How To Tell People About Your Idea When It's Too Innovative For Them To Understand

Sometime we can't see the wood for the tree. Sometimes we are so used to life's inconveniences that we fail to see them as a problem Imagine the world of Henry Ford at the turn of the 20th century. He's famously quoted as saying.

"If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses"

- Henry Ford However, he knew that was not the core problem that he needed to solve.

People and goods need to be transported. Horses were overrunning the large cities, leaving a mess everywhere and dying in the street. They had to be fed, housed and rested. Henry Ford knew this. He had a deep understanding of the problem, human behaviour and the impact of that behaviour. So with his techniques of mass production of the motor car, he was able to create a solution to address a problem that people did not believe they had. As humans, we are wired to seek out two fundamental things, avoid pain or gain pleasure. The question is, does the original solution fail in some way to deliver those things when compared to yours? If so, then that is a problem. Nobody had a problem carrying a camera around until the camera phone. So if you are trying to explain your idea using one of the following formats: 1. Explaining why the status quo is a problem and give your solution.

Normally when <performing action> you get <expected result> ,

because of <problem X>.

However, with my idea, you will <reduce,

remove or bypass problem X> allowing you to <avoid pain A or gain pleasure B>

2. Look at it from the person who is experiencing the problem and then explain why your solution will help them.

As a <person with the problem>

I want to <perform an action>

but I am < obstructed by hurdle> causing <pain point>.

My idea will < address pain point >

by < reducing, bypassing or removing hurdle> causing <improved result>