Ideas can be life-changing. Sometimes all you need to open the door is just one more good idea.
~Jim Rohn

You’re convinced that you have the most phenomenal idea in the entire history of mankind. Good for you! But if no one listens when you pitch it to them, you’re dead in the water. Maybe you lack confidence, or maybe it’s something else.

Strategy

If you feel you have a history of great ideas, but no one seems interested, consider the following seven reasons why ideas fail to get off the ground. If you see yourself in any of them, get to work, fix the problem, and go for the brass ring next time around.

1. Your Idea Is Silly, Impractical, or Done to Death

Maybe it’s just not a good idea, and realistically, you’re probably not the best judge. Remember that time at the pub? It was your birthday, and you were dead-set on drinking a pint for every year you’d been alive. Your mates told you not to do it, but you knew better. If you can’t understand why your idea for fish-flavored chocolate, a rescue facility for plush animals, or yet another Flappy Bird clone isn’t getting the reception you expected, run the idea past your friends and family. They’re the most likely to tell you, “Listen, Bob, it’s just a completely lame idea.”

If the idea is good, maybe people just don’t like you. There’s really no other reason why anyone would reject a really brilliant idea, so with topics 2 through 7, we’re just going to pick you apart – it’s for your own good.

2. It’s Your Appearance

There it is, the sad, ugly truth. You look funny, and people don’t see past appearances. Take stock of yourself (and again, here’s where friends and family can help). Are your clothes out of style? Is your hair badly cut? Also (and we know the Political Correctness Brigade is going to jump all over us for this) think about whether you might lose a pound or two.

3. You Come Across as Odd

Acting peculiar is even worse than looking peculiar. If you spend all your free time talking to your imaginary friends or collecting serial killer trading cards, best to keep such behaviour to yourself. If people are looking at you funny, it’s because they think you’re funny, and they’ll not take you (or your ideas) seriously.

4. Your Body Language is Unfriendly

Often, shyness comes across as peculiarity or unfriendliness, and this may cause people to tune you out. Your ideas are dynamic, and you must appear that way as well. Watch your body signals – arms crossed over your chest or gaze cast floor-ward, head turned slightly away from the person you’re speaking with – these are all “stay away” signals. Try to be more open and receptive to the person you’re with, and they’ll likely be more receptive to your ideas.

5. You Really Don’t Like People

If this is your problem, you’re simply going to have to fake it. No one is going to want to listen to your ideas if they know quite well you’d rather be home with your tea and your kitties.

6. You Don’t Listen

It’s not all about you. You’ve heard the expression “To have a friend, you must be one.” Well, to be listened to, you must listen. If you show an interest in the person you’re pitching your idea to (i.e. ask about their day, their interests, their thoughts), they’ll show an interest in you – and your idea.

7. You’re Not Stating What You Want

If you’re naturally self-effacing, that could be working against you. An approach like “I don’t suppose you’d like to hear about this little idea I’ve got, would you?” is going to get you a response along the lines of “You’re quite right; I wouldn’t.” Put yourself out there with assumptive approaches like “I have a great idea that’s going to change everything about the way you do business, and I need five minutes of your time to tell you about it.” Hard to say no to that, right?

Make sure your idea is brilliant. Then make sure you are, and people will buy in. It’s that simple.