So you have an idea, and you think it’s novel?
Then you come online to discover that someone is already working on the same idea you have. How come?
You begin to wonder: how does this happen?
I mean, this is an idea you just got, you didn’t see it anywhere. It just popped into your head. So, how did these other people get this idea before you? Where did they get it from? Why does it seem like everyone is working on the same ideas as you?
For many people, the beauty of having a great idea is in being the first to do it. They want to get all the credit.
If you are an ideas person and you are beginning to feel like everyone is competing for your ideas, don’t worry. You are not alone. Many creators and innovators have this same problem. It seems like everyone is now working on the same things. It is getting more difficult to say who is innovating and who is copying.
As a technology innovator, I have been observing this for years, and I want to share a very important thought with you on how to handle this.
I am going to help you understand what’s going on and how to stay ahead.
Understand the Zeitgeist
When everyone seems to be having the same ideas, it is due to a phenomenon called “Zeitgeist.” It is a German word, and it means “spirit of the time.” Zeitgeist is the defining spirit or mood of a particular period in time, and this is evident in the ideas and beliefs of that time. This concept of Zeitgeist explains why we had a certain kind of fashion in the 70s, another kind of fashion in the 80s, and yet another in the 90s.
Take, for example, the technology sector: in the 90s, we had the arrival of personal computers, which became more powerful and affordable. We also had the explosion of the internet and the advent of browsers and websites. In the 2000s, we had the iPod revolutionizing music consumption, the rise of social networks, and the rise of e-commerce. The 2010s was the smartphone decade, and with it came streaming platforms that changed not only the way we consume music but also movies and television. We also saw a rise in connected devices, the Internet of Things, and solar energy products. In the 2020s, we are now seeing the widespread application of blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual and augmented reality, drones, and humanoid robots.
So, if you look at these decades, you’ll see that they are different times with different spirits, meaning that each decade had a different Zeitgeist. As the spirit of the Zeitgeist continues to change, the ideas, beliefs, and products in our society will continue to change along with it.
The ideas you’re having now are due to the spirit of this age. The ideas you have now are ideas you couldn’t have gotten in 1980. You have these ideas because you are living in this era—this time.
Now, guess what? You are not the only one living in this time. Many other people living in the spirit of this time also share in the ideas and beliefs of this time. So, the ideas you are getting now, we are also getting.
Where Do Your Ideas Come From?
Do you get your ideas from the books you read, the movies you see, the places you visit, the conversations you have, or the problems you are trying to solve?
Most of us are just like you. We get our ideas from these same sources. All of these sources give us inspiration, and if we are observant enough, we will begin to see things that could exist but haven’t been created yet.
Remember, all the things that inspire you are not exclusive to you.
As you draw inspiration from your work, your challenges, your information sources, etc., remember that other people are drawing inspiration from similar sources.
Millions of people around the world are facing the same problems as you, they’re reading the same books as you, traveling to the same places, and having the same conversations you have.
Combine Zeitgeist and Sources of Inspiration
We now live in a world where many more people can tune into the zeitgeist of the day. Many people in different parts of the world can invent the same things without knowing each other. In the past, it used to be two or three inventors in different parts of the world. Today, it is hundreds or even thousands of inventors, innovators, and creators working independently on similar ideas.
In the past, it was Charles Darwin and Alfred Wallace who independently arrived at almost the same conclusion for natural selection and the theory of evolution. Also, Alessandro Volta in Italy and Humphry Davy in England independently discovered early versions of the electric battery.
These examples are from years ago when only a few people—a small percentage of the population—were into invention and innovation. Today, zeitgeist is more active than ever, millions of people are innovating and creating in their various fields of endeavor. Most of these people are inspired by the same things that inspire you. This means that your idea is no longer yours alone.
A few thousand people around the world are thinking the same thoughts because they share the same sources of inspiration.
So, What Should You Do Now?
Embrace the reality that you are not alone in your thinking—this is the time for innovation, and countless others are sharing the same inspirations. But here’s the truth: while ideas are shared, execution is personal. The real value lies in your ability to transform that idea into something tangible. The market doesn’t reward ideas in isolation; it rewards those who take action. So, don’t wait for the perfect moment or for others to slow down—start building, creating, and making your idea a reality. Your unique execution, vision, and persistence will set you apart. In a world full of ideas, it’s not the thought alone that counts—it’s the drive to turn it into something that lasts.
Thanks for reading.
