It was a rude awakening when a professor of mine said to me, “Ideas are a dime a dozen.” And they were right. People come up with ideas all day long and many of them are good ideas. However, anyone can have an idea. It’s the person who actually does something with the idea, who actually makes something, who is actually creative. One of my favorite commentaries on this is Jane Austen’s character in Pride and Prejudice, Lady Catherine De Bourgh, when she talks of music.

“There are few people in England, I suppose, who have more true enjoyment of music than myself, or a better natural taste. If I had ever learnt, I should have been a great proficient.”

In my mind I am a great proficient of many things as well, though not nearly as proficient in reality.

And intimately related to this is our previous creative truth, “execution is essential.” Nothing kills a good idea more quickly than poor execution. I learned, often the hard way, that the idea or concept I have is often frustratingly elusive when I try to actually create it. In my mind, it all seemed so full and deep and complete. In reality, there are many, many aspects that need a lot of consideration before my idea lives up to its potential.

Have ideas; have as many of them as possible. However, remember this truth—humbling though it may be—that you can’t stop at the idea. You have to execute it brilliantly to see the ideas true potential.