Introduction:

Great ideas really are great! We come up with great ideas every day, but today I want to share with you some truths about great ideas. The most important thing we can know about great ideas is that ideas are wonderful and fantastic; however, ideas without execution are useless.

Here’s a quote I always like to say: “In business, ideas are 80% of the equation and execution is the other 40%.”

Okay, I realize that’s 120%. That’s the joke, because it takes 120% effort to get something done in business. Coming up with the ideas is a huge part of it, don’t get me wrong, and I’m sure you have great ideas.

I love when I get emails from people saying, “Hey Ryan! I’d love to talk to you and maybe hire you to help me. I have this really great idea and I can’t wait to share it with you.” Do you think I haven’t heard them? They’re all out there. The harsh reality is that you think your ideas are original. Maybe they are or maybe they aren’t, but if you don’t execute the idea exceptionally well and exceed expectations, in the long run it doesn’t matter.

Three Truths About Ideas:

Here are three truths about great ideas, especially when it comes to the restaurant business:

1. Come up with bad ideas
   If you’re struggling to come up with great ideas, then come up with bad ideas. They always lead to great ideas. If you’re struggling with creativity or if you feel like you’re not creative enough, just come up with stuff – the quality doesn’t matter. Great ideas don’t just appear; sometimes they come from bad ideas.
2. Share your good ideas
   Stop worrying so much about keeping your ideas to yourself, because when we share great ideas we collaborate. Other people want to help, add to your ideas, make them bigger and better. You can’t do it alone, so if you do have a great idea go out and share it. Maybe don’t hand deliver it to your competitor, but share it with people. If you’re freaked out about sharing, get an NDA signed. In today’s world, there are no great ideas that are totally original anyways, so who cares about the NDA in my opinion.
3. Good ideas are useless without execution
   You have to execute on your ideas. Remember, in the restaurant business, and in any business for that matter, ideas are 80% of the equation and execution is the other 40%.

I hope this helped and sparked some imagination to get you thinking a little bit about execution. I look forward to bringing you another great video just like this next week. Have a wonderful day.