Very often, I find people extremely protective about their ideas. They do not want to share it.They get obssesed with it. They are unwilling to listen, change or improve upon it further. The idea then dies a natural death because in their opinion nobody is willing to buy it.
Here's some great advice from Doc Searls for such people so that they can evaluate their ideas first. Though this advice is for entrepreneurs with new business ideas, I think it holds good for anybody who is in the business of creating ideas esp. in the emerging open source marketing world:
- Ideas aren't physical. Regardless of the legalities, treating ideas as possessions insults their vast combustive power. Jefferson put it best:
The moment is divulged, it forces itself into the possession of everyone, and the receiver cannot dispossess himself of it. He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.
- Ideas aren't worth jack unless other people can put them to use.
- Ideas won't change the world unless others can improve on them.
- Ideas grow by participation, not isolation.
- Ideas change as they grow. Their core remains the same, but their scope enlarges with successful use.
- Ideas have unexpected results. No one person can begin to imagine all the results of a good idea. That's another reason to welcome participation.
- Nobody's going to "steal" your ideas, any more than they can steal your cerebrum. You're the source. Authority over the idea begins with you.
- Authority derives from originality and respect. You can't get respect for your original ideas unless those ideas prove useful to others.