Once upon a time, I had an idea for a startup. Then, I presented it to an Executive. I never talked about it again.
The idea was for a text messaging platform that would allow sports teams to communicate directly with fans — personalized, real-time updates, team news, behind-the-scenes content, delivered via SMS. This was 2009, before most of what we'd now call fan engagement technology existed.
The Executive heard me out. And then, with a very practiced tone of mild dismissiveness, said something to the effect of "that's interesting, but it's not really in our wheelhouse." And that was it. I filed the idea away and never brought it up again.
A few years later, companies were raising millions doing exactly what I had described.
I'm not telling you this to say I would have built the next great tech company. I don't know that. I'm telling you this because I want you to think about the ideas you've shelved because someone — maybe an executive, maybe a mentor, maybe just a voice in your own head — made you feel like it wasn't worth pursuing.
One of the most consistent things I see in the people I coach who have built remarkable things is this: someone believed in their idea when it was still just an idea. Someone told them to keep going when the default response would have been to stop.
Be that person for someone. And protect that person in yourself.
The world doesn't need fewer crazy dreams. It needs more people willing to say: keep going. I see it. I believe you.
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