There is a disease in the startup world called “The Stealth Mode Delusion.” Founders refuse to share their idea because they are afraid someone will steal it. This is amateur thinking. Nobody wants to steal your idea. They are too busy struggling to execute their own.
The Math of Success
Derek Sivers famously quantified this. To calculate the value of a business, you multiply the Idea by the Execution.
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The Idea (Multiplier):
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Awful idea = -1
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Weak idea = 1
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Good idea = 10
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Brilliant idea = 20
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The Execution (The Asset):
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No execution = $1
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Weak execution = $1,000
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Good execution = $100,000
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Great execution = $1,000,000
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Brilliant execution = $10,000,000
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The Result:
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Brilliant Idea (20) No Execution ($1) = $20.
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Average Idea (5) Brilliant Execution ($10M) = $50,000,000.
The Trap of “Strategizing”
The original post mentioned getting distracted by “small things” instead of “analyzing important subjects.” This is a trap. “Analyzing” feels like work, but often it is just Procrastination in a Suit. We love Strategy because it is safe. We hate Execution because it is messy.
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Strategy: “I am planning the perfect gym routine.” (Safe).
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Execution: “I am under the bar sweating.” (Painful).
The Protocol: Kill the Strategist
If you find yourself “planning” for more than 24 hours, you are stalling.
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The “V1” Rule: You are not allowed to improve the plan until you have shipped Version 1.
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The 10% Tax: For every hour you spend “thinking,” you must pay a tax of 10 hours “doing.”
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The Feedback Loop: You cannot steer a parked car. Get moving, then turn the wheel.
#DhandheKaFunda: An okay plan executed violently today is better than a perfect plan executed next week.