and who’s capable of constructive feedback? Some people praise everything you do (at least gives an energy boost), others see everything critically. But ultimately, it doesn’t matter who you tell because you do the work and your listeners probably aren’t even your target audience. If you really want feedback — good and less good — choose the right people. Your partner or best friend isn’t always a good reviewer. Find people who can better assess such ideas and know these idea-presentation situations.
You share your thoughts too early: If you have a promising idea but are still unsure whether and how to implement it, just quietly develop your idea and only present your baby once it’s born. You need to be so convinced of the result — not blinded — that criticism doesn’t matter. After all, you’re not doing it to be loved by everyone, but to reach exactly those people who appreciate and need it.
Your idea actually isn’t that exciting: This is possible too. In this case: If implementation matters and you’re burning to get to work each morning, just keep working persistently. The idea will get better or different. Both are okay.
There are certainly more perspectives. I just think it’s important to carefully consider when and with whom you discuss ideas. Better to stay quiet and work on it.
By their fruits you shall know them.
From the archives of reinergaertner.de, running since 1997. Translated with AI help and my questionable bilingual proofreading. If you spot a Germanismus — that’s a feature, not a bug.