How Important are Ideas for Creativity and Innovation

I bumped into this article a few days ago and thought it would generate some discussion. Doc Searls writes to the Linux programming community, so I wouldn't normally reference material written by him. He isn't a part of my daily diet of blogs, but his comments about ideas are worth referencing. They are very direct, and very true. Here are his thoughts...

1. Ideas aren't physical. Regardless of the legalities, treating ideas as possessions insults their vast combustive power.
2. Ideas aren't worth jack unless other people can put them to use.
3. Ideas won't change the world unless others can improve on them.
4. Ideas grow by participation, not isolation.
5. Ideas change as they grow. Their core remains the same, but their scope enlarges with successful use.
6. Ideas have unexpected results. No one person can begin to imagine all the results of a good idea. That's another reason to welcome participation.
7. Nobody's going to "steal" your ideas, any more than they can steal your cerebrum. You're the source. Authority over the idea begins with you.
8. Authority derives from originality and respect. You can't get respect for your original ideas unless those ideas prove useful to others.
9. There are two reasons other people are going to "steal" your ideas. First, the only people qualified to steal your ideas are too busy trying to get their own ideas to work. Second, they already don't like your idea because it's not their idea.

What would you add?

...Michael

Michael T. Bauer, MSW
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