Are You Too Smart For Your Own Good?Stop Thinking And Start Doing!

14 replies
Every once in a while I will come to this foruma and see a great new idea for making money. What happens is I end up thinking of different ways to spin it. I am trying to be too smart for my own good, and what happens is I never get anything started. How many of us on here are too smart for our own good? How many of us spend too much time figuring out what is the best way to do something rather then actually doing something?
#goodstop #smart #start #thinking
  • Profile picture of the author alanbray
    I think you are missing an important point. You aren't too smart for your own good, you are tuning into your entrepreneur skills. To implement them takes a lot of effort and therefore don't stop thinking. Slow down and take a breather and organize your thoughts. Make a step by step plan and write it down. Do this to the first idea that comes to your head. A lot of history's big inventors and creators lived like this. Spontaneous ideas that they quickly jotted down and worked with it later. Whatever you do every new idea when archived will stand out and later on you could try it so it doesn't get lost if you write it down. Try it and you will see that it is easy and fun and then start focusing on which ever you choose.
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  • Profile picture of the author mrmagos
    @phoenix44, I've fallen into the same trap as you many times. I have a lot of great ideas, but I either simply fail to implement them, or sometimes lack the skills to do so. In the case of the former, I do this because I want to implement these ideas exactly as I picture them, i.e. they have to come out perfect. In the chase for perfection, I'll hit a roadblock and scrap or put the project aside, only to see a similar yet less "perfect" version put on the market by someone else. I lose out because I have a hard time telling myself to stop and say what I have is "good enough." Good enough is, well, good enough for most customers. I'm trying to get in the habit of taking a step back from a project or idea and determining if I've reached that point. As for the ideas where I lack the skill, my only limiting factor is money - if I had a bit to devote, I'd outsource the portions that can't do. Until that time, I'm teaching myself those skills that I lack; this delays things a bit, but I learn some valuable things that I can offer as services to others, and gives me more ideas of what I can do in the future.
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  • Profile picture of the author MyHub
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    • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
      Yes - start thinking too much and you'll talk yourself right out of a good idea because one side of your brain is telling you it will never work.
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    • Profile picture of the author deboadebayo
      Boy do I identify with this one. I think the correct term for people like us are ANAL-ysts!! I would say to keep it in check most definitely. But also rather than fight it, use it to your strengths. There are certain skills that are really good for analysts. For example, drawing up business plans? analysing businesses. So rather than beat yourself up over it. What I would say is that you keep it in check. Here's some of my ideas
      • 1 Know when to analyse, and know when you've analysed enough.
      • 2 Don't change your mind once you've decided something.
      • 3 Give yourself a deadline to decide on something. i.e. I will analyse this idea for 3 days before either deciding to pursue it or leave it.
      • 4 Store all your crazy ideas in a spot. You may use them, you may not, but I tell you what these ideas build creativity, and any time in the future you're stuck on creativity, you could open up these ideas to remind your brain of old ones and possibly bring a stack of new ones to mind as well.

      Best of Luck

      Junior
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    • Profile picture of the author maclustig
      Originally Posted by MyHub View Post

      Yes, it's called "Analysis Paralysis". You spend so much time analyzing something that you never get anything done. Solution: Just start doing, and learn and implement as you go along.
      Im guilty of this disease :rolleyes: I will now, right on this day, right now, will decide on my next business project. Guess I really have to let go of that list. Wait.. no.. here i go again.
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  • Profile picture of the author pheonix44
    Yes, it's called "Analysis Paralysis". You spend so much time analyzing something that you never get anything done. Solution: Just start doing, and learn and implement as you go along.
    This is what I am trying to get away form. I think too much time spent in the forum can also cause this.
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    • Profile picture of the author Gary King
      Originally Posted by pheonix44 View Post

      This is what I am trying to get away form. I think too much time spent in the forum can also cause this.
      Over-analyzing will keep money out of your pocket.

      Spending too much time on forums (any forum) will too.

      Surfing the web, following trends, tweeting, watching tv, sleeping, etc. will all do the same.

      We all need distractions and sometimes sleep.

      When you get an idea make a list of 3 - 5 critical points. Then, create a sandbox. Rapid fire to build your product, focused on those 3-5 critical points.

      Anything else that comes along, put it in the "sandbox". You can use it for follow-on products as suggested by Zeus66.

      Don't be afraid to swap out one of your original critical points if the flow suggests it - just put the one to be swapped into the sandbox.

      You'll build a product quickly.
      You'll have ideas for complimentary, follow-on products, bonus products or give-aways for list building.

      You'll have more money in your pocket.

      Gary
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  • Profile picture of the author Zeus66
    This is a great reminder! You know what else causes this? It's trying to cover too much ground. I used to start a new thing and go off into tangents and kind of get lost. If you just pick one really good benefit and stay focused on that, you'll end up with a better product that customers love - AND you'll have more ideas for other products because you didn't give it all in one massive uber-product.

    John
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  • Profile picture of the author Mukul Verma
    You are right on here. I am the SMARTEST guy I know
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  • Profile picture of the author Adam Nolan
    That is the EXACT reason i outsource. I overthink... so by handing it off to someobody else the moment I get the idea, stuff actually gets done.



    Thanks for the post

    Originally Posted by pheonix44 View Post

    Every once in a while I will come to this foruma and see a great new idea for making money. What happens is I end up thinking of different ways to spin it. I am trying to be too smart for my own good, and what happens is I never get anything started. How many of us on here are too smart for our own good? How many of us spend too much time figuring out what is the best way to do something rather then actually doing something?
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  • Profile picture of the author talfighel
    There are people who say to themselves " I can do this" but the problem is that their mind starts playing games with them.

    The "What ifs" starts to work....

    The best thing to do is to to get the ball rolling. Do something, even if it seems like small steps forward.

    Tal
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Maybe people experience the same end result but for different reasons. I'm
    not sure I would say it's due to being too smart, even though that may seem
    to be the case.

    Excessive perfectionism can cause your symptoms. I have always been like
    that, and it can definitely work against you if you're not aware of it.

    Still, though, going deeper, there are reasons for being a perfectionist. I really
    think it has to do with more unpleasant qualities like being too worried about
    making a mistake or receiving criticism. So a person tries to cover all the bases.

    For me, the most important lesson I've learned about business is the importance
    of knowing myself and the nasty little tricks my mind plays on me.


    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author depik
    Banned
    Originally Posted by pheonix44 View Post

    Every once in a while I will come to this foruma and see a great new idea for making money. What happens is I end up thinking of different ways to spin it. I am trying to be too smart for my own good, and what happens is I never get anything started. How many of us on here are too smart for our own good? How many of us spend too much time figuring out what is the best way to do something rather then actually doing something?
    I am usually guilty of the same thing myself as well. Thanks for the timely reminder!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dr Livingston
    Ha. Try being an affiliate manager for a giant guru and you get sent tons of software and programs. AND it's your job to review them!! talk about a head spinning experience. My mind never stops!! It's fun and you learn tons, but man, it's so easy to just read and not take action.
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