Ideas Need Roots

 A tree doesn't just appear.

It starts as a seed, sure. But what makes it a tree—what keeps it standing through storms—are the roots.

You can't see them. They're underground, spreading out, digging deep, finding nutrients.

The visible part? That comes later.

We Think Ideas Happen in a Flash

I used to think great ideas arrived fully formed.

Someone says "I've got a great idea for a novel!" and I'd assume they had the whole thing figured out. Characters, plot, ending—all of it.

Then I'd share my own "great idea" and expect it to work the same way.

It never did.

I'd get excited about a concept, start writing, and realize I had nothing but surface. The idea was thin. Weak. It couldn't support an actual story.

I thought I had a tree. I actually had a seed.

Ideas Start Superficial. That's Normal.

Here's what I finally learned:

When someone says they have a great idea, what they really have is a starting point.

The idea isn't developed yet. It hasn't dug in. It has no roots.

And that's fine. That's how all ideas start.

But if you try to build on it immediately—write the book, launch the business, create the system—it collapses. There's nothing underneath holding it up.

Ideas need time to grow roots before they can support weight.

I See This Pattern Everywhere

Last year I had a "great idea" for a business. Excited. Ready to launch.

I started building and hit problems immediately. Who's the customer? What's the actual product? How does money work?

I had the tree trunk but no roots. The idea fell over.

I backed up. Spent two months just thinking, testing, asking questions. Let the idea dig in. Find nutrients. Develop depth.

Now it's viable. Still growing, but it can hold weight.

Same with my novel. My first "great idea" was: "A detective solves murders in a small town."

Cool. Totally superficial.

I had to ask: Why this detective? What makes this town matter? What's the detective actually searching for beyond the murders?

Those questions became roots. The idea got stronger the more I let it develop underground.

Even my morning routine. I thought "I'll wake up at 5am and be productive!" Great idea, right?

No roots. It lasted three days.

The real idea needed depth: Why 5am? What am I avoiding in my current routine? What actually needs to happen in the morning for my day to work?

Once I answered those questions, the routine stuck.

Give Your Ideas Time to Root

The next time you have a great idea, don't rush to execute.

Sit with it. Ask questions. Let it spread out underground.

What's underneath the surface idea? What does it connect to? What would make it strong enough to withstand pressure?

Good ideas aren't born great. They become great by developing roots.

Try This Today

Think about an idea you're excited about right now.

Write down the surface version—the thing you'd tell someone in one sentence.

Then ask: "What questions don't I have answers to yet?"

List five questions.

Those questions are where your roots will grow.

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What idea are you trying to grow right now?