Photo by Jamison Wieser
You remember how I said that I was going to be the first one up and dancing (metaphorically speaking) regarding Derek Sivers giving away his idea about First Followers…?
Derek had an interesting idea, gave a TED presentation about it, and it was very well received. He was encouraged to write it up as a book and turn the idea into something much bigger. The idea of making this ‘First Follower’ concept his big thing for the next couple of years didn’t particularly appeal to him, and so he made his idea available to anyone who wanted to pick it up and run with it.
A sincere form of flattery
I briefly thought about taking up the challenge, but decided that rather than do what Derek had been encouraged to do – I’d actually do what Derek did.
My twist was that I would come up with 30 ideas in 30 days, and give them all away. Turn the process into a bit of a game, in line with my 30 days series of projects in 2010.
Today, something interesting happened. A guy by the name of Andrew Wicklander read my post ‘The Other Way of Following First‘ and was inspired to do something about it.
But he put his own twist on it.
The real value of ideas
Andrew has pledged to take one of my 30 ideas – and both execute on it, and ship it within 30 days of my 30 day project finishing. That is to say, he’s going to take one idea that I have, and make something real that actually goes to market by May 1st.
Read his blog post about it. He explains it better than I could.
Because the truth of the matter, as Derek has pointed out in the past, is that ideas are pretty much dime a dozen. Anyone can have ideas anytime they want to. Good ideas are possibly more rare, but having ideas is not the hard part.
The hard part
Execution is the hard part. It’s the important part. Actually taking an idea and making it into something real. Dealing with the flaws in the idea, and bashing it into some kind of reasonable shape. Developing a fledgling notion into a tangible and usable thing – that’s the real trick.
So – my hat’s off to Andrew Wicklander, and I am totally feeling the pressure to not just come up with 30 ideas – but to come up with at least a few good ones in there.
Dance all around the world
And already some people are approaching him – and me – to ask what they can do to help. People from all sorts of places. Friends and complete strangers.
It’s really encouraging – and I hope that whatever he does makes him rich and happy – or at least gives him an entertaining and interesting project to work on for a month. And the deal is that it’s completely his. I’ll come up with the idea, but the moment it’s up on the blog, it’s a gift to any and every person that wants to have a crack at it.
I’d be delighted to see anyone else do something similar. Because what Andrew’s doing is really inspirational – and I hope at least one of my ideas will live up to the expectation.
Hey there again Andrew, it’s Andrew. First, absolutely awesome picture. Hilarious.
The other thing I wanted to mention real quick is that I’m already starting to work out the details for how the proceeds for whatever it is goes to market can go 100% to charity. I’ve contacted a favorite charity of mine and am waiting to hear back.
In the event I have to incur any significant cost I’ll cover those. But I don’t really want to make a dime off this. I don’t think that’s what it’s about.
The way it started with Derek giving his idea away, and then you giving yours away, I think the “dance” we’re in together now is one of giving – not taking.
It would be presumptuous of me to assume that I’ll even be able to execute something well enough to make any significant amount of money, but I am smart enough to know that this idea, by it’s nature and the way it started, must not benefit any single person in particular.
On the flip side – taking an idea like this, making it real, and then using it to make some small sliver of the world better – that’s something I think a movement can be created on.
30 to 60 days to implement an unknown idea is going to be a huge challenge, and I know I’m going to need a lot of help. I just don’t think it can be successful unless the end result is something that benefits a greater cause.
And frankly, after seeing the response today, I don’t want to just make something mediocre and publish it. Now I want to try and blow people’s minds. After seeing what happened today I know it’s possible.
Of course, I may crash and burn. But if I do, I want it to be in a spectacular fashion. I’m sort of an all or nothing kind of guy.
I hope to have some more details I’ll be able to share on my blog in the next week or so, but in the meantime, I wanted to make sure I let you, your readers, and anyone else that’s interested in joining this dance party know that whatever idea is made real, it’s going to be to do something awesome, impact people, and basically do something good.
Today’s been a real trip, and I’m really glad to have connected with you in the ether in this weird way. It’s super amazing the way you embraced me – just like the dancers in the video did.
I can only hope to do you and Derek justice as others join in on the fun.
Andrew
Okay – now I’m really excited. That’s such a great thing for you to do – and to aspire to. I was feeling the pressure a little bit knowing that somebody was going to have a go at one of my ideas, but now I know they want to blow people’s minds for charity… well, the thinking cap is on.