Tech Notes From The Trenches

Last night I went to All Points West with a friend. On the way back, the behavior of crowds got me thinking about ideas and implementations. Actually, I’ve been thinking about this all my life, even more lately with Aycron Creatives and while reading Getting Real (what an amazing book!)

A huge crowd wanted to get on the NJ light rail, which was ridiculously small for that many people. The line wasn’t moving. People were jumping the line, which was pissing me off. It was going to take us 1 hour just to get on the light rail.

That was the problem.

Possible solutions (ideas that came to mind)

1. Jump the line too

2. Wait

3. Walk to the next station

4. Take the NJ light rail going in the opposite direction (50 times less crowded)

I didn’t like #1 or #2.

I didn’t know where the next station was. #1 wouldn’t work.

I decided to go with #3 (implemented idea #3) – [NOTE: I don't want to say it was right or wrong. It was really late and I just wanted to get home the fastest way possible]

It worked. We saved 30 minutes. A lot of people had the same idea. Only a few implemented it (and we all saved time)

The thing I found interesting, which totally relates to the professional/business world:

Possibly. At that time, 100 people had the same idea. Maybe, 20 people implemented it. Those 20 took a chance. It was a bit risky, but it worked. 80 decided it wasn’t worth it. They missed out.

So this is what I take from this experience: It’s not about great, brilliant or good ideas, it’s all about implementing those ideas, taking a chance and following the risky path.

We need more great implementers. We need more great executioners. (inspired by this quote: Be An Executioner)

Great ideas truly are a dime a dozen.