I had an epiphany this morning while reaading a ZDNet article this morning about the Powerpoint notes that were “acccidentally” left in a published presentation at Google’s Analyst Day a few weeks ago. The notes focus on plans Google has for the future - how they are going to expand/improve their existing services, add new services, and expand into existing areas in which they don’t currently…. dabble.

The thing that stuck out most to me is that none of the plans were that groundbreaking or new. In the small amount of time I’ve spent thinking about where Google is planning to go, I’ve thought of many of the things listed as future plans. I’m not trying to toot my own horn though, quite the opposite in fact.

The epiphany I had, though I’ve heard it a number of times, is that ideas/insight/foreknowledge, whatever you want to call it, are something everyone has(well almost everyone), either by our mind’s amazing analytical abilities, given by Divine Providence, or by some combination of both. What we do with those ideas is a whole different world. The transition from idea or insight into action and success in any aspect of life is what distinguishes us. Me having some of the same insights into the search industry as Google is like a windless sail, a good idea, but useless on its own.

Google is a great example of this. They were one of the latest entries to the internet search world, and in fact, they entered it at a point when the general consensus was that search wasn’t a valid business model. Their difference was that they, like many others before them, knew that search could be a valid model even if the current market didn’t suggest so. What differentiated them was their actions; they took the inherently great idea of being able to effecitvely search the internet and MADE the idea work as a business model. Even when others said it wouldn’t. They created technology that actually searched the interent amazingly well, created a relevence based advertising model that was unheard of, then went out and made believers out of everyone. Even those who said search was dead. I realize I’m simplifying the situation and probably not giving enough respect to Google’s accomplishments, but the idea stands - having ideas doesn’t make us great, making those ideas reality does.

Our own personal efforts in every area of our life are what will distiguish us, having ideas or insight doesn’t do anything for us other than make us realize our wasted potential if we don’t act on them.

P.S. Google’s story also illustrates the idea that if you build something of value that people want to use, believe it or not, they’ll use it. And hopefully make you piles and piles upon piles of cash by using it, just kidding. But seriously though… hopefully.

Categories: Software, Life in General