Often times, individuals come to me to gain feedback on their new ideas. Always excited and intrigued to hear an innovative spirit, I listen intently. Once I have an understanding of their concept, I often ask first, “Is anyone doing this already?” The question is not intended to burst their bubble. Instead, the question creates awareness for what has already been done.
Sometimes, I take it one step further if there is already a similar offering in the market place and ask, “Have you contacted them?” The facial expressions I receive are usually ones of surprise. The answers I hear most often are ones fraught with ego. Most popular response is an expression of fear of competition. “What if they take MY idea?” they confess.
The truth is, your idea is always your idea. It just also might happen to be someone else’s idea too.
So I pose the question, why reinvent the wheel? Perhaps there is a way to collaborate, not compete. Perhaps there is a way to be farther along in your own journey because someone has been there before you. Perhaps take the best of the intention, vision and expertise to complement all aspects of the idea to reach your target in a bigger, unified voice. Imagine the ripple effect when two people with a similar vision are making waves together rather than spending energy opposing one another.
My best observation has been to replicate without ego. The reality of building and growing an organization takes one person to have a vision and a village of ambassadors who share that vision to bring it to fruition. Sometimes coming along side one another allows the idea to grow bigger, farther and even faster.
Your fellow RippleMaker,
Lynn Price
