“Innovating is taking something from good to EPIC whereas second-guessing is not even reaching the point of good because your doubt is holding you back from fully committing.”
- Jared Yellin
Whenever I hear someone say that they have been working on their idea for 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 years and it’s still on a piece of paper I cringe.
What are you waiting for?!?!
Why don’t you believe in yourself to execute?
To try?
To see what’s possible?
Why do you feel the need to perfect the name…
Why do the colors matter…
Why does the opinion of someone who does not have what you want hold you back…
Where is your doubt derived from…?
Just so you know…
Doubt is the thief of innovation…
And innovation is what changes the world, makes you wealthy, and leads to your happiness.
Which means when doubt steals your ability to innovate you can’t change the world, you can’t become wealthy, and your optimal happiness will be out of reach.
Just don’t be fooled into thinking you are innovating when you are actually second-guessing yourself...
“Jared, I have been innovating on this idea for the past five years and I feel like I am almost there.”
WHAT?!?!!?!?
In a CILA Labs pitch session the other day this is what an entrepreneur told me…
Innovating for FIVE years without anything to show for other than an idea on paper?!?!
This is when people fool themselves into thinking that they are innovating because innovating is a cool word thrown around the entrepreneurial community.
It’s IMPOSSIBLE to innovate an idea…
Please read this again…
It’s IMPOSSIBLE to innovate an idea…
The only thing you can innovate is something you have already created…
Product
Service
Mission
Cause
It MUST exist and it MUST either make money and/or have people using it or part of it or experiencing it.
IT can’t be on a piece of paper.
IT can’t be in a slide deck.
IT can’t be in your mind.
This wonderful human who made that statement is NOT innovating…
Rather they are second-guessing….
And second-guessing means they are in doubt.
And like I shared earlier…
Doubt is the thief of innovation…
As my call with this wonderful human began to come to a close, I asked him if it would be okay to speak my truth about this “innovation,” and he was excited to hear my thoughts…
“First off, congrats on even giving yourself permission to think about your innovation for five years. Most people are too lazy, too busy, or too something to even allow their mind to go towards finding a solution to a problem that could change industries, communities, or the world. That said, I am going to be bold right now because our paths crossed for a specific reason. You need to hear what I am about to say because you will do one of two things…
1 - Cuss me out under your breath and keep innovating
2 - Appreciate my candor and start believing
So my friend, what you need to hear is that you are afraid, you are petrified of what others will think of your innovation, and I hate to break it to you - you don’t have an innovation, you have an idea on paper which is burning a hole in your soul because you know that you have wasted five years thinking, documenting, and second-guessing yourself. But today is a great day because you will either continue innovating and get nowhere OR you will start executing and get somewhere. I will leave you with this…
Innovating is taking something from good to EPIC whereas second-guessing is not even reaching the point of good because your doubt is holding you back from fully committing.
I believe in you and it’s time that you believe in YOU.”
Is That What You Needed To Hear?
Maybe or maybe not…
Maybe you loved it…
Maybe you don’t agree…
Maybe you now hate me…
But I’m all good because I don’t want people confusing innovation and second-guess themselves.
I believe in radical transparency with the world, but even more importantly, with yourself.
And if you are in a constant state of innovation around an idea sitting on a piece of paper or a powerpoint or in your mind…
You are NOT in a constant state of innovation but rather in a constant and never-ending whirlwind of second-guess aka doubt and like I said before…
Doubt is the thief of innovation…
So, now what?!
Well, I will post that question to you…
NOW WHAT?!?!
What will you do with the idea which is burning a hole in your soul?
What will you do with the idea that you have second guessed for too long?
What will you do with the idea you know needs to see the light of day?
Innovate OR Second-Guess
If you choose INNOVATE than what you are actually saying yes to is EXECUTING and then eventually INNOVATING once you are making money, have users, etc.
If you choose Second-Guess than what you are actually saying is this idea will just remain on paper until I have the courage to execute and then eventually innovate.
So my friend…
NOW WHAT?!?!
Live with Intention,
