I got feedback that my Reasons No One Likes Your Ideas was missing one important reason: your ideas are bad.

I intentionally left that off the list, because it opens a whole new can of worms. I’m ready to open that can now.

You’ve heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as a bad idea.”

Not true. There are plenty of bad ideas out there. Some are short-sighted, others are just plain stupid. We know bad ideas exist. We’ve seen them, heard them and thought of them ourselves. This phrase is helpful in brainstorming sessions because you don’t want a brilliant idea to be kept a secret for fear of criticism. It’s not a claim that all ideas are worthwhile.

So, how can you tell if your idea is dead in the water?

1) It puts you in the wrong batter’s box.
In baseball, unless you’re a switch hitter, batting from the other side of the plate greatly reduces your effectiveness. If your idea doesn’t line up with strengths, consider whether there’s a better solution on the right side of the plate. You’ll hit more homeruns by focusing on your strengths.

2) It’s pie in the sky.
Is your idea disconnected from reality? Does it actually solve a problem, or is it just cool? Form follows function. This doesn’t mean your idea can’t be cool. Great design is a must today, but if isn’t purposeful then it’s useless. Be careful. This is very subjective. What you think is ‘pie in the sky’ may be a great idea that simply has to be reconnected to reality.

3) You’re trading flies for frogs.
Is an army of frogs your solution to a plague of flies? Congratulations! You just traded one problem for another (possibly bigger problem). Does your idea create a bigger issue than it solves? Then it’s probably not a solution. It’s just another problem.

4) Imitation is the greatest form of flattening.
I’m not talking about flat hierarchy or “The World Is Flat” thinking. I’m talking about flat as in no peaks or valleys. As in a flatline on an EKG. Flat without anything to grip or hold onto. Want a flat company? Copy your competitor’s ideas. You’ll lose anything that makes you different from the competition. Your products become flat. Your marketing will be flat. And so will your sales.

5) You never wake up from the dream.
I love to dream BIG. But if you never wake up from the dream and make it a reality, what good is the idea? There is a difference between creativity and imagination. Execution. CREATIVITY = IMAGINATION + EXECUTION (C = I + E). In order to be creative, you have to CREATE something. Dreaming big only gets you halfway there. Don’t be afraid to go the rest of the way. Your idea might be great, but no one will know if it’s never created.

This is not an exhaustive list, nor is it always applicable. These five signs help create a rule of thumb. Another reason I didn’t write about this before is I believe bad ideas can lead to good ideas. Give yourself, and others, the grace to throw a bad idea into the hopper. You never know what epiphanies may follow.

This was on my cup of Starbucks coffee today:

The Way I See It #290

On the battlefield of ideas, winning requires moving toward the sound of the guns.

– Newt Gingrich

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives

I’m not big on battle metaphors. Too often they lead to a zero-sum philosophy of “I win, you lose.” or “You win, I lose.” In other words, WE never win. I think that is shortsighted.

Still, I love the perception that courage is required with ideas. That is absolutely true.

Ideas are like love. You only get out of them what you’re willing to risk yourself.

Don’t be afraid of running toward the sound of the guns today.

Many ideas are borne out of solitude. The shower is a classic example of quiet alone-time creating a vacuum for new thoughts. Still, we usually have to bring these thoughts back to a team for development. We also have moments where we need to generate ideas in a team environment.

Having the proper team chemistry is critical for this creative work. It helps to have individuals fulfill certain roles to guide, inspire and cultivate ideas. Some of these roles played aren’t just beneficial, they’re critical.

Below are nine film characters who best epitomize these roles:

Indiana Jones – The Explorer

Creative teams need someone who will take them into uncharted territory. If you have an “Indie,” his sense of adventure coupled with his appreciation for different cultures will unearth treasures of ideas.

Sister Maria – The Creativity Facilitator

Creative teams need creative environments. This is no problem for Maria. She knows when something special is needed – the sound of music, the aroma of candles, the inspiration of poetry or the invigoration of a team exercise. Her creativity sets the stage for others to generate ideas. That’s a special gift.

Q from James Bond – Mr. R & D

If you need tools and resources for your project, this is your man. Q may not make all the gadgets himself, but he knows what can be done and what is at your disposal. This can range from administrative needs to IT equipment.

