I’m so going to blog this!

Recently I tweeted an idea which seemed to resonate with a lot of the developers I know:

“Note to developers: Don’t keep your ideas to yourself. Even if you’re not ready to do them.”

I’ve realized that a lot of folks (developers, designers, “product”-folks, whatever) are hiding their ideas. We all do it. You have some brilliant idea out one night at a pub. Or in the shower. Or wherever it is. And maybe you jot it down on a stickie somewhere. Or maybe you’ll actually do something with it.

Probably not, though. But not because you’re lazy. Well, maybe you are, but maybe you’re not sure it’s a good enough idea. Maybe you don’t have the skills right now to do it, but you will some day. Maybe you just don’t have the time. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

A big one for most people is that they don’t want their precious, original idea to get away from them. They don’t want someone else to do it before they do.

Knock it off. Stop hiding your ideas.

Not sure if your idea is good enough or just a flop? Share it. You might actually get some good advice.

Think your idea sucks? Share it. No one remembers the so-so ideas. Everyone remembers the killer apps. So just get it out there. You might actually have the next big thing, or maybe it’s the part that was missing from the next big thing. Or not. And then who cares? But you gave it a shot.

Don’t have the skills to really execute the way you want to? Share it. If the idea has legs someone with the skills will probably approach you about working on it. Better to work with someone now to make your idea happen then to wait years and have nothing.

Don’t have the time? Shar… well, you get the idea.

Lastly, for those of you who are sitting on that one big idea that’s going to make you millions of dollars, but you’re worried someone will steal your incredible idea? Don’t worry, they already have.

Not that you’re not brilliant. I’m sure you totally are. But there are a lot of other brilliant people out there having ideas. It’s the folks that share their ideas and start getting other people involved that are most likely to actually make something out of it.

Share your damn idea. Those days of operating in a vacuum are over. I’m also not entirely sure they were ever really there. Most of the time it’s just luck whether your idea is the right thing at the right time. But if you never make it, you’ll never know. If you share it, you might actually make it.