It doesn’t matter how wonderful or brilliant or perfect your idea is. It’s worthless. Absolutely positively worthless…until you take action.

Back in the 70’s my father invented those diapers that can show when they’ve been, uh, “used”. He also invented a portable version of Kool-Aid that could be dropped into a glass of water instead of someone having to make an entire pitcher.

The trouble is, the ideas stayed in his head. He only talked about them AFTER they came to market and someone else made their millions. My dad’s an above average kind of guy. But in this respect, he’s normal like everyone else.

It’s happened to me too. I saw the dawn of internet video before most people could say “dot-com” (my degree is in computer science). Why didn’t I invent YouTube? I could have. But I didn’t. And I didn’t get millions of dollars when they sold to Google because the idea was only in my head.

So what do you do with those fabulous ideas?

1) Write Them Down – It isn’t real at all until you can see it. Put it on paper or in a computer file. Now it’s tangible.

2) Tell Someone About It – This is scary for most people. What if they laugh? Worse, what if they steal my idea? The truth is most people don’t have the energy to follow through on your idea. And if they do, it won’t be the same or as good as what you will do with it. You must find people who can shoot it down before you waste too much time and money, or who can help you refine the idea and make it happen. You’ll need accountability or you’ll give up when things get tough.

3) Get to Work – If the idea is going to survive and become a reality, it’s going to be a lot of hard work. Most people aren’t willing to do what it takes to be successful. Are you?

Don’t be most people and don’t look back years later with regret. Go make something happen!

Note: This article originally appeared in February 2010 issue of the Tri-City Review.