Love at first (in)sight

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, I thought it an appropriate time to warn against the tendency to “fall in love” with our own ideas. Have you heard (or been involved in) this torrid love story before?

Who can blame us for falling in love with our own ideas?
They’re ‘totally hot’, right?
It’s like they were created just for US — We know the concept’s every curve and thought. We are on intimate terms with our ideas. The idea may have awaken us that morning with a subtle nudge to begin our day. We may have been in the shower together. Or perhaps our passion for the idea woke us in the dark with an uncontrollable urge to put our thoughts down on paper before they slipped away into the night.

BUT… then we introduce our idea to our friends and family.
They seem to find flaws where we saw none. Something about the idea doesn’t sit right with them. It might not be as pure or as original a concept as you thought — they claim to have seen it across town with some other guy. They see it as difficult to implement where you saw only blue skies and instant activation. These imperfections… could your friends be right?

NO!
They’re just jealous they didn’t think of it first. They envy your passion and simply want to rain on your parade. Why can’t they just be happy for you?

You introduce your idea to your customer. To your boss. They smile and nod, expecting to hear more. They want to be as impressed with this concept you’ve been courting as you are, but alas — they are not. You marvel at their ignorance. How could they not fall as madly in love with the idea as you? Can they not see it is PERFECT?

“Fine” you think. “You’ll see – you’ll ALL see!” And you run away with your idea. The two of you against the world. You’ll show them. You just have to convince enough other people that your idea is the most wonderful concept in the world.

But, it doesn’t happen.
You find that no one is particularly enamored with your idea. And all of a sudden, it’s starting to grate on your nerves as well — was that blemish there before? Was it always this difficult to implement? Have others always rolled their eyes when you introduced them to the idea in the past? Perhaps it’s time the two of you parted company. You’ve got to break-up.

It’s not you, it’s me.
I should have listened to the input from my friends and family before. I thought the boss was wrong about how high maintenance an idea you were, but now I see they were right. Worst of all, my clients just don’t seem to like with you — and I can’t commit to an idea which my customers don’t find as enchanting as I do. I need their blessing to make a relationship like ours work. It’s just business, baby.

…Maybe we should think about seeing other ideas…