- View our entire Business Blog archive.
Creator or Implementer?
Let’s define these terms right off the bat. A creator is someone with vision, with the big ideas. An implementer is someone who can make that vision a reality, who can actualize the big idea. Not unlike an architect and a contractor, respectively. Great businesses usually have some balance of the two, the mind and the muscle, if you will. Your first step, then, is to determine which one you are.
Now, you hear people say all the time, “My daughter’s an artist,” or “My son’s great at math.” But the truth is better demonstrated on a spectrum. For example, I’m no Picasso, but I can sketch out a portrait of my daughter. I’m no Einstein, but I can balance my checkbook. So when I talk about creators and implementers, I don’t mean to imply that you are, or can only be, either one or the other. It’s never that black and white. More accurately, you’re somewhere on the spectrum between the two, having characteristics of both.
You might have great ideas and help bring them to fruition. Or you might be totally lacking in vision and have such great organizational skills that you are never without a job. Regardless of whether you’re a creator or an implementer, you need to determine where you reside on the scale and act accordingly. The biggest mistake people make here - in any self-assessment - is not being honest with themselves. People would like to think that they are good at something and so convince themselves they are. There is no shame in having weaknesses in a particular area. We all do. There is shame, though, in lying to yourself and others and in so doing setting yourself up for failure. What’s the point in denial? Find your weak spots and shore them up. Fix the problem before it arises.
I’m more of a creator than an implementer. Therefore, I know that I need an incredible manager to give life to my ideas. If I want my ventures to be successful, and of course I do, there is no way around it. I’m not talented at managing the day-to-day, nuts-and-bolts of an office (and believe me it’s an invaluable talent) so why would I pretend that I was? People look obnoxious when they’re trying to look good at everything. It’s the wise man who knows that he’s not, who knows that’s impossible. I mean, would you go on stage to sing opera without training? No. So why would you agree to lead a team or business if you’ve never been a leader? You’ve got to overcome any self-delusions you might have. Don’t lie to yourself, and don’t practice with your livelihood. There’s no faster way to get an ulcer or go bankrupt. The trick is to work with others who are strong where you are weak.
Posted by Herb Kay on Monday, June 23, 2008
Post Your Comments
If you would like to post comments to this blog entry, please login or register for free.