no-brainerIf I had a nickel for every time I heard someone say, “That’s a no-brainer” in reference to an undertaking that sounds easy… Well, I’d have several dollars by now. The implication is that it’s money in the bank and all you have to do is wave your magic wand and collect. Not so!

There was the “no-brainer” to re-publish my How I Got on the Today Show CD taking it from loving-hands-at-home quality to first-rate professional product. That “no-brainer” required six weeks of my time and attention.

Then there was the snap-of-the-fingers suggestion my colleague/client decided to try out. She’s a professional organizer and knew it would be a “no-brainer” to open a store and sell products to her customers. I assigned her to a day shadowing a store owner for the retail experience. She didn’t make it through the 8-hour shift. She was bored and miserable staying in one location, not having the variety of experiences her organizing offered. She bagged the idea post haste. Thank goodness she hadn’t committed to a lease before testing the waters.

The reality here is that “no-brainers” and good ideas are a dime a dozen. The implementation is the unsexy, nitty gritty hard work that takes TIME. When you get a great idea or no-brainer, create a mind-map (see Monday’s post) jotting down what’s entailed. What resources do you need? Whose services are required? What market will you reach and how?

Brains or no brains, following through on any agenda item requires brains, muscle, heart and soul.