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Entrepreneur Caution: Idea Vampires are on the Loose

Guest post by: Sylvia Lafair

Article Overview: Watch your necks! Be careful with whom you share your ideas! The Idea Vampires are out in full force this month! Actually they are around all year. They just seem more overt in their blood sucking right around Halloween. This is their time of year. Right before the Christmas bonus is being discussed. So, how can you recognize an idea vampire? Here is what they are not: no, they don’t all have long black hair. They don’t all have extra long eye teeth hanging out like fangs. They don’t talk in funny Transylvanian accents.

Entrepreneur Caution: Idea Vampires are on the Loose

Watch your necks! Be careful with whom you share your ideas! The Idea Vampires are out in full force this month!

Actually they are around all year. They just seem more overt in their blood sucking right around Halloween. This is their time of year. Right before the Christmas bonus is being discussed.

So, how can you recognize an idea vampire? Here is what they are not: no, they don’t all have long black hair. They don’t all have extra long eye teeth hanging out like fangs. They don’t talk in funny Transylvanian accents.

So, you ask, “How can you know them when you see them”? And better yet, you ask, “How can you defend against them”? Good questions. First, forget eating pizza with extra garlic, or wearing it around your neck like a gold chain, won’t work with idea vampires. They are too smart, too crafty for such obvious maneuvers.

You have to be crafty and smart too. First, you need to look for the patterns. You see idea vampires strike again and again and they love, hear me, love idea creators. Those of you reading this that are the idea carry-outers, you’re safe. Go about your business and look for the witches and terminators who hate your “gotta get it done” manner. The idea vampires only like the fresh sweet blood of new ideas.

Now, you ask “what can I do?” I know you love to create, you have an idea a minute, it is truly, in your blood. First, learn to be discriminating. Stop whining! I know you want to share your ideas with everyone. Well, you can’t!

Here are 3 patterns to watch carefully:

1. When someone comes to you everyday to “run an idea” by you and ends up only asking questions.
2. When you are in meetings and the same person keeps acknowledging how brilliant you are, even if all you say is “it’s going to rain later”.
3. When you notice someone parroting your favorite quirky ways of putting sentences together, and others comment “Boy, s/he sounds just like you”.

Okay, on to the action plan. One way is to float a really dumb idea by this person and make it sound like the best concept since sliced bread. Really whoop it up and add with a kind smile “I really want this kept under the radar for the time being.” This is the canary in the coal mine method. Just notice where the fumes from this idea show up. Now you know who your idea vampire really is.

If that doesn’t work, do a poll with some of your trusted colleagues. Ask who they think is talking your talk behind your back. If the same name comes up more than four times pay attention.

Or you can decide that imitation is the highest form of flattery and ignore the whole situation. This is not really such a good way for your long term happiness.

My suggestion is to take the bull by the horns and face the situation head on. Set time in a meeting for the team to talk about the frustration that happens when good ideas, anybody’s good ideas, are not given proper credit.

Let this be a generic discussion. You will be surprised how many others feel concerned that their ideas are also being sucked away by others. It will at least get this subject out of the dark of the night where vampires do their deed.

Then a private conversation with your worst vampire needs to take place. Remember, thoughts are things and ideas are like children. Take care of your precious ideas and don’t let yourself be taken advantage of. And if all else fails, Ghost Busters is having a special for the month of October, half price for eliminating vampires!!

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Article Tags: accents, caution, entrepreneur, full force, vampires



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