You know what I like best about Twitter?
It isn't the fact that it's easy to use and a ton of fun (although those are important).
It isn't the fact that I can communicate with some fantastic people, get answers to questions and pick up information and advice that I couldn't have learned any other way (although those are important too.)
And it isn't even that it's a fantastic marketing tool that drives traffic, builds brands and increases sales (although that would be a good enough reason alone.)
It's that Jack Dorsey doesn't know how to use it.
His tweets are terrible. They're dull, uninteresting and about as much fun to read as the small print in a life insurance contract.
And yet he created Twitter. The whole thing was his idea. He oversaw the creation of the system and after being the CEO, he's now chairman of Twitter's board.
But he doesn't know how to tweet.
Other staff at Twitter do. Co-founder Biz Stone's tweets are interesting and so are CEO Evan Williams'. Heck, even Biz Stone's wife writes some great tweets about her work rehabilitating wildlife.
But Jack Dorsey? His most interesting tweet recently was "Buying a bag."
Is that what he created Twitter to tell us?
So why do I find that impressive?
Because it shows that sometimes the best thing you can do with an idea is share it.
Now, I don't mean that if you have a killer idea, you should put it on the Web and let everyone else make money out of it. You still have to protect yourself.
What I mean is that you shouldn't be afraid to let people play with what you've created, add to it and take it in directions you would never have thought of alone.
There can be a tendency when an idea is running around in your head to hold it close and keep control. But if you let your users contribute, encourage them to build on what you've created and follow what they're doing with the start you've given them, you might just be surprised at where your idea ends up - and how good it was too.
It's Del.icio.us!
Furl It!
December 29, 2008 05:20 PM
Twitter is efficient, that's why I use it and why it produces a higher ROI than the other social media sites. Jump on Twitter today and if you'd like to know how to attract 1000+ followers your first week, I can shed some light on the subject...
Follow me and I'll follow you back IF you add value:
http://www.twitter.com/denniston
December 29, 2008 07:16 PM
Hi Joel,
Interesting post and very true.
You have made your name by Publishing
your knowledge.
I think many Grrurus could and should
follow your example.
Have some great ideas for iphone apps so will
have to see if I can follow your advice without
someone stealing them but am not sure how to do that.
Thanks for sharing.
starzanguru
December 30, 2008 09:13 AM
I hear you Joel, but sometimes an idea can be transformed by the people who actually use and get the service/product etc. Ideas are and always will be ever changing creatures that spawn new ideas destined for their own lifespan.
December 30, 2008 10:47 AM
You're spot on, Joel. :-)
I was one of the skeptics who's only just started using Twitter during the second quarter of the year, but I'm nearing the 500th Tweet, and it's been great fun. Not only because many have begun following, but also because it DOES provide a chance to collect some very good Tweets under Favourites. [Reference: h_blunck at Twitter]
You could call it a mini-biography in the sense that some of the high spots are marked straight away. Would those high-spots change? Of course, they will. But you will see a certain development when you look through things you have marked as favourites.
Happy New Year, Joel and Mary - and all you lovely readers and followers around the globe. :-)
December 30, 2008 10:28 PM
When I first got on twitter a few months ago, I was like, "Huh? This is weird, what's the point?" But I get it now. I get it. And I love it. :)
Jill
http://www.Twitter.com/JillKoenig
December 31, 2008 03:29 AM
True. Let others contribute. Let them give lots of interesting info. Let them even have fun sometimes. Be unique. And if you are a tweeter yourself, let your followers themselves contribute, before you decide not to follow, or before you unfollow! Forget the control. Those who do that "get it." ;)
Thanks for the great post, Joel!
Krissy Knox :)
www.twitter.com/iamkrissy
December 31, 2008 10:21 AM
I believe this is a great truth, but a challenging one. The visionary and the entrepreneurial need to let others run with their ideas but not run away with them.
How to do this? That's a tough question. But a great idea dies in isolation from other people and their ideas, a great idea is a seed that needs nutrients to grow into its potential.
Better to err on the side of taking a smaller % harvest of the full potential crop than keeping a sprout for oneself!
cheers
Eric
@dealexpert on Twitter
January 5, 2009 11:13 AM
Product creation is fun, especially when you can display it to a select few people (who's opinions you trust) to pre-launch.
Having their insights offers perspective to one's 'baby', because we are usually too close to see the flaws or additions that will help better the product/service.
Yet another great post, Joel- Thanks!
Best,
-K
June 2, 2009 12:09 PM
It feels good when I see people adopting the things I've created. I mean, why should I be afraid of it? If I create something to make money, what else can I do other than to share it around?