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Dorothy Gale – The Visionary

Tired of Kansas? So is Dorothy. She has a dream of a better place. She wants better things for herself, but she also will align with the needs of others. She’s sensitive to those around her. She wants to make sure others get their courage, heart and brains. By helping them get what they want, she gets her own reward.

Danny Ocean – The Team Builder

Part of planning is defining roles. Ocean is a pro at foreseeing the skills and personalities necessary in pulling off a job. He also knows how to delegate responsibility. He’s not a one-man team, though he is extremely capable on his own. He realizes the value of a team.

Jason Bourne – The Improv Innovator

When you need ideas on-the-spot, look to Bourne. It seems as though whatever’s on hand becomes an instant resource in the fight for ideas. Anything seems to inspire him – the topic of conversation, a painting on the wall, an article he read this morning… he uses them for the moment at hand.

Erin Brockovich – The Go-Getter

You can’t stay in brainstorming mode forever. Erin will move the team off dead-center. She pushes everyone into action and isn’t intimidated by hurdles. Though she may be a little brash, most people still have a healthy respect for her because she is hard working and brutally honest.

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Morpheus - The Reality Check

Welcome to the real world. Morpheus sees things as they are, but also as they can be. He doesn’t want to pretend everything is OK. He wants to be active in making things better. He will face up to a dismal financial picture, but challenge everyone to rally together and beat the odds.

Clarice Starling – The Collaborator

If you have a room full of strong personalities, like the characters in this list, the potential for conflict is elevated. Clarice is superb at bringing out the best in team members. She can work well with authority, but also with the unsavory type. She never loses sight of the goal and pulls the necessary information out of individuals to keep the team moving forward.

A combination of these roles can create a potent, creative team. For more in-depth information on team roles in creativity and innovation, I recommend Tom Kelley’s book The Ten Faces of Innovation.

Did you know you can train fleas to stay in a jar?

Put them in a jar and screw on the lid. They will jump and bump the lid repeatedly, because they can jump much higher than the lid. After a few days, take the lid off. They won’t jump out. They still have the ABILITY to jump out, but hitting the lid over and over trained them that there was a limit. Even with the lid removed, they still BELIEVE the limitation exists.

I believe we were all created with incredible creative potential. I also believe there are ‘lids’ placed on our creativity throughout our lives: criticisms, failures, painful experiences, teasing, comparing ourselves to others, fear… the list goes on and on. Eventually, we need to remove these lids so our creativity can jump higher.

How do we do that?

Take a Risk

We live in a risk-averse culture. Need proof? Calculate how much money you spend a month on insurance. Include health, auto, home, life and disability. It adds up. Also, we buy insurance in other forms – warranties and money-back guarantees. We don’t want to take any unnecessary risks and apparently we’re willing to pay for it.

Ironically, almost anything worth accomplishing requires risk. Herodotus said “Great deeds are usually wrought at great risks.” Seth Godin says “Safe really is risky.”

Where are you playing it safe? Is it holding back your creativity?

Just Do It

Creativity = Imagination + Action. Imagination alone won’t be enough, you have to do something with it. Be willing to prototype your ideas. Create a rough sketch, an outline, jot down some notes, put together a plan. Start making something. It doesn’t have to be perfect. If you wait until the idea is perfect, you’ll never start working on it.

According to the Surgeon General, perfectionism is the leading cause of procrastination.

Put Your Prints on It

You are unique. Shouldn’t your work be as well? Shouldn’t what you do reflect who you are?

Don’t ask a generic question like, “What would a dancer do now?”

Ask, “How was I created to do this dance?”

Simply following the lines set by others will deflate your creativity.

Don’t let your roles define who you are, let who you are define your roles.

Look Up

This has a double-meaning.

First, look up because the lid may have already been removed. Like the fleas in the jar, you might just be limiting yourself – afraid of hitting your head on a lid that isn’t there.

Secondly, look up for inspiration. If you believe you are a created being, then look to the Creator for direction. That is the source of creativity which we synthesize into our daily lives. Like sunlight on leaves giving energy to the tree.

I hope this helps you to jump higher… right out of the jar!