They say the man who never reads is no better off than the man who can’t read. Well, the same is true for the person with a business idea who does nothing to bring it into being. He is no better off than the man who’s never had a viable idea. Still, “ideas are a dime a dozen; people who implement them are priceless.” So said Mary Kay Ash, the American business woman and founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics.” Excellent observation! I am with her on it.

The reality is that many potential entrepreneurs never progress beyond the idea stage for one or the other of the following reasons: (i) fear of the idea being ‘stolen’ (ii) thinking that the task of implementing is huge and intimidating (iii) unwillingness to share control of the idea/business. For someone wanting to launch a business any of these may represent a legitimate reality. So let’s deal with them one by one.

Let’s start with the person afraid of his/her idea being stolen. But let me be clear at first that there is no intent to discredit your fears or anxiety. For you, they are real. But keep in mind as well that if fear keeps you holding on to that idea so tight, it may never see the light of day. In the process, you miss constructive feedback and/or investment opportunities that you might need. Investors are generally offended by the idea of them ‘stealing’ a business idea but if you believe there is intrinsic value in the idea/opportunity, seeking a patent or licensing to an established business is always an option.

For the person willing to move ahead but is intimated just thinking about the size of the task, remember that implementing a business idea follows the same formula as eating an elephant - one bite at a time. Martin Luther King Jr put it nicely. He said, ‘It is not necessary to see the whole staircase. Just take one step at a time.” It seems counter-intuitive but the truth is that trying to perfect your idea before moving to implement it is a huge mistake. In fact, not knowing for sure exactly how it will turn out is actually a good thing. Keep in mind that the business environment is dynamic and as variables change your business idea will need to change to remain viable. In an age of uncertainty, as new facts emerge from the market, your ability to remain agile and responsive is critical.

What’s important is that you have a vision for where you want to go. The paths may change as you move towards that vision but that is absolutely okay!

For the person reluctant to cede control of any fraction of the business/idea, I know it’s hard just thinking about it. Keep in mind though that while it is possible to start a business on your own, growing that business requires a team. Remember, an idea grows best when it is exposed to the passion, expertise and diversity of people who regularly contribute to it. As they say, it’s better to own 10% of one million dollars than 100% of ten thousand dollars. So, be open and inclusive. It guarantees best results.

When all is said and done no matter how unique you think your business idea is, somebody else has thought of the same thing or something pretty close in nature. That’s the cold, hard truth. What’s important to know is that the success of a business is never predicated on how great or even how innovative an idea is. Success is always only predicated on how well that idea is executed. So to everyone serious about pursuing a passion and making a business of it, remember, having an idea is that 1% of inspiration that is required to start the process. The other 99% is perspiration.