I sometime joke that I am richer in ideas than wealth.
New ideas and projects tend to bring that adrenaline rush that we might have a hard time finding in the more mundane task of seeing things to completion.
It takes discipline to get there and roadblocks will show up along the way.
There is the satisfaction of seeing the end result of your labor as I did recently with my Just Over 50 and Not Dead Yet panel at South by Southwest.
I learned a lot from the experience.
Luke Johnson reflects on What’s wrong with the right entrepreneurs (FT).
He starts by noting that "Entrepreneurs often have low boredom thresholds and are weak at the
day-to-day micromanagement that every business needs. Mostly these
visionaries focus on the big picture – they find administration dull.
The wise founder hires a detail person, someone who enjoys process and
paperwork, to clear up after them and keep the systems ticking over".
The passion and risk taking spirit that animates them "may well be accompanied by an ability to overlook tedious but vital
subjects such as bank covenants, contractual obligations and cash
generation. That is where the reliable partner comes in, taking care of
the housekeeping, and preventing the chaos that can overwhelm so many
creative personalities" as he mentions.
Meddling with other people’s work can drive them nuts as "delegation is a skill that comes reluctantly to many leaders. They
always feel they know best, and interfere with subordinates just trying
to fulfill their appointed task. Those who evolve and develop large
concerns are the ones who know how to recruit and motivate expert staff
– and then let them do their job".
After re-reading Luke Johnson’s piece, I ask myself if it means pruning the tree of ideas in order to see some of them to fruition.
We can always couch these ideas suspended in their won little book.
Is impatience, the expectation of quick (instant) results the reason why there can be a tendency to neglect a work in progress by jumping to a new new thing?
We tend not to look at what we accomplished and instead focus on what has yet to be done.
Reflecting on Monday Work Etiquette #30
Last Week: Is Firing Someone by E-Mail Less Painful