A colleague received an offended word. It concluded with, “you need to know higher.”
The transgression? The sender was offended that my good friend had written a put up a few idea she’s been growing for practically a decade. In fact, no thought is exclusive, and the posted thought form of rhymed with one which the professor had been engaged on for some time as effectively.
The word demanded she take down the put up.
Actually?
Normally, if you assume somebody is poaching your thought, it’s value remembering that they in all probability aren’t, that you just in all probability weren’t first, that the concepts in all probability don’t overlap as a lot as you assume, and… even when it is exactly what you considered within the first place, the spreading of an thought is an efficient factor.
I’ve managed to coin dozens of pretty authentic phrases over time, and a few are primarily based on new ideas I introduced ahead. I solely have time to do that as a result of I don’t spend my days bothering individuals who write posts that I think about overlap with my work. There are books by others primarily based on these concepts, and even whole industries. I’m not ready for royalty checks and even credit score strains any time quickly.
In reality, when individuals write posts that overlap, that’s an excellent factor.
Concepts that unfold, win.
No, don’t take credit score for an concept that’s not yours. You look smarter and extra assured if you give credit score the place credit score is due. Giving credit score is generative and raises your standing.
However there’s no motive to want to persistently broaden the taking of credit score. It brings a shortage mindset to the work, when what we have to do is generate connection and risk as a substitute.
If everybody on the town involves your manufacturing unit and takes a pattern, you’re in bother. But when everybody takes your thought (or an thought that you just assume is form of like your thought), you’re onto one thing.
