Random Stuff

I learned a long time ago that I always need to keep a notepad nearby. The main reason for this is to keep track of the numerous ideas I have bouncing around in my head at any given time. My brain never shuts off, and if I don’t get something written down, I quickly move on to the next idea, forgetting about the last.

Writing things down has allowed me to better keep track of these ideas, and even plan some of them to a point where I have a prototype. All of the prototypes I have built have been excellent learning exercises. On occasion though, I’d like to take things a step further. I just don’t know how.

This can be a bit frustrating at times. Most of all when I see some large company implement an idea I’ve had. Even more so when I see a small company get funded to do exactly what I am experimenting with. (Really?!? That work I’m doing at home is worth $5 million in round one funding?!?! For what I’m doing with the computers in my closet?!?!). Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think people are stealing my ideas. Everyone knows that lots of people can come up with the same idea at the same time, it’s really about execution on those ideas.

Then there is the problem of a piece of paper I signed for my employer. It says all of my ideas belong to them while I work for them. (How do you own somebody’s ideas anyway?) If I do come up with something brilliant, how do I mitigate the risk of having GigatoMegaSoftwareCorp claim my idea? Technically I would have to quit my job before I came up with the idea. Actually I would have to quite at least a year before getting the idea. How do you do something like that? You can’t schedule inspiration.

So I continue on with my small ideas keeping them experimental and educational. But one day it would be nice to have something go big.