Do More Faster India, 2nd Edition

Chapter 3Trust Me, Your Idea Is Worthless

Tim Ferriss

Tim is the best-selling author of The 4-Hour Workweek, The 4-Hour Chef, The 4-Hour Body, Tools of Titans, and Tribe of Mentors, as well as an entrepreneur and angel investor in companies such as Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50-plus others. He has been listed as one of Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Business People” and one of Fortune’s “40 under 40.” Starting in 2008, Tim became a Techstars mentor and is an investor in several Techstars companies, including DailyBurn, Foodzie, and Grove.

Earth-shattering and world-changing ideas are a dime a dozen. In fact, that’s being too generous.

I’ve had hundreds of would-be entrepreneurs contact me with great news: They have the next big thing, but they can’t risk telling me (or anyone else) about it until I sign some form of idea insurance, usually a nondisclosure agreement (NDA). Like every other sensible investor on the planet, I decline the request to sign the NDA, forgoing the idea, often to the shock, awe, and dismay of the stunned entrepreneur.

Why do I avoid this conversation? Because entrepreneurs who behave this way clearly overvalue ideas and, therefore, almost by definition, undervalue execution. Brainstorming is a risk-free, carefree activity. Entrepreneurship in the literal sense of “undertaking” is not. Strap on your seat belt if you’re signing up for a startup. It’s a high-velocity experience.

If you have a brilliant idea, it’s safe to assume that ...