36525 days to live

I spread your idea because

Ideas spread when people to choose to spread them. Here are some reasons why:

1. I spread your idea because it makes me feel generous.
2. …because I feel smart alerting others to what I discovered.
3. …because I care about the outcome and want you (the creator of the idea) to succeed.
4. …because I have no choice. Every time I use your product, I spread the idea (Hotmail, iPad, a tattoo).
5. …because there’s a financial benefit directly to me (Amazon affiliates, mlm).
6. …because it’s funny and laughing alone is no fun.
7. …because I’m lonely and sharing an idea solves that problem, at least for a while.
8. …because I’m angry and I want to enlist others in my outrage (or in shutting you down).
9. …because both my friend and I will benefit if I share the idea (Groupon).
10. …because you asked me to, and it’s hard to say no to you.
11. …because I can use the idea to introduce people to one another, and making a match is both fun in the short run and community-building.
12. …because your service works better if all my friends use it (email, Facebook).
13. …because if everyone knew this idea, I’d be happier.
14. …because your idea says something that I have trouble saying directly (AA, a blog post, a book).
15. …because I care about someone and this idea will make them happier or healthier.
16. …because it’s fun to make another teen snicker about prurient stuff we’re not supposed to see.
17. …because the tribe needs to know about this if we’re going to avoid an external threat.
18. …because the tribe needs to know about this if we’re going to maintain internal order.
19. …because it’s my job.
20. I spread your idea because I’m in awe of your art and the only way I can repay you is to share that art with others.

Where do ideas come from ?

1. Ideas don’t come from watching television
2. Ideas sometimes come from listening to a lecture
3. Ideas often come while reading a book
4. Good ideas come from bad ideas, but only if there are enough of them
5. Ideas hate conference rooms, particularly conference rooms where there is a history of criticism, personal attacks or boredom
6. Ideas occur when dissimilar universes collide
7. Ideas often strive to meet expectations. If people expect them to appear, they do
8. Ideas fear experts, but they adore beginner’s mind. A little awareness is a good thing
9. Ideas come in spurts, until you get frightened. Willie Nelson wrote three of his biggest hits in one week
10. Ideas come from trouble
11. Ideas come from our ego, and they do their best when they’re generous and selfless
12. Ideas come from nature
13. Sometimes ideas come from fear (usually in movies) but often they come from confidence
14. Useful ideas come from being awake, alert enough to actually notice
15. Though sometimes ideas sneak in when we’re asleep and too numb to be afraid
16. Ideas come out of the corner of the eye, or in the shower, when we’re not trying
17. Mediocre ideas enjoy copying what happens to be working right this minute
18. Bigger ideas leapfrog the mediocre ones
19. Ideas don’t need a passport, and often cross borders (of all kinds) with impunity
20. An idea must come from somewhere, because if it merely stays where it is and doesn’t join us here, it’s hidden. And hidden ideas don’t ship, have no influence, no intersection with the market. They die, alone.