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The brilliant idea trap,
why falling in love with your own idea
is the biggest mistake


A person holds a glowing lightbulb in a cage of wires, representing being trapped by their own brilliant idea

You've had a brilliant idea, one that you think can change the world. It has kept you up at night and has monopolized your every conversation. This initial momentum is fundamental, but it can turn into the biggest threat to your project: the brilliant idea trap. Many aspiring entrepreneurs fall into this trap, becoming so attached to their intuition that they fail to see market signals or react to negative feedback. In this article, we explore why a healthy distance from your idea is crucial and how to develop the right startupper mindset to overcome obstacles and turn an intuition into a sustainable business.


What is the brilliant idea trap?

The brilliant idea trap is the unshakeable conviction that your first intuition is perfect and needs no changes. This emotional attachment prevents you from objectively seeing whether your idea solves a real problem for a large enough market and if it's possible to monetize it sustainably. The founder in love with their idea ignores data, minimizes negative feedback, and refuses to adapt and change course.


How to develop the winning startupper mindset

To overcome the brilliant idea trap, you must cultivate a mindset oriented toward problem-solving, not protecting your idea.

  • Fall in love with the problem, not the solution: your mission is not to realize an idea, but to solve a problem for your customers. The solution (your product) is just the means to achieve this goal.
  • Talk to your customers: feedback is your compass. Every day, try to understand what your users think.
  • Be ready to pivot: accept that your first idea might not be the right one and that a change of course is a strategic move, not a startup failure.
  • Find a mentor: a mentor helps you see your project with objective eyes and make decisions based on experience.

The idea is just the beginning

The idea is the spark that ignites the engine of every startup, but the fuel is the ability to listen, adapt, and solve problems. The brilliant idea trap is an emotional obstacle, but overcoming it is an act of professional maturity that can determine the future of your business.


Geentoo, the network of ideas, connects you with the right people, experienced co-founders who can challenge your ideas and help you evaluate your business model from a different point of view than your own. In this way, you'll have an entire community to guide you toward the realization of your project.


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