Ideas are just a multiplier of execution (2005)

I don&#x27;t see how the conclusion is correct based on the premise: &quot;That’s why I don’t want to hear people’s ideas. I’m not interested until I see their execution.&quot;<p>As per the premise, wouldn&#x27;t you want to quickly vet out the idea to see if it&#x27;s &gt; 0 or your hurdle rate multiplier? If idea is Awful (-1), no level of execution is going to result in a desirable outcome.<p>This premise shows exactly why idea vetting is important.

this lia dibello profile is a more nuanced take on this topic <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;commoncog.com&#x2F;blog&#x2F;business-mental-model&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;commoncog.com&#x2F;blog&#x2F;business-mental-model&#x2F;</a><p>this research claims:<p>&gt; people who have achieved a high level of business expertise have a deep understanding of the following three core areas: (1) factors involved in effective operations, (2) forces influencing the market, and (3) those driving business finance and economic climates<p>these information sources are, in a sense, &#x27;ideas&#x27;, but they are discovered through execution<p>softer version of this claim is that &#x27;ideas&#x27; come from market research, and market research is not that different from execution

The ‘idea’ that you can separate idea from execution is not an accurate reflection of reality. These are not distinct phases. Ideas are a catalyst for execution. Execution throws up new ideas. So I agree with the conclusion but not the reasoning.

It seems to me that execution is the multiplier. If an idea is worth $20, the execution is what multiples that idea to a far greater value.

Ideas are so much more important than execution, but they exist on an entirely different axis in my mind.<p>The best idea imaginable could theoretically be put into production with negligible execution. The ability to easily execute an idea is one intrinsic component of that idea.<p>Adding some practicality constraints to blue-sky sessions might sound counterintuitive, but it can also help ensure our ideas remain in the realm of &quot;remotely feasible&quot;.

I think it’s worth attacking some of these adages. At scale, good execution is not enough when saturation is in play. You are the n-th YouTuber, the n-th influencer, SaaS, developer, etc. I’d argue that at scale there are a host of other critical parameters that determine things (luck for one, a unique angle on things (which requires great ideas)). Execution isn’t nearly enough now days.<p>But anyways, the old adage sounds good I guess.

Hum... Does the author realizes that multiplication makes no difference between its parameters?

<i>Just</i> a multiplier... multipliers are a big deal. And of course multiplication is commutative so execution is just a multiplier of ideas. In short they&#x27;re both crucial, either can bring the total value of a venture to 0 or less.

That explains why no one has very heard of Leonardo Da Vinci. The guy had a bunch of great ideas, but other than same drawings&#x2F;paintings actually never really executed on those ideas.

Great ideas are great often due to a combination of a strong value proposition and a lack of competition, which you (eventually) cannot control for. Execution is the only thing firmly in your wheelhouse over the long run. VCs and other incumbents play this &quot;long&quot; game, but it&#x27;s probably not the game that an individual founder should necessarily play to maximize their ROI.

Well multiplication is commutative, and I’m primarily an “ideas guy” so I prefer seeing execution as “just a multiplier”.

That feeling when you spend almost a decade on an idea that&#x27;s worth $20.<p>Hey, at least that&#x27;s like $2&#x2F;year or something.

Yeah, no.<p>IMHO A great, original idea, with adequate execution, is far, far, more valuable than a ho-hum idea executed perfectly. Just like a sputtering unreliable automobile is far more valuable than the finest horse and carriage, because it embodies future potential.<p>Of course VC&#x27;s don&#x27;t want to pay for great ideas, and want you to believe that all the value is in the execution that they enable.

I feel that idea is more like the initial unit vectors providing a direction, and execution is the multiplier to the initial vector.

When you understand the importance of realization, you also understand why ideas matter.

Ideas and executions have value. But they are not denominated in dollars.

Alternative take. Execution is just a multiplier of ideas.

Great, how do I identify the multiplier of an idea? :D