At our latest Breakfast Club, we brought together a brilliant group of tech and business leaders to talk about a common challenge: how to turn good ideas into real, tangible impact. Whether it’s a clever process tweak, a new product feature, or a bold digital innovation, having the idea is only the first step. Making it happen – and getting others to believe in it – is where the real work begins.
Don’t Ask for Validation – Search for Truth
One of the standout recommendations was a book called The Mom Test. The premise is simple but powerful: don’t ask people if your idea is good, because they’ll lie to you – not maliciously, but politely. Especially your mum. But it goes deeper than that. The real point is this: it’s not anyone else’s job to tell you the truth. It’s your job to ask the right questions and do the digging that uncovers what people actually need and where the value really lies. That mindset shift – from seeking validation to seeking insight – can be the difference between an idea that feels exciting and one that genuinely solves a problem.
Speak Their Language, Not Yours
Another theme that emerged was the importance of perspective. If you want to bring people on board, especially senior stakeholders, you need to speak their language. A CFO, for example, won’t be persuaded by your passion alone – they want to understand how the idea impacts the bottom line. What’s the ROI? What’s the risk? What assumptions are baked in? Framing your idea in terms of their priorities – not yours – is key to building support and securing investment.
Brand the Idea and Build Belief
We also talked about how to keep momentum once an idea starts to gain traction. One simple but powerful tactic: give your idea a name. It sounds small, but naming an initiative gives it identity and presence. It makes communication clearer, keeps everyone on the same page, and helps create internal buzz. Pair the name with a clear, one-line explanation of the 'why', and suddenly it’s not just a vague ambition – it’s a shared mission.
Assemble Your Innovation A-Team
Finally, we explored the reality that no one person is brilliant at all stages of making an idea happen. Some people are great at spotting opportunities and shaping vision. Others thrive on planning, detail, and delivery. Some are brilliant communicators who get everyone energised and aligned. To turn an idea into something impactful, you need a mix of those strengths. It’s about assembling the right team – the people who complement your own skills and bring balance to the project. That’s how you go from spark to sustained success.
How We Help at Ghyston
At Ghyston, we know this process well. We help clients turn ambitious ideas into beautifully crafted bespoke software solutions – but we also support them in shaping those ideas in the first place. From early-stage scoping to delivery and beyond, we bring the technical expertise, strategic thinking, and collaborative mindset that helps organisations build with purpose.
Looking to bring your next big idea to life?
Let’s talk about how we can help make it happen.
