Lately we've been doing a lot of thinking about the problems we're trying to solve at GoSquared.
Sketching and writing help me to get ideas out of my head and onto paper.
But talking to other people – friends, colleagues, and especially difficult-to-please acquaintances outside of my immediate circles – helps to filter through the ideas that are good from those that suck, and refine the ideas that are good into those that can be great.
There's nothing like having to explain a concept out loud and pitch it to someone. Even without any feedback, the process of turning thoughts into spoken word can be enough to refine a pitch, rethink an idea, or turn a concept upside down to make it understandable.
When was the last time you pitched a new idea out loud to a stranger? Give it a go, you'll be amazed at how much it can focus your thoughts.
If you're worried about pitching your idea to someone else, is it because you're nervous about what that person might say? Is it because you don't have confidence in the idea?
You have very little to lose by telling someone your thoughts and your plans.