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10 Ways to Stop a Great Idea in its tracks! (And discourage the next one, too)How could an uneducated, unqualified Idaho farm boy, still in high school, invent television? Be a worldgame-
changer? At 14, Philo Farnsworth was inspired by his father’s plowed fields. He dreamed that
electronic images could be created line by parallel line. His inventive ideas did go to the top, but thatwas in 1928 and the early 1930s. They were simpler times. Today, a genius needs a PHD and very goodconnections or his bright ideas will be ignored.Clearly, Farnsworth was a genius. But was he the la
st genius? There are no more? Maybe there isn’t a
solution out there for every problem, but how will we know if we usually suppress creative new ideas?We will never know if the attitude at the top is expressed like this:1.
 
You’re not important. We don’t
have to pay attention to you.2.
 
It wasn’t my idea, so how good can it be?
 3.
 
Staff doesn’t have time to look at every letter or email.
 4.
 
What do you know about it? You’re not an expert.
 5.
 
That would never work!6.
 
That’s never been done before.
 7.
 
We’ve always done it th
is way.8.
 
When we want your opinion we’ll ask for it.
9.
 
We’re busy here. Don’t bother us with ideas.
10.
 
We’re smarter than you.
Technology firms like Microsoft and Apple frequently surprise us with new developments. Do their ideasall originate at top manageme
nt? Probably not! If a janitor has a bright idea at Apple, do you think he’s
ignored? Creativity has to be appreciated and encouraged in companies that want to be leaders in theirindustries.
Almost every institution faces problems that management can’t s
olve. The larger the organization, theless likely a good solution or idea will surface. Of course, some issues are too complex for easy solutions.So the struggle goes on year after year, from crisis to crisis, as mediocrity is accepted and creativity isdenied.
Here’s an
example: RECYCLE UNUSED MEDICINEWe probably throw away---flush down the drain---send to the landfill---billions of dollars worth of 
prescription drugs every year. At the same time, people who need them and can’t afford them, go
without, in our country and in developing countries. And while toxic medicines are entering streams andgroundwater, millions of patients are buying (or going without) drugs to replace them.With appropriate care and safeguards, we can recycle unused medicine. Several states already permitthis with proper care from licensed pharmacists. If a pharmaceutical is in original packaging, can pass a
careful inspection and is not out of date, shouldn’t it be made available? If not here, somewhere in the
world?
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