“The problem is that obviously good ideas are not truly innovative, and truly innovative ideas often look like very bad ideas when they’re introduced.”
—Ben Horowitz
When someone brings you an idea, what’s your first instinct?
I’m trying to start with:
“What I love about that is…”
And when I have a hard negative reaction, I try to pause and ask:
“Can you walk me through how you’re thinking about it?”
The best ideas rarely show up fully formed.
It might not come out polished,
but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
There’s always room to push, to question, to improve. It’s just hard when someone feels like they are alone or not understood.
For me, it comes down to this:
How do I want someone to treat my ideas?
As a critic or an accomplice?
Take care, friend.
Be good.
—Kelly
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