Difference between Idea and Execution
Success depends on both the idea and the execution. The creation of new ideas fuels innovation, but ideas alone cannot achieve practical success. An idea must be executed well in order to be considered successful, particularly in areas such as business which measure success through profits.
Innovation
Innovation typically requires a new idea, while execution relies on ideas that have already been had and shown viable. Innovation therefore tends to occur through ideas rather than execution. Execution tends to be more conservative, relying on tried and tested ideas. Ideas are creative and innovative, while execution is practical. Some ideas do not require immediate execution. They may be purely theoretical, or in the case of some scientific predictions, they may be dependent on future improvements in technology for their execution.
Learning Process
Both the process of coming up with new ideas and of experimenting with their practical implementation have something to offer the learning process. Learning through the creation and development of new ideas can be very important. Exercising creativity and imagination can help people to come up with new products and processes, or to find a better understanding of the world around them. Many ideas never make it into the next stage and so are never executed. This is because of the important lessons that can be learned by coming up with a large number of new ideas and then selecting the best from among them and improving upon them until an idea is found that is worthy of execution.
The execution of ideas can also help people to learn a lot. It is often only by testing out ideas in the real world that people are able to learn how well they really work. Inventors often have to make several prototypes of their inventions before they can perfect their ideas. The execution of the idea can provide useful information that can help the idea to be perfected. Similarly, it is often through the execution of an older idea that inspiration is found for ways to improve or change something. It can be difficult to predict how an idea will really work until you see it in action. Learning at the ideas and execution stages proceed very differently, but both types of learning are important.
Successful Results
Execution is essential for the success of an idea that is not purely theoretical. It is not until an idea has been tested out or that the desired results have been achieved that it can prove its worth. For example, when the idea is a new invention or a business, it is not until profits are being made through the execution of the idea that it will be considered a success. Many people can have good ideas, but it is the one person who executes them successfully who will be credited with the success. For example, Charles Darwin is credited with the invention of the idea of natural selection, but this is because he executed it successfully by providing experimental proof and publishing a successful book. Other scientists had also speculated about evolution at around the same time as Darwin, but because their execution was not as effective, they do not get the credit.
Summary
- A good idea is a good idea, but it is only when this idea is executed that it will be considered a success.
- People can learn both through the purely theoretical creation and perfection of ideas and through experimenting with the execution of ideas.
- Ideas offer the chance for more innovation and creativity.
- Execution is the key to practical success.
