On being an open book

I was recently talking with some people about the various things and projects that are interesting me right now...and a familiar question came up once again "Aren't you afraid someone will steal the idea or beat you to market?"

Now I understand the concern - but here's my general take on this subject:

1. I have plenty of ideas, if someone 'steals' one, whatever I'll move on to another one. In the end, I have ideas because I 'want' things...if someone else meets my want, that's cool and better for everyone.

2. If the idea can be 'stolen' easily then there was nothing all that special about it...or at least nothing all that special about me doing it. Chances are I didn't really have the resources or connections to take an easily stolen idea to market with any great success anyway.

Pro tip: If you aren't a big part of the unique advantage/opportunity to bringing an idea to market, then it's not a "good" startup idea for you to actually focus on anyway.

3. Honestly, not that many people listen to me...so even though I blog and post across social media about many different ideas and things, and will pretty much openly discuss whatever with whomever...not that many people (who would or could steal an idea) are really paying attention.

Sure they could 'find' it on the internet, but generally to do that you have to be looking for it first anyway...and if that's the case, they really aren't stealing my idea...at best we had a sim. idea and maybe they took some of my feedback and did the real work of implementing it all (again, that's a win for everyone in my book).

4. The real key point for me though is, I'm just trying to get better...to learn more...to do more.

I'm not trying to win the lottery (and hitting on an idea that could have been so easily 'stolen' is basically like hitting on the lottery)...with each idea I have, each post, or each line of thinking I' share…I'm really just trying to get better, to better control what I spend my time doing and thinking about all day and night, and learn how I might better make a difference, a bigger positive impact, on my world.

The only way I can see any of that happening is by doing more...exposing myself to more people...learning and experiencing more.

So to me being more open is what that's all about.