Protecting Baby Ideas
By Peter LloydIf you've ever had an idea, you know what I'm talking about. You get all excited, tell it to someone whose opinion you value, and the next thing you know, your idea dies.
You might benefit from a technique the dolphin has been using for ages. On the move, mother dolphins tuck their newborn calves snugly under their pectoral fins, while the entire pod swims in a circular formation,
creating a protective pen for all the young.
When the pod rests, scouts patrol the perimeter. Those who sleep, do so with one eye open.
Like all babies, ideas need protection while they develop. You can form a protective pen for your idea.
First, since your idea is most vulnerable when it's young, don't share it with anyone right away. Nourish it, build on it, and consider some of the problems that might arise before you reveal it.
Next, like the dolphin, form a ring of alliances--a group of people who will help you make your idea as great as it can be--people you know will protect it against premature failure.
Finally get the legal protection your new idea needs. Nobody you trust should object to a copyright, trademark, or even a confidentiality agreement.
Now, like a good mother dolphin, you can share your idea.
Peter Lloyd is co-creator with Stephen Grossman of Animal Crackers, the breakthrough problem-solving tool designed to crack your toughest problems.