The speaker begins by stating that business ideas are worthless, which is met with laughter. They then recount a personal anecdote from 2010 where they and a friend, hungover, struggled to take a selfie. The friend suggested inventing a pole to attach a phone to for better selfies, and the speaker thought it was a great idea, even suggesting the name 'selfie stick'. Four years later, the selfie stick became a viral product, leading to hundreds of thousands sold and many millionaires. Despite having this 'great idea', the speaker emphasizes that the idea itself was worthless. They assert that every great idea is likely already conceived by someone else. The core message is that ideas are worthless, and execution is paramount. The speaker concludes by suggesting that instead of saying 'I thought of that,' one should say 'I did nothing about that,' highlighting the importance of action over mere ideation.

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What's the most valuable lesson you've learned in business? Uh, your ideas are all worthless. Why?

>> [laughter] >> Um, you know, like [music] in 2010, I was with one of my friends and we were hungover and we tried to send a [music] selfie to our other mate. I couldn't get us in the shot and then my friend was like, "Oh, someone should invent like a pole that you can [music] attach your phone to and then you could take the selfie." And I was like, "Oh, that's a sick idea. They could call it the selfie stick." And then what happens? Four [music] years later, selfie stick was the most viral product on Earth. Hundreds of thousands sold. Millionaires getting made all over the world.

>> use it to today. So, we had a great idea. Worthless. So, your ideas are all worthless and trust me, every time you come up with a great idea, it's not your idea. I guarantee you someone else has already thought of it. So, your ideas are absolutely worthless. Your execution is everything.

[music] So, I'm saying like next time you want to say, "I thought of that." You what you should really say is, "I did nothing about that."

Your Ideas Are Worthless Without This

What's the most valuable lesson you've
learned in business? Uh, your ideas are
all worthless. Why?
>> [laughter]
>> Um, you know, like [music] in 2010, I
was with one of my friends and we were
hungover and we tried to send a [music]
selfie to our other mate. I couldn't get
us in the shot and then my friend was
like, "Oh, someone should invent like a
pole that you can [music] attach your
phone to and then you could take the
selfie." And I was like, "Oh, that's a
sick idea. They could call it the selfie
stick." And then what happens? Four
[music] years later, selfie stick was
the most viral product on Earth.
Hundreds of thousands sold. Millionaires
getting made all over the world.
>> use it to today. So, we had a great
idea. Worthless. So, your ideas are all
worthless and trust me, every time you
come up with a great idea, it's not your
idea. I guarantee you someone else has
already thought of it. So, your ideas
are absolutely worthless. Your execution
is everything. [music] So, I'm saying
like next time you want to say, "I
thought of that." You what you should
really say is, "I did nothing about
that."

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Your Ideas Are Worthless Without This

Transcription