Innovation: Simple diagram - How to execute an idea

The execution of an idea is the most difficult thing to master. It takes many soft and hard skills to take something from your head to a drawing board, and finally into real life production. Just having a vision is important, but its not enough. In the western world we have been given to tools to create just about anything we want with the right amount of time and dedication we should be able to accomplish amazing tasks.

Simplistically, you need to have the conviction to tackle any problems put in your way; multi-task and cajoule and use any means necessary to deliver your objective.

Firstly, take a blank sheet of paper and write down the 10 or so high level tasks you believe you would need to accomplish to complete your idea.

Break each task down into a series of 20 steps marking down what you need to do in order to complete your high level task. Then start executing the simple ones in parallel and begin to recruit people to your cause for the tasks you don't have the skills to accomplish. Set small deadlines for each mini task and keep the list handy so you can move from one task to another easily when you hit a bit of a brick wall.

Find the experts who can help you on sites like www.rentacoder.com or find people to help build a prototype of your idea. Its all possible don't give up just put your head down and go for it!

The question of funding this grandiose plan comes firmly into view when you realise that prototypes and services cost money. If you're in a full time job that pays reasonably well then you can assign some of your savings into fulfilling your ideas. Count it as a hobby. If you need a lot of capital, you need to create a proof of concept and a business plan and take these to private financiers or your bank. In the current market although banks aren't lending, there are a host of private equity firms looking to invest in a good idea. They expect to lose 60-70% of their investment money because they invest in many different ideas. They're playing the numbers game, and hoping that one of the ideas pays off providing a return that more than covers their losses on initial investments. Finding and meeting these companies is a challenge but they do exist - especially in California.