How Can You NOT Execute a Billion Dollar Idea?
Goal: In this article I share a story to illustrate the need for execution
There have been several times in my life when I had a life changing idea. If I had taken advantage of these idea gifts my life would have been different and I would be a different person today.
So what?
Before I tell you a story, I want to let you know that this story is not about feeling sorry for myself. I am happy with my career choices and am excited about my next step.
It is just a view that maybe someone could benefit from.
In 1994 I spent a weekend with a friend of mine working on a Ph.D at University of Minnesota. That night I came up with an invention. It was a billion dollar invention and for the next 26 years I did nothing with it.
What was the invention?
I came up with a tire cap that would simply change colors if your tire was low on pressure. Simple idea BUT imagine the many miles that are driven each year on underinflated tires? The cost savings would be huge.
On my 50th birthday I did a search on Amazon and found that someone had recently manufactured such a device.
So what is the lesson?
I am a firm believer that when we “get” an idea that God also gives that idea to several people. God is taking insurance on us. He does not care whether I execute the idea or someone else. All God cares is that the idea gets executed and it benefits the world.
Why didn’t I execute it?
Well that is the billion dollar question. I know that at the time I felt that I did not know enough to execute it. BUT I could have partnered with someone that could have helped me work through the kinks and execute it.
I never shared the idea with anyone at that time. I only shared it with my team during my 50th birthday lunch. Maybe if I had shared it with someone I trusted and worked through the details it might not have been so hard to execute?
Dreams have expiration dates. If you don’t pursue them someone else will. When you walk by a shelf in a store and see a device that you also invented in your mind realize that the only difference between you and that person is execution. They executed the dream!
I still have dreams. Maybe with wisdom I will pursue and execute them before they become someone else’s reality.
I got to go…my future self alarm went off
Robert Trajkovski is professional with experience in leading people and projects in Steel/ Power, Refining, Chemicals, Industrial Gasses, Software, Consulting and Academia. He has worked for both owners and engineering companies. In addition, he has instructed 73+ courses at several institutions and often offers his courses for free on LinkedIn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberttrajkovski/
If you enjoyed this article, I strongly urge you to follow the link to my course below and sign up. It is being created and a beta group is being formed.
THE ULTIMATE Time AND Energy Management course is at: https://robert-s-school-b48a.thinkific.com/courses/time-and-energy-management
