let’s imagine that you’ve been given or have recently earned a a platform from which to propose idea(s). what do you do next? as suggested in part one of the post, there is more pressing business than simply showing that ideas are new or yours. not only are these less than urgent pursuits, but they are also largely irrelevant. very few ideas are truly new. nothing is scarier than the unknown. focusing your pitch in a defensive posture will appear as backpedaling. do not step back to move ahead. build a positive, forward-thinking case through these idea characteristics — clarity, viability, adaptability, acceptance (ie. ease to market), depth, and presence (ie. hold on consumer).
clarity. is what you’re suggesting easily understood? what are the obstacles to making sense of it? viability. can others quickly imagine how to leverage your idea to great benefit? where they can’t, can you help others to envision scenarios where your ideas would make the world a better place? adaptability. how flexible is your idea to changing circumstances? is it strong enough to allow for adjustments on the fly? will consumers feel empowered and confident to stick with it as challenges arise? acceptance. is your idea something that’s easily accepted? is it built on known principles? will consumers prefer it over a competitor in the near-term? how substantial is the learning curve? depth. once accepted, how far can the idea go? how significant is its potential vs. limitations? will this idea capable of springing and/or supporting sister ideas that the world will come to accept? presence. how undeniable and powerful will your idea be? will it stick with consumers long after its introduction? will it difficult to outperform?
all paths to pushing ideas through will be different. audiences will vary. the above is merely a sampling of tools you can utilize to overcome idea resistance. feel free to contact me directly for further, more personalized guidance.
