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Brilliant ideas are worth $20.00

March 8, 2007

Greg Moreno blogged a formula to explain his thesis that "ideas are worthless":

Idea = X
Awful idea = -1
Weak idea = 1
So-so idea = 5
Good idea = 10
Great idea = 15
Brilliant idea = 20

Execution = Y
No execution = $1
Weak execution = $1000
So-so execution = $10,000
Good execution = $100,000
Great execution = $1,000,000
Brilliant execution = $10,000,000

___________________________

X*Y=Value of Business

Written by Alexander Muse · Filed Under Blog 

Comments

8 Responses to “Brilliant ideas are worth $20.00”

  1. Todd Says:
    March 9th, 2007 at 9:52 am

    This sounds a bias towards bureaucrats and leeches - but I do not have a Masters degree in business, so I have some questions;

    Can anyone give me an example of when an weak idea was ever “brilliantly executed” and then generated 10 million in market cap?

    Why would a person capable of “brilliant execution” work with or even associate with some one who can only come up with awful ideas?

    Also, an older post here:
    http://www.texasstartupblog.com/2006/02/17/bad-apple-or-good-apple/
    describes iTunes “weak execution” of a “brilliant idea” ( Podcasting ) which is in conflict of the “good ideas are worthless” statement.

  2. Howard Rauscher Says:
    March 9th, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    “Can anyone give me an example of when an weak idea was ever ‘brilliantly executed’ and then generated 10 million in market cap?”

    I guess Hot or Not (http://www.hotornot.com/) would be a good example. They have revenues of $6million+ a year. But it does seem to make me think that any weak seeming idea that can generate that much revenue is a brilliant idea.

  3. Alexander Muse Says:
    March 9th, 2007 at 1:50 pm

    Think you take my previous post out of context. The execution of the iTunes business is great (i.e. as evidenced by the results), but on a more granular level the experience could be greatly improved. Anyway, point taken.

    With regard weak ideas brilliantly executed? I suspect things like cement factories and brick manufacturers are fairly weak ideas today, but if you brilliantly execute on your plan to make cement you can make a fortune…

  4. Eric Falcao Says:
    March 9th, 2007 at 1:51 pm

    Being a developer, it seems like people are always trying to pitch “million dollar ideas” for products to me. Cracks me up. Ideas without execution are nothing.

  5. Chris Norman Says:
    March 9th, 2007 at 3:31 pm

    This is very true. I’ve had a lot of ideas I considered good or great. However, the idea is nothing without effort.

    The key is to actually *act* on one’s ideas. Push it forward. Even weak execution is evidence of willingness and belief; and execution can be improved on.

    Otherwise, you’re only dreaming. A dreamer who takes action is an entrepreneur.

    There’s a difference.

    Ideas are a dime a dozen, but execution is the real value. Those ideas I’ve had? I sometimes see them crop up from someone else and remind myself that I didn’t own the idea and had I actually acted, that could be me.

    I believe that is, ultimately, the point.

    Only a lucky few are actually paid to be dreamers, but most likely they executed at some point in their past to get themselves to that position.

  6. First Web Dev Proofs at DJR Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 6:23 pm

    [...] I knew the proofs would be arriving this AM, but of course I was away on [day job] business travel all day. Seeing the proofs was a great way to end the day. It’s all happening. As is my custom, I will close with a link. I recently caught up on AMuse’s Texas Startup Blog and found an interesting post about the value of ideas. » Filed under Progress! by Cheyne Rood at 23:22. back to top [...]

  7. SFGary Says:
    March 22nd, 2007 at 6:56 pm

    Every tech mixer I go to these days I come across at least one person who spouts this mantra. I think Paul Graham is to blame for this quote. This is the reason why there are thousands ( I exaggerate) of RSS type feed companies, 10s of personal finance sites, hundreds of social networks. “n” number of me too and me too + 1 products being introduced virtually every day. There is precious little original thinking.

    While I do agree that good execution is a must, without a good idea it is quite pointless.

  8. Ideas are worth $20 - Updated. : Texas Startup Blog Says:
    February 19th, 2008 at 12:20 am

    [...] of the value of ideas versus the value of execution.  Last year I linked to Greg Moreno’s equation that suggested ‘brilliant’ ideas are worth $20.  This evening I got an email from a [...]

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