Great ideas are polarizing. You either love ‘em or hate ‘em.

Mediocre ideas are satisficing. They appeal to everybody and nobody all at once.

The problem is that great ideas often never see the light of day. Focus groups, committees and myopic thinking often win the battle against.

Imagine a sculptor bringing a work of art to be reviewed by a committee. He pulls it out onto the table and everyone goes ‘oooooohhhhh’ and they are delighted. “It’s a masterpiece they proclaim!”.

Then after the excitement dies down, one person proclaims, “I like it but…”

Soon, everyone reaches into their pockets and to pull out their block of sandpaper. The first person takes the sculpture and sands off a rough corner. Then the next person sands away the little bit of unevenness. The third person tries to work out a divot or two. This sculpture gets passed around the table and one at a time the committee manages to turn the piece of art into a wooden ball. “That looks better” they proclaim.

Of course it isn’t’ better at all.

If you’re in a room full of people reviewing an idea and the room starts to form camps, you are onto something. Resist the temptation to pull out your sandpaper.