So you have your idea. Everybody will tell you it’s a bad idea. It will surprise you where the honesty and candor will come from. You’ll feel like the loneliest bastard in the universe. As Hugh McCleod says “good ideas have lonely childhoods” Ain’t that the fact! So be Ok with it. Make friends with the loneliness of it, but listen to what your critics have to say.

Of course, some folks will be trying to be hurtful, because they’ll be jealous of your passion or your certainty. That goes with the territory. Others, though, will really care and be concerned about your idea. If you’re successful it could adversely affect their position in your life, or your position in theirs. There’s nothing you can do about that. The idea will reconcile most everything.

While the universe won’t be greatly affected by your ideas (though it could and that’s something for another post) people’s personal universes could be greatly affected by your success, and the prospect of this scares the crap out of people.

Hear people out, get their perspective and where they’re coming from. Don’t indulge them by arguing, or trying to get them to see your point of view; that’s pointless. There’s a feeling that comes with a good idea, and the realization that you’re doing the right thing. It’s a warm feeling, and no matter what dark days you may face, or the trusted relationship that may dissolve because of it, remember that feeling, and hold fast to your idea. But hear your critics out.